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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did "Rockin' Robin" say? Tweet dreams.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Rockin Robin)

"Rockin' Robin"
vinyl side label
1981 US single reissue
Single by Bobby Day
from the album Rockin' with Robin
B-side"Over and Over"
ReleasedJune 27, 1958
Genre
Length2:31 (single version)
LabelClass
SongwriterLeon René
ProducerJimmie Thomas
Bobby Day singles chronology
"Rockin' Robin"
(1958)		 "Over and Over"
(1958)
Official audio
"Rockin' Robin" on YouTube

"Rockin' Robin" (originally released as "Rock-In Robin" on the Class Records 45 single) is a song written by Leon René under the pseudonym Jimmie Thomas, and recorded by American singer Bobby Day in 1958. It was Day's biggest hit single, becoming a number two hit on the Billboard Hot 100, and spent one week at the top of the R&B sales chart.[5] Michael Jackson recorded his own version of the song in 1972, which also achieved success.

Personnel

[edit]
[edit]

"Rockin' Robin" is in the public domain, as the owners never renewed the copyright.[9]

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for "Rockin' Robin"
Chart (1958) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[10] 9
Canada (CHUM Charts)[11] 3
US Billboard Hot 100[12] 2
US Billboard Rhythm & Blues Records[12] 1

Certifications

[edit]
Certifications for "Rockin' Robin"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[13] Gold 15,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Michael Jackson version

[edit]
"Rockin' Robin"
side-A label
Solid center variant of the UK single
Single by Michael Jackson
from the album Got to Be There
B-side"Love Is Here and Now You're Gone"
ReleasedFebruary 1972[14]
StudioMotown Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)[14]
GenreBubblegum pop[15]
Length2:31
LabelMotown
SongwriterLeon René
Producers
  • Mel Larson
  • Jerry Marcellino
Michael Jackson singles chronology
"Got to Be There"
(1971)		 "Rockin' Robin"
(1972)		 "I Wanna Be Where You Are"
(1972)
Official audio
"Rockin' Robin" on YouTube

In 1972, Michael Jackson released a cover of "Rockin' Robin". It was the second single from his debut solo album Got to Be There, after the title track. It was the most successful single from the album, hitting number one on the Cash Box singles chart, and peaking at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 (the same highest position as the original), behind "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack.[16] It also peaked at number two Billboard soul singles chart, behind "In the Rain" by the Dramatics.[17]

Record World said that "little Michael rocks in with a revival of the big Bobby Day hit of the rockin' 1950s".[18]

Track listing

[edit]

Chart performance

[edit]
Chart performance for "Rockin' Robin" by Michael Jackson
Chart (1972) Peak
position
Australia (Go-Set National Top 40)[19] 23
Australia (Kent Music Report)[20] 16
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[21]13
Ireland (IRMA)[22]16
New Zealand (Listener) [23] 16
Swedish Singles Chart (Kvällstoppen)[24] 1
UK Singles (Official Charts)[25]3
US Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles[26] 2
US Billboard Hot 100[26] 2
US Cash Box Top 100[27] 1

Certifications and sales

[edit]
Certifications and sales for "Rockin' Robin" by Michael Jackson
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[28] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[29] Platinum 2,000,000[30]

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Lolly version

[edit]

In 1999, English singer Lolly released a cover of "Rockin' Robin" as a double A-side single with "Big Boys Don't Cry". It was a top 10 hit on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 10 in December of that year and remaining on the chart for a total of 11 weeks.[31]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ Bush, John. "Rockin' Robin – Song Review". AllMusic. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Sendra, Tim. Various Artists - Rock & Roll Show (1987) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
  3. ↑ Marsh, Dave (1989). The Heart of Rock & Soul: The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made. Plume. p. 429. ISBN 0-452-26305-0.
  4. ↑ Breihan, Tom (August 22, 2018). "The Number Ones: The Dave Clark Five's "Over And Over"". Stereogum. Retrieved June 12, 2023. Bobby Day wrote the song and used it as the B-side to his 1958 novelty hit "Rockin' Robin".
  5. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 148.
  6. ↑ de Heer, Dik (September 2015). "Plas Johnson". Rockabilly.nl. Retrieved October 6, 2017.
  7. ↑ Scherman, Tony (1999). Backbeat: The Earl Palmer Story. Washington D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 174. ISBN 978-1-56098-844-1.
  8. ↑ "Barney Kessel – Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Copyright Office Public Records System". Publicrecords.copyright.gov. Retrieved August 25, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – Chart Positions Pre 1989 Part 3". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  11. ↑ "CHUM Hit Parade - August 11, 1958". Chumtribute.com.
  12. 1 2 "Bobby Day – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  13. ↑ "New Zealand single certifications – Bobby Day – Rockin' Robin". Radioscope. Retrieved June 19, 2026. Type Rockin' Robin in the "Search:" field and press Enter.
  14. 1 2 Lecocq, Richard; Allard, François (2018). "Got to Be There". Michael Jackson All the Songs: The Story Behind Every Track. London, England: Cassell. ISBN 9781788400572.
  15. ↑ Breithaupt, Don; Breithaupt, Jeff (October 15, 1996). "Post-Nuclear Families: Bubblegum". Precious and Few - Pop Music in the Early '70s. St. Martin's Griffin. p. 23. ISBN 031214704X.
  16. ↑ "The Hot 100". Billboard. April 22, 1972. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  17. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. April 15, 1972. Retrieved January 31, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Hits of the Week" (PDF). Record World. March 4, 1972. p. 1. Retrieved April 2, 2023.
  19. ↑ "Go-Set Australian charts". Go-Set. July 22, 1972. Archived from the original on June 4, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Forum – ARIA Charts: Special Occasion Charts – CHART POSITIONS PRE 1989, part 2". Australian-charts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  21. ↑ "Top RPM Singles: Image 7632". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved June 11, 2013. [dead link]
  22. ↑ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Rockin' Robin". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Flavour of New Zealand - search listener". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved May 30, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Kvällstoppen 18 Juli 1972 - Hela topplistan, se videos, lyssna på låtarna - NostalgiListan". NostalgiListan. Retrieved May 15, 2024.
  25. ↑ "Official Singles Chart on 24/6/1972 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 11, 2013.
  26. 1 2 "Got to Be There – Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  27. ↑ "CASH BOX Top 100 Pop Singles – Week ending APRIL 15, 1972" (PDF). Cash Box.
  28. ↑ "British single certifications – Michael Jackson – Rockin' Robin". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved November 16, 2021. Select singles in the Formats field. Type Rockin' Robin Michael Jackson in the "Search:" field.
  29. ↑ "American single certifications – Michael Jackson – Rockin' Robin". Recording Industry Association of America.
  30. ↑ Joseph Murrells (1978). The Book of Golden Discs. Barrie and Jenkins Ltd.
  31. ↑ "LOLLY | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". Official Charts.
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