"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.[3] Michael Jackson recorded his own version of the song in 1972, which also achieved success.
"Rockin' Robin" | ||||
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Single by Bobby Day | ||||
from the album Rockin' with Robin | ||||
B-side | "Over and Over" | |||
Released | 1958 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 2:31 (single version) | |||
Label | Class | |||
Songwriter(s) | Leon René | |||
Producer(s) | Jimmie Thomas | |||
Bobby Day singles chronology | ||||
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One streaming version of this song incorrectly states it is by Chuck Berry.[4]
"Rockin' Robin" is in the public domain, as the owners never renewed the copyright.[8]
Chart (1958) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] | 9 |
Canada (CHUM Charts)[10] | 3 |
US Billboard Hot 100[11] | 2 |
US Billboard Rhythm & Blues Records[11] | 1 |
"Rockin' Robin" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by Michael Jackson | ||||
from the album Got to Be There | ||||
B-side | "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" | |||
Released | February 1972[12] | |||
Studio | Motown Recording Studios (Los Angeles, California)[12] | |||
Genre | Bubblegum pop[13] | |||
Length | 2:31 | |||
Label | Motown | |||
Songwriter(s) | Leon René | |||
Producer(s) |
| |||
Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||
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Official audio | ||||
"Rockin' Robin" on YouTube |
In 1972, Michael Jackson released his own version of "Rockin' Robin", which was released as a single from his gold-certified solo album titled Got to Be There as a follow-up single to the song of the same name. It was the biggest hit from the album, hitting number 1 on the Cash Box singles chart and peaking at number two on both the Billboard Hot 100, behind "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack,[14] and the Billboard soul singles chart, behind "In the Rain" by the Dramatics.[15]
Record World said that "little Michael rocks in with a revival of the big Bobby Day hit of the rockin' 1950s."[16]
Chart (1972) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australia (Go-Set National Top 40)[17] | 23 |
Australia (Kent Music Report)[18] | 16 |
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[19] | 13 |
Ireland (IRMA)[20] | 16 |
UK Singles (OCC)[21] | 3 |
US Billboard Best Selling Soul Singles[22] | 2 |
US Billboard Hot 100[22] | 2 |
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
United States | — | 2,000,000[24] |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
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.[25]
Bobby Day wrote the song and used it as the B-side to his 1958 novelty hit "Rockin' Robin".