Raised On Rock

Album: Raised On Rock (1973)
Charted: 36 41
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Songfacts®:

  • This was written by the Memphis songwriter Mark James, who wrote Elvis' 1969 hit "Suspicious Minds." Songwriters had a lot to gain if Elvis recorded their songs, so they wrote songs that he would be comfortable singing. Here, Elvis sings about his musical upbringing, and how he was there at the dawn of Rock and Roll. It was a fitting song for Elvis, who was a key figure in shaping Rock music from its roots in Country and R&B.
  • One of the lines in the song is, "A honky tonk a Hound Dog, a Johnny B. Goode." Neither "Hound Dog" nor "Johnny B. Goode" were originally recorded by Elvis, but he covered both of these songs by the time he recorded this one. >>
    Suggestion credit:
    Chris - Cleveland, OH
  • Helen Reddy recorded a vastly subdued version on for her 1974 album Free and Easy. That same year, Johnny Winter recorded the song. His version didn't make it onto an album, but in recent years has shown up on his compilations.

Comments: 4

  • David Roer from Prescott, ArizonaRaised on Rock and Roll is a masterpiece of Elvis’ soulful, rhythm and blues. First time I heard this song it screamed the genius of ELVIS.
    It should have gone #1. Still love the 5 minute version.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn October 9th 1973, Elvis and Priscilla's divorce* was finalized at the County Superior Courthouse in Santa Monica, California...
    At the time "Raised on Rock" b/w "For Ol' Times Sake" was at #46 on Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart; twelve days later on October 21st, 1973 it would peak at #41 {for 1 week} and spent a total of 9 weeks on the Top 100...
    * Priscilla received a cash payment of $725,000 plus $4,200 per month spousal support for a year and then $6,000 a month for ten years and Elvis got Linda Thompson!
  • George from Belleville, NjI agree with Sean from WI. I personally think this should have been a number one record for Elvis.This is a classic rock and roll song that has Elvis written all over it.This is proof that Elvis hadn't lost his touch,he still had greatness left in him even later in his career.
  • Sean from Altoona, WiVery shocked that it did not even reached the Top 40 for Elvis Presley: The King of Rock N' Roll!!!

    9/30/09
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