All She Wants to Do Is Rock
"All She Wants to Do Is Rock" is a 1949 jump blues and rhythm and blues song recorded by American singer Wynonie Harris with the Joe Morris Orchestra. Written by Harris and saxophonist Teddy McRae, it was released in August 1949 as a single by King Records. The song became the biggest hit of Harris's career, topping both of Billboard
Background and recording
The song was cut during the final recording session of Harris's short but fruitful partnership with trumpeter Joe Morris and his orchestra. The session took place on April 13, 1949, in Linden, New Jersey, and was produced by Henry Glover.The arrangement is built on a mid-tempo shuffle groove with riffing horns, handclaps, and a prominent honking tenor saxophone solo by the young Johnny Griffin.
Personnel
According to the original King session files and subsequent discographical research:- Wynonie Harris – vocals
- Joe Morris – trumpet
- Matthew Gee – trombone
- Johnny Griffin – tenor saxophone
- Fred Douglas – tenor saxophone
- William McLemore – baritone saxophone
- Elmo Hope – piano
- Gene Ramey – bass
- Kelly Martin – drums
Chart performance
"All She Wants to Do Is Rock" entered the Billboard Most-Played Juke Box Rhythm & Blues Records chart on August 27, 1949. It reached number one on September 17, holding the top spot for two weeks, and also topped the Best-Selling Retail Rhythm & Blues Records chart for the week ending October 1, 1949.The single remained on the charts for 18 weeks, making it Harris's longest-charting hit and his second R&B number-one single, following "Good Rockin' Tonight" in 1948.