Roxy Roller

"Roxy Roller" is a song written and originally recorded by Sweeney Todd in 1975 with Nick Gilder on vocals. It was written by Jim McCulloch and Nick Gilder. The song spent three consecutive weeks at number one in Canada during the early summer of 1976.[1]

"Roxy Roller"
Single by Sweeney Todd
from the album Sweeney Todd
B-side	"Rue de Chance"
Released	April 1976 (Canada) June 1976 (U.S.)
Recorded	1975, 1976
Genre	Glam rock
Length	2:46
Label	London
Songwriter(s)	Jim McCulloch, Nick Gilder
Producer(s)	Martin Shaer
Sweeney Todd singles chronology
"Sweeney Todd Folder" (1976) "Roxy Roller" (1976) "Say Hello, Say Goodbye" (1976)

The song is ranked as the fifth biggest Canadian hit of 1976.[2] "Roxy Roller" won a Juno Award for the band.[3]

In the U.S., re-released versions of "Roxy Roller" charted twice on the Hot 100. The first version had vocals by Clark Perry (peaking at #90 in late August; on London 240). The second version had vocals by Bryan Adams (peaking at #99 in mid-September; on London 244).

Chart history

Weekly charts Nick Gilder original Chart (1976) Peak position Canada RPM Top Singles[1] 1 Chart (1977) Peak position Australia 9 Clark Perry re-record Chart (1976) Peak position U.S. Billboard Hot 100[4] 90 U.S. Cash Box Top 100 93 Bryan Adams re-record Chart (1976) Peak position U.S. Billboard Hot 100[5] 99

Year-end charts Gilder Chart (1976) Rank Canada [1] 5 Perry Chart (1976) Rank US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[6] 466 Adams Chart (1976) Rank US (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual)[7] 525

Cover versions

"Roxy Roller" was covered by Suzi Quatro in 1977.[8]

References

1. "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1976-07-03. Retrieved 2019-08-06.
2. "Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
3. Martin Melhuish (23 April 1977). Juno 1977. Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. pp. 76–. ISSN 0006-2510.
4. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
5. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
6. Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
7. Whitburn, Joel (1999). Pop Annual. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. ISBN 0-89820-142-X.
8. https://www.discogs.com/artist/227475-Suzi-Quatro?subtype=Singles-EPs&filter_anv=0&type=Releases&page=2

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics
• Listen to "Roxy Roller" on YouTube (Clark Perry vocals)
• Listen to "Roxy Roller" on YouTube (Bryan Adams vocals)