Rockin' Robin (song)

Infobox Single
Name = Rockin' Robin


Artist = Michael Jackson
from Album = Got to Be There
B-side = "Love Is Here and Now You're Gone"
Released = 1972
Format = 7" single
Recorded = Hitsville West, Los Angeles, California
Genre = Bubblegum pop/soul
Rock and roll
Length = 2:50
Label = Motown
Writer = Roger Thomas
Producer = Hal Davis
Chart position = * #2 (US)
** #2 (US R&B)
* #5 (UK)
Last single = "Got to be There"
(1971)
This single = "Rockin' Robin"
(1972)
Next single = "I Wanna Be Where You Are"
(1972)"Rockin' Robin" is a 1958 song by Bobby Day. The single was Day's only hit single, becoming a No. 2 Billboard Hot 100 hit. The song was covered by The Hollies on their first album and would be revived as a single again in 1972 by the then-teenaged Michael Jackson as his second single release on Motown. Jackson took his version to number two on the U.S. pop singles chart that year [http://classic.motown.com/artist.aspx?ob=ros&src=lb&aid=24] .

UK singer Lolly covered this song in 1999, as the B-side to her single "Big Boys Don't Cry." It peaked at no. 10 in the UK singles chart, in December of that year.

Credits

*Lead and background vocals by Michael Jackson
*Background vocals by Marlon Jackson
*Instrumentation by assorted Los Angeles musicians

Rockin' Robin in popular culture

In the episode of "The Office" entitled "The Return" (2007), the character Andy (Ed Helms) records a four part a cappella version of this song and uses it as his ring tone. Hilarity ensues when Andy's phone is stolen by Jim and Pam and thrown above the ceiling, just over Andy's desk. His coworkers call his phone repeatedly, with the song going off each time.

On a 2006 episode of the children's TV show "The Slammer", 11 year old Shaun Walsh sings it as an audience member.

Keke Palmer sings it on the street in downtown Philadelphia in the TV movie "The Wool Cap" (2004).

The animated "Rock-a-Doodle", released in 1992, features Rockin' Robin as a major part of the movie.

In the 1986 hit film "Stand by Me", during the beginning of the film one of the main characters, Gordie, walks to the treehouse, with this song playing.