| "Rockin' Robin" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byBobby Day | ||||
| from the album Rockin' with Robin | ||||
| B-side | "Over and Over" | |||
| Released | June 27, 1958 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:31 (single version) | |||
| Label | Class | |||
| Songwriter | Leon René | |||
| Producer | Jimmie Thomas | |||
| Bobby Day singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official audio | ||||
| "Rockin' Robin" onYouTube | ||||
"Rockin' Robin" (originally released as "Rock-In Robin" on theClass Records 45 single) is a song written byLeon René under the pseudonym Jimmie Thomas, and recorded by American singerBobby Day in 1958. It was Day's biggest hit single, becoming a number two hit on theBillboard Hot 100, and spent one week at the top of the R&B sales chart.[4]Michael Jackson recorded his own version of the song in 1972, which also achieved success.
"Rockin' Robin" is in thepublic domain, as the owners never renewed the copyright.[8]
| Chart (1958) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (Kent Music Report)[9] | 9 |
| Canada (CHUM Charts)[10] | 3 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[11] | 2 |
| USBillboardRhythm & Blues Records[11] | 1 |
| "Rockin' Robin" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byMichael Jackson | ||||
| from the albumGot 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 | Leon René | |||
| Producers |
| |||
| Michael Jackson singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Official audio | ||||
| "Rockin' Robin" onYouTube | ||||
In 1972,Michael Jackson released a cover of "Rockin' Robin". It was the second single from his debut solo albumGot to Be There, afterthe title track. It was the most successful single from the album, hitting number one on theCash Box singles chart, and peaking at number two on theBillboard Hot 100 (the same highest position as the original), behind "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" byRoberta Flack.[14] It also peaked at number twoBillboardsoul singles chart, behind "In the Rain" bythe 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 |
| New Zealand (Listener)[21] | 16 |
| Swedish Singles Chart (Kvällstoppen)[22] | 1 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[23] | 3 |
| USBillboardBest Selling Soul Singles[24] | 2 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[24] | 2 |
| USCash Box Top 100[25] | 1 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom (BPI)[26] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
| United States (RIAA)[28] | Platinum | 2,000,000[27] |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. | ||
In 1999, English singerLolly released a cover of "Rockin' Robin" as adouble A-side single with "Big Boys Don't Cry". It was a top 10 hit on theUK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 10 in December of that year and remaining on the chart for a total of 11 weeks.[29]
Bobby Day wrote the song and used it as the B-side to his 1958 novelty hit "Rockin' Robin".
