Rock Me Gently (Andy Kim song)

"Rock Me Gently" is a song by Andy Kim,^[2] released as a single in 1974.

"Rock Me Gently"
Single by Andy Kim
from the album Andy Kim
B-side	"Rock Me Gently" (instrumental)
Released	June 22, 1974
Genre	Pop rock proto-disco[1]
Length	3:24
Label	Capitol Records
Songwriter(s)	Andy Kim
Producer(s)	Andy Kim
Andy Kim singles chronology
"Oh What a Day" (1972) "Rock Me Gently" (1974) "Fire, Baby I'm on Fire" (1974)

The Canadian singer, who charted several hits from 1968 to 1971, had not had a top 100 single since September 1971, and had been without a record label since early 1973. Nevertheless, he said in a 1974 interview, "I never mentally admitted defeat in spite of three years off the charts." He formed his own label, Ice Records, and personally financed the recording session that produced "Rock Me Gently". He could afford to record only two sides, and deciding the second side was good enough to be an A-side, he put an instrumental of "Rock Me Gently" on its B-side.^[3]

The single impressed Capitol Records executives, who signed Kim to a deal. "Rock Me Gently" debuted on the Hot 100 on June 22, 1974, and took 14 weeks to reach No. 1 on September 28. It also rose to No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart and No. 10 in Ireland, and remains his only charting song in either the UK or Ireland. Even the instrumental B-side received substantial airplay on R&B stations. It would be Kim's last top 10 hit in either country.^[3]

Personnel[4]

• Backing Vocals - Carol Carmichael And Group
• Bass - Max Bennett
• Concertmaster - Sid Sharp
• Conductor - Michael Omartian
• Drums - Ed Greene
• Guitars - Andy Kim, Ben Benay, Dean Parks, Larry Carlton
• Keyboards - Michael Omartian
• Percussion - Gary Coleman

Chart performance

Weekly charts Chart (1974) Peak position Australia KMR[5] 31 Canada RPM 1 Germany 33 Ireland 10 South Africa (Springbok)[6] 3 UK [7] 2 U.S. Billboard Hot 100[8] 1 U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary 40 U.S. Cash Box Top 100[9] 1

Year-end charts Chart (1974) Rank Canada [10] 23 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [11] 29 U.S. Cash Box [12] 4

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[13]	Gold	1,000,000^
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Later uses

Part of the song was used in a 1970s UK TV commercial for Lever Brothers' Jif cleaning cream, using the lyric "When Jif’s your cleaner / Tough dirt goes / Away so gently / And it shows / Your home has never been loved like this before".^[14]

The song resurfaced in 2008 in a television commercial for Jeep Liberty.^[15] It was also played at the end (and titles) of season 4 finale and in the season 5 premiere of the TV show Ray Donovan.

The song appears in season 3, episode 3 of Sex Education.^[16]

Part of the songs chorus was sampled by electronic music producer Mint Royale on the track Take It Easy from their 1999 debut album On The Ropes. ^[17]

Michelle Wright version

"Rock Me Gently"
Single by Michelle Wright
from the album Do Right by Me
Released	1989
Genre	Country
Length	3:31
Label	Savannah
Songwriter(s)	Andy Kim
Producer(s)	Steve Bogard Rick Giles
Michelle Wright singles chronology
"I Wish I Were Only Lonely" (1989) "Rock Me Gently" (1989) "I Don't Want to Wonder" (1989)

In 1989, Canadian country singer Michelle Wright released a version as a single on her debut album, Do Right By Me. It reached No. 7 on the Canadian RPM country singles chart.

Chart performance

Chart (1989)	Peak position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[18]	7

Year-end charts

Chart (1989)	Position
Canada Country Tracks (RPM)[19]	57

See also

List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 1974

References

1. Smay, David (2001). "The Candy Ass Charisma of the Archies". In Cooper, Kim; Smay, David (eds.). Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth. Los Angeles: Feral House. p. 45.
2. Andy Kim sings rock me gently, retrieved 2021-08-16
3. Bronson, Fred (1988). The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. Billboard. ISBN 9780823075454.
4. "Andy Kim – Andy Kim (1974, Vinyl)". Discogs. 1974.
5. David Kent's "Australian Chart Book 1970-1992"
6. "SA Charts 1965–March 1989". Retrieved 5 September 2018.
7. "Top 100 1974". top-source.info. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
8. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
9. CASH BOX Top 100 Singles – Week ending September 28, 1974 at the Wayback Machine (archive index). Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 16 October 2016.
10. Bac-lac.gc.ca
11. Musicoutfitters.com
12. "Top 100 Year End Charts: 1974". Cashbox Magazine. Retrieved 2015-07-16.
13. "American single certifications – Andy Kim – Rock Me Gently". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
14. Video on YouTube accessed 9/9/2011
15. Lippert, Barbara (2007-10-22). "Critique: Jeep Rocks The '70s". Adweek.
16. Hunt, James (September 17, 2021). "Every Song In Sex Education Season 3". Screen Rant. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
17. "Mint Royale-Take It Easy". Discogs. Retrieved 9 May 2023.
18. "Top RPM Country Tracks: Issue 6559." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. October 23, 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.
19. "RPM Top 100 Country Tracks of 1989". RPM. December 23, 1989. Retrieved August 28, 2013.