Rock And Roll Girls

Background

"Rock And Roll Girls", paired with "Centerfield", was the second 45 rpm single off the Centerfield aulbum which John Fogerty released in 1985 after the hiatus of eight and a half years. Like all songs on the album, "Rock And Roll Girls" was recorded at The Plant Studios in Sausalito, California, and engineered by Jeffrey Norman and Mark Slagle. The single came out in March 1985. It peaked at #20 in the USA, #10 in Austria and #38 in New Zealand. 

The members of Creedence Clearwater won the years long court battle over their life savings in spring 1983, the burden lifted, and John Fogerty felt that he could finally create new songs again. "Rock And Roll Girls" was inspired by his 12-year old daughter Laurie and her friend. The innocent song describes teenagers, how they have their own world that they’re not telling Pop about (John Fogerty, Fortunate Son, 2015). 

Fogerty admitted in his autobiography that his version refers musically to the surf instrumental “Wild Weekend” by the Rockin’ Rebels.

Recording session

After watching the baseball All-Star game at Candlestick Park in San Francisco on the second week of July 1984, Fogerty booked the Plant Studios in Sausalito, California, and recorded "I Can't Help Myself", "The Old Man Down the Road", "Rock And Roll Girls", "Searchlight", "Zanz Kant Danz" and "I Saw It On T.V." by the end of August 1984 (the rest of the tracks for Centerfield were recorded in September same year).  Fogerty played all the instruments by himself. Because he worked from detailed demos (which he recorded at his studio in Albany before heading for The Plant Studios) and notes, recording was straightforward and painless for the most part (Scott Isler, interview with John Fogerty, Time, January 28th, 1985; Scott Isler, interview with John Fogerty, Musician (US), March 1985).

Fogerty played the sax parts of "Rock And Roll girls" on a Martin Committee (Musician, US, March 1985).

Collector's notes

The single (Warner-Pioneer P 1966) was released in Japan with a different cover sleeve on May 25th, 1985.  

A promotional single "The Old Man Down the Road" b/w "Rock and Roll Girls" (WB 530) came out already in November 1984. It had no picture sleeve.   

Another 7" single with "The Old Man Down the Road" and "Rock and Roll Girls" on the flipside (Warner GWB 0530, was released in Back to the Hits Series in the USA in 1985.  It had no picture sleeve.

A promotional single with "Rock And Roll Girls" on both sides (WB 29053) was released in the USA in 1984.

"Rock And Roll Girls", coupled with "Centerfield", was also launched as a 12" maxi single (Bellaphon 120 07 145) in Germany in March 1985.  (Peter Koers, Green River: The Illustrated Discography, 1999).  

Live versions

The world premiere of the live version of "Rock And Roll Girls" took place at the taping session of Showtime Special with John Fogerty All-Stars at Chaplin Stage in Los Angeles on January 31st, 1985. The TV special was aired by the HBO in the USA on June 15, 1985. Fogerty performed  the song with people like Booker T. Jones (piano), Donald "Duck" Dunn (bass, 1941-2012) and Albert Lee (guitar). The sax solo was blown by Steve Douglas (1938-1993). The show was screened in mono but in a few markets, an FM stereo simulcast was broadcast when the show first aired.

Fogerty also played the song in 1986 on his first tour after the demise of Creedence Clearwater.  In 1989, Fogerty did the number in a couple of charity shows screened live in the USA. These were Concert Against AIDS Benefit in Oakland, California, on May 27th, and Earthquake Relief Concert in Oakland on November 26. Fogerty was backed up by members of Grateful Dead in both events.  

Other extraordinary live versions include the one Fogerty performed with Duke Tomatoe and the Power Trio in Chicago on February 19th, 1988. John also delivered the song with a local bar band in Troy, Oregon, on November 16th, 1987.  

Concert goers had to wait for the next occasion for almost 17 years. Fogerty added "Rock And Roll Girls" to his setlists on the Long Road Home Tour in 2006. It was heard in Antwerp, Belgium, on July 1st, 2006, for the first time in the new era.   From this point on, he has delivered the number regularly on stage. In 2015, though, he only performed it once. 

The Blues And Bayous Tour in summer 2018 featured sax solos for the first time since the year 1985 and Showtime Special. They were blown by Nathan Collins.

"Rock And Roll Girls" appears on his Comin' Down the Road DVD filmed at Royal Albert Hall, London, UK, on June 24th, 2008.  

Furthermore, soundboard recordings of his concerts have been officially available as files since the autumn tour 2013. 

Critical reception

"As his lonesome half-yodel on "Rock And Roll Girls" shows, he can still sing with fire and finesse." Jim Miller, Newsweek, February 18th, 1985. 

"The runaway success of Centerfield Stateside has been an amazing vindication of tradition, and it warms the heart to know people still want to hear things as simple and naive as "Rock And Roll Girls". The album boasts better songs but "Girls" is a perfect vehicle for the curdled Solomon Burke roar." -The New Musical Express, UK, April 20th, 1985.  

"Fogerty's voice is unusually high but still powerful. The blaring sax is excellent, and the lead guitar is hardly missed! A very upbeat, enjoyable tune. Hang on - I want to shuffle off to Buffalo too!" -Matt Loewen

"Perhaps the high point of the album, though, (at least for me) is one of the other singles, “Rock & Roll Girls,” another slice of “instant nostalgia” that you swear sounds like a dozen other songs that you can’t quite remember but are on the tip of your tongue. With a sing-along chorus, searing sax solo, and a rawness to Fogerty’s vocal that has rarely been heard since, it may be the great “lost” song in his canon." -Matthew Bolin, Popdose, March 8th, 2010. 

"'Rock and Roll Girls' follows as an accessible pop/rocker which became a big radio hit in its own right. Built on a three-chord, driving rock riff with a rhythm and beat to match, Fogerty’s vocals hit a slight yodel during the verses. Of particular note is the saxophone, where the multi-instrumentalist has a couple of cool leads in between the verses." -Classic Rock Review, July 28th, 2015. 

Fans' views

"Not really a typical JF song in my mind, but a great pop tune. A great little sax solo from a guy that hardly plays."

"A fun straight forward R&R song with a great sax solo."

"I like how John hits the high notes singing this song."

"Love the sax in the Showtime Special version."

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