Clip description
This 30-second clip from 'Eagle Rock’ includes the start of the song and most of the first verse. It features the song’s arresting opening – ‘Now listen!’ – and the infectious guitar riff.
Curator’s notes
Ross Wilson came up with the memorable opening riff while practising his guitar picking – trying to play like John Lee Hooker. The title came next – after Wilson spotted a picture in a Sunday paper from the early 20th Century of African Americans dancing in a juke joint. The image was captioned ‘cutting the pigeon wing and doing the eagle rock’. The song grew from there.
Wilson was also inspired by 1920s and ‘30s Mississipi country blues and ragtime – a guitar version of a ragtime piano. The cheery, good-natured feel of the record harks back to the doo-wop bands of the 1950s and ensured its enduring popularity.
In 2001, APRA declared ‘Eagle Rock’ runner-up for best Australian song of all time, second only to Friday on My Mind (1966) by the Easybeats.
Now listen,
Huh we’re steppin’ out.
I’m gonna turn around,
Gonna turn around once and we’ll do the Eagle Rock.
Oh momma!
Oh you’re rockin’ swell!
Hmm yeah you do it so well,
Well we do it so well when we do the Eagle Rock…
Thanks to the generosity of the rights holders, we are able to offer 'Eagle Rock' from the music Eagle Rock as a download.
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australianscreen is produced by the National Film and Sound Archive. By using the website you agree to comply with the terms and conditions described elsewhere on this site. The NFSA may amend the 'Conditions of Use’ from time to time without notice.
All materials on the site, including but not limited to text, video clips, audio clips, designs, logos, illustrations and still images, are protected by the Copyright Laws of Australia and international conventions. All rights are reserved.
When you access australianscreen you agree that:
- You may retrieve materials for information only.
- You may save, copy, print, distribute or download materials for your own personal use or for non-commercial educational purposes. Commercial exploitation of materials on this website is prohibited.
- The National Film and Sound Archive’s permission must be sought to amend any information in the materials, unless otherwise stated in notices throughout the Site.
ANY UNAUTHORISED USE OF MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY RESULT IN CIVIL AND CRIMINAL LIABILITY.
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