Rocks (song)

"Rocks" is a song by British group Primal Scream, taken from their fourth album, Give Out But Don't Give Up. This song was the first indication of Primal Scream's change in musical style, when compared to their previous album, 1991's Screamadelica, which featured dance leanings. "Rocks" (and the whole Give Out But Don't Give Up album) features a more classic rock structure inspired by artists such as T. Rex, The Rolling Stones and The Faces. Faces singer Rod Stewart would later cover the song himself, including it on his 1998 album When We Were the New Boys.[1][2] The intro is in a similar style to the drumbreak of Sly & The Family Stone's "Dance to the Music".

"Rocks"
Single by Primal Scream
from the album Give Out But Don't Give Up
A-side	"Funky Jam" (Hot Ass Mix)
Released	28 February 1994
Genre	Alternative rock blues rock
Length	3:36
Label	Creation
Songwriter(s)	Bobby Gillespie Andrew Innes Robert Young
Producer(s)	Tom Dowd
Primal Scream singles chronology
"'Dixie-Narco EP'" (1992) "Rocks" / "Funky Jam" (1994) "Jailbird" (1994)

"Rocks" was released as a single in 1994 and reached number seven on the UK Singles Chart, acting as a double A-side with another of the band's songs, "Funky Jam". Together they were the highest-charting Primal Scream single until "Country Girl" in 2006. In 2018, the song received a Silver certification from the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for sales and streams exceeding 200,000.

Track listing

All tracks written by Bobby Gillespie, Andrew Innes, Robert Young.

UK 7-inch and cassette (Creation)

1. "Rocks" – 3:36
2. "Funky Jam (Hot Ass Mix)" – 5:21

US 7-inch (Sire)

1. "Rocks" – 3:36
2. "Everybody Needs Somebody" – 5:22

UK 12-inch and CD (Creation)

1. "Rocks" – 3:36
2. "Funky Jam (Hot Ass Mix)" – 5:21
3. "Funky Jam (Club Mix)" – 5:27

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1994)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)[3]	43
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4]	50
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[5]	47
Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)[6]	21
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[7]	5
Ireland (IRMA)[8]	12
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[9]	8
Scotland (OCC)[10]	4
UK Singles (OCC)[11]	7
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[12]	7
US Alternative Airplay (Billboard)[13]	16
US Mainstream Rock (Billboard)[14]	29

Year-end charts

Chart (1994)	Position
Iceland (Íslenski Listinn Topp 40)[15]	76

Certifications

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[16]	Silver	200,000
sales+streaming figures based on certification alone

References

1. http://www.allmusic.com/song/rocks-mt0034047512
2. http://www.allmusic.com/album/when-we-were-the-new-boys-mw0000030102
3. "Australian-charts.com – Primal Scream – Rocks". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
4. "Ultratop.be – Primal Scream – Rocks" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
5. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 2508." RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
6. "Eurochart Hot 100 Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11 no. 12. 19 March 1994. p. 17. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
7. "Íslenski Listinn Topp 40 (02.6.–08.6. '94)". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 June 1994. p. 20. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
8. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Rocks / Funky Jam". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved 1 October 2019.
9. "Charts.nz – Primal Scream – Rocks". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
10. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
11. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
12. "Primal Scream Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved 11 April 2018.
13. "Primal Scream Chart History (Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
14. "Primal Scream Chart History (Mainstream Rock)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
15. "Árslistinn 1994". Dagblaðið Vísir (in Icelandic). 2 January 1995. p. 25. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
16. "British single certifications – Primal Scream – Rocks/Funky Jam". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 September 2018.