Whole Lotta Rosie

Last updated

"Whole Lotta Rosie"
Acdc-whole lotta rosie s.jpg
Single by AC/DC
from the album Let There Be Rock
B-side "Dog Eat Dog"
ReleasedAugust 1977 (EU) [1]
Recorded1977
Genre
Length5:20
Label Atlantic
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
AC/DC singles chronology
"Let There Be Rock"
(1977)		"Whole Lotta Rosie"
(1977)		"Rock 'n' Roll Damnation"
(1978)
Alternative cover
AC DC wholelottarosie.jpg
Cover of AC/DC's 1978 single

"Whole Lotta Rosie" is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It is the eighth and final track on the band's fourth Australian album, Let There Be Rock , released in Australia in March 1977, and was written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Bon Scott. It is also the eighth and final track on the international version of the album, released in June the same year.

Contents

It was released as a single in a few countries in 1977, backed by "Dog Eat Dog". In 1978, the live version from If You Want Blood You've Got It , which had been recorded in Glasgow on 30 April 1978, was also released as a single.

Composition

The song is about an obese Tasmanian woman, Rosie, with whom the singer (Bon Scott) had a one-night stand at the Freeway Gardens Motel in North Melbourne. [3] In addition to pointing out the woman's size, the singer finds her to be one of the most talented lovers he has ever experienced.

The song's first verse reveals Rosie's substantial physical measurements (42"-39"-56"), and that she weighs nineteen stone, or 266 pounds (121 kg). On the Live from the Atlantic Studios disc, however, Scott describes the titular woman as "... a Tasmanian devil ... weighs 305 pounds (138 kg)...," a measurement that differs from the "nineteen stone" lyric.

In 1998, speaking to Vox magazine, Angus Young remembered:

We'd been in Tasmania and after the show [Bon Scott] said he was going to check out a few clubs. He said he'd got about 100 yards down the street when he heard this yell: 'Hey! Bon!' He looked around and saw this leg and thought: 'Oh well!' From what he said, there was this Rosie woman and a friend of hers. They were plying him with drinks and Rosie said to him: 'This month I've slept with 28 famous people,' and Bon went: 'Oh yeah?!' Anyway, in the morning he said he woke up pinned against the wall, he said he opened one eye and saw her lean over to her friend and whisper: '29!' There's very few people who'll go out and write a song about a big fat lady, but Bon said it was worthy. [4]

In 2021, the woman the song was written about was identified by British-Australian AC/DC biographer Jesse Fink as Rosemaree (or stylized as Rose-Maree) Garcia, an Australian sex worker who saw Scott for some time before he went to England. [5] Rosie was indeed born in Launceston, Tasmania, lived in St Kilda and died in the Melbourne suburb of Prahran in 1979, aged 22. [6]

In 2023, Fink released the first known photograph of Rosie Garcia. [5]

Early version

The song's main riff was also featured on an earlier recording with different lyrics, titled "Dirty Eyes", which saw official release on Volts , part of the Bonfire box set. "Dirty Eyes" features a different chord progression in the chorus, as well as a slower tempo than "Rosie".

In September 1976, "Dirty Eyes" was first recorded by AC/DC, along with "Carry Me Home" and "Love at First Feel" for a possible EP. This recording is possibly the version that was later issued on the Bonfire boxed set. The EP was scrapped, leaving "Love at First Feel" as a fill-in for the upcoming International Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap album and "Carry Me Home" as a b-side. In the following months, "Dirty Eyes" was recrafted into "Whole Lotta Rosie," and recorded during the Let There Be Rock sessions of January–February 1977. [7]

When the song was released as a single in 1978 it was heavily edited, making the song considerably shorter. A big part of the guitar solo was left out as well as the characteristic guitar-band duel.

Live recordings and performances

"Rosie" on the 2008 Black Ice Tour RosieACDC.JPG
"Rosie" on the 2008 Black Ice Tour

One of AC/DC's most popular songs, "Whole Lotta Rosie" has been included on each of the band's official live albums: three with Scott If You Want Blood You've Got It (short version which misses the second guitar solo), Live from the Atlantic Studios , Let There Be Rock: The Movie – Live in Paris , the latter two released in 1997 as part of the Bonfire box set, and also four with Brian Johnson (released on Live , Live: 2 CD Collector's Edition , the tour edition of Stiff Upper Lip , and also on Live at River Plate ). The only other song that appears on all these releases is "The Jack". A live video of "Whole Lotta Rosie" is also featured on the DVD Family Jewels , from a 1978 performance on the BBC's TV concert series Rock Goes to College , on which Scott refers to Rosie as the "biggest, fattest woman who ever fornicated."

The song was first played live in February 1977, with the 15 February 1977 Perth Entertainment Centre show being the earliest known performance (and possibly the very first time the song was played live since it was not played at the other few shows before. Bootlegs of the Perth show and the few shows before exist). Since then, the song has been played at almost every AC/DC concert.

When the song is performed live, the crowd will usually shout "Angus!" in between each of the opening riffs. This has its origins in the version heard on If You Want Blood You've Got It.

The latest live performances of "Whole Lotta Rosie" were accompanied by a giant, inflatable "Rosie" as seen on the Live at Donington video. The inflatable Rosie was first used on the 1990/91 "The Razors Edge" tour. In March 2005, Q magazine placed the live version from If You Want Blood ... at number 16 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. [ citation needed ]

Rosie was seen (at the same table as Brian Johnson) during the cartoon intro video that was played on the Black Ice World Tour. The song was also used in Brian Johnson's audition as Scott's successor. [8]

Covers

"Whole Lotta Rosie" was covered by Guns N' Roses, who included it on the 1987 UK vinyl singles of "Welcome to the Jungle" and the 1988 Live from the Jungle album. It has also been played as part of Guns N' Roses' concerts. [9]

Australian psychedelic band Electric Hippies recorded a cover in 1995 for the Fuse Box alternative tribute album.

It was also covered by W.A.S.P. on the American version of the 1996 Still Not Black Enough album.

The Japanese power metal band Galneryus released a cover of it, on their 2007 Voices from the Past EP, which is an EP of 5 cover songs.

Another cover version, by Steel Panther, was released in 2010 on The Metal Forge Volume Two (A Tribute To AC/DC) by Metal Hammer.

Bullet for My Valentine also released a cover of the song as a bonus track on their 2013 album Temper Temper .

In other media

A live version of this song is included on AC/DC Live: Rock Band Track Pack .

Track listing

1977 7-inch single (Netherlands: Atlantic ATL 109 92)
  1. "Whole Lotta Rosie" (Young, Young, Scott) – 3:33 edit
  2. "Dog Eat Dog" (Young, Young, Scott) – 3:35
1977 7-inch single (Germany: Atlantic 109 92)
  1. "Whole Lotta Rosie" (Young, Young, Scott) – 4:00 edit
  2. "Dog Eat Dog" (Young, Young, Scott) – 3:35
1978 7-inch Live single (UK: Atlantic HM 4)
  1. "Whole Lotta Rosie" (Young, Young, Scott) – 3:35
  2. "Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be" (Young, Young, Scott) – 4:30

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [18] Silver200,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bon Scott</span> Australian singer (1946–1980)

Ronald Belford "Bon" Scott was an Australian singer and songwriter. He was the lead vocalist and lyricist of the hard rock band AC/DC from 1974 until his death in 1980.

<i>Let There Be Rock</i> 1977 studio album by AC/DC

Let There Be Rock is the fourth studio album by Australian rock band, AC/DC. It was originally released on 21 March 1977 in Australasia, through Albert Productions label. A modified international edition was released on 25 July 1977, through Atlantic Records. It was the last AC/DC album to feature Mark Evans on bass.

<i>T.N.T.</i> (album) 1975 studio album by AC/DC

T.N.T. is the second studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released only in Australia on 1 December 1975. This was the band's first release with bassist Mark Evans and drummer Phil Rudd, although the last two tracks feature George Young and Tony Currenti, both of whom previously appeared on High Voltage.

<i>Powerage</i> 1978 studio album by AC/DC

Powerage is the fifth studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released in 1978. This was the band's first album to feature Cliff Williams on bass guitar, and it was also the first AC/DC album not to have a title track and the first worldwide not to be released with a different album cover. Powerage was re-released in 2003 as part of the AC/DC Remasters series.

<i>If You Want Blood Youve Got It</i> 1978 live album by AC/DC

If You Want Blood You've Got It is the first live album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, and their only live album released during Bon Scott's lifetime. It was originally released in the UK and Europe on 13 October 1978, in the US on 21 November 1978, and in Australia on 27 November 1978. The album was re-released in 1994 on Atco Records and in 2003 as part of the AC/DC Remasters series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Touch Too Much</span> 1980 single by AC/DC

"Touch Too Much" is a song by the Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It was released on their 1979 album Highway to Hell, their last with lead vocalist Bon Scott, who died the following year.

<i>Let There Be Rock: The Movie – Live in Paris</i> 1997 live album / Soundtrack album by AC/DC

Let There Be Rock: The Movie – Live in Paris is a live double album by the hard rock band AC/DC, released as "Disc Two" and "Disc Three" of the Bonfire box set in 1997. It is also the soundtrack to the film AC/DC: Let There Be Rock. It is the last album Bon Scott recorded with the band before he died, just two months before his death and was released posthumously.

<i>Live from the Atlantic Studios</i> 1997 live album by AC/DC

Live from the Atlantic Studios is a live album by AC/DC released on the Bonfire box set. The album was recorded live at the Atlantic Recording Studios in New York, on 7 December 1977 and all tracks were remixed by George Young. This was an official Radio Station/Promo release by Atlantic Records. It was initially released on LP in 1978, and later on CD (1986). AC/DC's performance was the first in a series of promotional concert-events for Atlantic Records acts. Catalog # LAAS 001. The CD version was officially released to fans in 1997 as part of the Bonfire collection. Prior to that, this album was widely bootlegged among AC/DC fans.

<i>Volts</i> (album) 1997 compilation album by AC/DC

Volts is an album by AC/DC released as a part named "Disc Four" on the Bonfire box set. Released in November 1997, the album is a compilation of some alternative versions of songs recorded for the albums Let There Be Rock and Highway to Hell, and some songs previously released.

<i>No Bull</i> 1996 video by AC/DC

No Bull is a live video released by AC/DC in November 1996, filmed on Super 16mm at Madrid's Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas on 10 July 1996 during the Ballbreaker world tour. It was directed by David Mallet, produced by Rocky Oldham, mixed by Mike Fraser, and edited by David Gardener and Simon Hilton; production company was Serpent Films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jailbreak (AC/DC song)</span> 1976 single by AC/DC

"Jailbreak" is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It is the ninth and final track of their third Australian album Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, released in September 1976. The song was not released in North America until 1984. It was written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Bon Scott.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love at First Feel</span> 1977 single by AC/DC

"Love at First Feel" is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It is the second track of the international version of their album Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap, released in November 1976, and was written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Bon Scott. The international version was not released in the United States until 1981.

<i>AC/DC: Let There Be Rock</i> 1980 AC/DC concert film

AC/DC: Let There Be Rock is a 1980 concert film featuring the Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released theatrically in September 1980 and on videotape the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">High Voltage (song)</span> 1975 single by AC/DC

"High Voltage" is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It was first released in Australia as a single in July 1975, though it is the eighth track of their second Australian album T.N.T., the release itself was issued as a stand alone single. The song was written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young and Bon Scott, and peaked at #48 on the UK Singles Chart in 1980.

"Let There Be Rock" is a song by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It is the third and title track of their album Let There Be Rock, released in March 1977, and was written by Angus Young, Malcolm Young, and Bon Scott.

<i>Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap</i> 1976 studio album by AC/DC

Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap is the third studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, originally released only in Europe, Australia and New Zealand in 1976. The album was not released in the United States until 1981, more than one year after lead singer Bon Scott's death. This was also AC/DC's first album in its entirety to be recorded with the same lineup, rather than including at least one track recorded with a different bassist or drummer.

<i>Fuse Box</i> (album) 1995 compilation album by Various artists

Fuse Box was an AC/DC tribute album released in Australia in 1995 by BMG. The album compiled a selection of the country's more prominent alternative rock artists from the period. Most of these songs only appear on this album, with the exception of Ed Kuepper's "Highway to Hell", which he also recorded for his album A King in the Kindness Room. A live version of "Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap" was included on Nitocris' 1995 "Epic Voyage" EP. The Meanies' version of "It's a Long Way to the Top" was released as a single, with a promotional video featuring the band playing on the back of a truck driving through the Melbourne CBD, an homage to the original clip.

<i>High Voltage</i> (1975 album) 1975 studio album by AC/DC

High Voltage is the debut studio album by Australian hard rock band AC/DC, released only in Australia and New Zealand, on 17 February 1975. Their first international release in 1976 would also be named High Voltage, though with a radically different track list.

"I'm a Rebel" is a hard rock song written by Scottish musician Alex Young, that has been recorded and released by Accept and U.D.O.

<i>Backtracks</i> (AC/DC album) 2009 box set by AC/DC

Backtracks is a box set by Australian hard rock band AC/DC. It was announced on 29 September 2009 and was released on 10 November 2009. This is a collection of the band's studio and live rarities together in one boxset. There are two editions; a Deluxe Edition and a Standard Edition. All tracks have been remastered to match the sound of the 2003 album remasters and many songs appear on CD for the first time. It is the band's second box set of rarities, following the Bonfire release in 1997.

References

  1. ↑ Hung, Steffen. "AC/DC - Whole Lotta Rosie". hitparade.ch.
  2. ↑ Ed Rivadavia. "Whole Lotta Rosie review on Allmusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 23 October 2017. "One of hard rock's all-time greatest moments"
  3. ↑ Bon Scott Interview, Bonfire Box Set, Disc 4
  4. ↑ Ewing, Jerry. VOX, February 1998. Albums. Re-issues. Blazer of Glory. AC/DC – Bonfire (EMI). P. 78
  5. 1 2 "The first photo of AC/DC's Rosie".
  6. ↑ "Who was AC/DC's Whole Lotta Rosie? - Dean Goodman %". 25 March 2022.
  7. ↑ Englehart, Murray (AC/DC: Maximum Rock & Roll, p. 162).
  8. ↑ "AC/DC History". AC/DC – Bedlam in Belgium. Retrieved 23 September 2006.
  9. ↑ "Guns N' Roses singles". Here Today... Gone to Hell. Retrieved 17 January 2007.
  10. ↑ Saulnier, Jason (30 September 2011). "Mark Evans Interview". Music Legends. Archived from the original on 7 November 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2013.
  11. ↑ "AC/DC – Whole Lotta Rosie" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
  12. ↑ "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 28, 1978" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
  13. ↑ "AC/DC – Whole Lotta Rosie" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  14. 1 2 "AC/DC". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 July 2013.
  15. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten 1978". Ultratop. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  16. ↑ "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1978". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  17. ↑ "Jaaroverzichten – Single 1978". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
  18. ↑ "British single certifications – AC/DC – Whole Lotta Rosie". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved 17 September 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.