Rock and Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)
"Rock and Roll " is a 1973 song written and originally performed by Australian singer Kevin Johnson, most famously covered by American singer Mac Davis.
Johnson's version reached number four in Australia. The guitar solo in Johnson's version was played by Rory O'Donoghue. In Australia, the UK and Ireland, it was only Johnson's original version which charted.
Mac Davis cover
In the United States it was Mac Davis who had the primary hit version in 1974, although three versions of the song became American chart hits. His version reached #15 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Rock 'N' Roll" is the first track on his sixth studio album All the Love in the World. The song was the lead single of two issued from the LP, the other being the title track, and both of which became hit records.The Cats version
The Dutch band The Cats released a version in the Netherlands in 1973 on EMI Nederland. The song made to #3 on the Dutch charts Single Top 100 and Dutch Top 40.Terry Jacks version
In Canada, Terry Jacks got it into the charts in 1975. It also made it to number 97 on Billboard Hot 100. His version appeared in Y' Don't Fight the Sea and was a bonus song appearing in his 1974 album Seasons in the Sun.Other versions
New Zealand's very popular singer Craig Scott covered the song in 1974, reaching #13.In 1977, Gary Glitter recorded a version on his album Silver Star. There are recorded versions by Albert West, Craig Scott, Digby Richards and Sam Neely amongst others.
Chart history
Weekly charts
;Kevin Johnson original| Chart | Peak position |
| Australia | 4 |
| Germany | 47 |
| - | |
| UK | 23 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 73 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | 43 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 | 90 |
;The Cats cover
| Chart | Peak position |
| Belgium Flanders Top 30 | 15 |
| Netherlands Single Top 100 | 3 |
| Netherlands Dutch Top 40 | 3 |
;Craig Scott cover
| Chart | Peak position |
| New Zealand | 13 |
;Terry Jacks cover
| Chart | Peak position |
| Canada RPM Top Singles | 22 |
| Canada RPM Adult Contemporary | 5 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 97 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 | 92 |
Year-end charts
;Mac Davis cover| Chart | Peak position |
| Canada RPM Top Singles | 40 |
| Canada RPM Adult Contemporary | 14 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 15 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | 4 |
| U.S. Billboard Country | 29 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 | 16 |
| Chart | Rank |
| U.S. | 143 |