A Heartfelt, Defiant Homage to the Music That Started It All, a Passionate Tribute to the Soul of Rock and Roll.
In the mid-1970s, David Essex was a bona fide star, a glam-rock and pop icon who had cemented his place in the hearts of millions with hits like “Rock On” and “Gonna Make You a Star.” His music was a blend of dramatic flair and polished production, a perfect reflection of the era’s flamboyant aesthetics. But beneath the layers of charisma and pop stardom, a different, more personal story was waiting to be told. On his celebrated 1975 self-titled album, David Essex, a record that reached number 19 on the UK Albums Chart, lay a track that was a daring departure from his usual sound. “Good Ol’ Rock & Roll” was not a single, nor did it ever grace the charts on its own. Instead, it was a secret handshake to his most dedicated fans, a raw, heartfelt tribute to the very music that first ignited his passion, a profound moment of emotional and artistic truth hidden within a collection of more conventional songs.
The drama of “Good Ol’ Rock & Roll” is not a tale of a personal conflict but a powerful narrative of a star’s artistic rebellion. In an era where punk was seething in the underground and disco was beginning its glittering takeover, the music of the 1950s was seen by some as a relic of the past. For a musician at the height of his fame, it would have been safer to stick to the trends. But with this song, David Essex made a bold, deeply personal statement. He chose to look back, not with a sense of regret, but with a profound reverence for the music that shaped him. The song is a theatrical homage to his own heroes, a beautifully defiant act of nostalgia. It’s a love letter to the crackle of a vinyl record, the power of a simple three-chord riff, and the timeless magic of the genre’s pioneers.
The song is a meticulously crafted soundscape designed to evoke a feeling. It opens with a driving, unadorned drum beat and a simple, insistent bassline, immediately stripping away the glamour of his other hits and transporting the listener to a raw, unvarnished past. The lyrics are a roll call of legends—Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Buddy Holly—each name delivered with a sense of genuine awe and gratitude. It’s not just a list of heroes; it’s a tour through a musical landscape that defined a generation. When Essex sings, his voice carries a palpable sense of joy and respect, a loving nod to the giants upon whose shoulders he and his contemporaries stood. The melody is catchy, but its true power lies in its ability to stir a deep, emotional chord within anyone who remembers those sounds from their youth.
For those of us who grew up with David Essex as our guide through the decade, “Good Ol’ Rock & Roll” was a powerful reminder that he was one of us—a true fan at heart. It was a moment of shared reflection, a chance to pause and appreciate the roots of the music we loved. The song feels like an intimate conversation, a late-night chat where the shared memories of a golden era are celebrated and cherished. It remains a timeless piece of music, a quiet masterpiece that deserves to be remembered not for its chart position, but for the compassionate and honest light it shined on the legacy of a genre. “Good Ol’ Rock & Roll” is more than just a song; it’s a testament to the enduring power of music to connect us to our past, to our heroes, and to the very essence of what makes us fall in love with a melody in the first place.