Twenty Flight Rock

Song facts

From Wikipedia:

“Twenty Flight Rock” is a song originally performed by Eddie Cochran in the 1956 film comedy The Girl Can’t Help It, and released as a single in 1957. The song was published in 1957 as written by Ned Fairchild and Eddie Cochran by American Music Incorporated and Campbell Connelly and Company. Eddie Cochran’s contribution was primarily on the music. Cochran’s version was rockabilly-flavored, but artists of all genres would cover the song, including Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones […]

The first version of “Twenty Flight Rock” was recorded by Cochran in July 1956 at Goldstar Studio, with Connie Smith on the bull fiddle and Jerry Capehart thumping a soup carton. Cochran re-recorded the song sometime between May to August 1957. This later version was released in the United States (Liberty 55112) with “Cradle Baby” as a flipside, it was a moderate seller, but was more popular in Europe and had steady sales for a long period.

The song follows the twelve-bar blues format, using the device of counting upwards (“One flight, two flight, three flight, four/five, six, seven flight, eight flight, more“) in the refrain in a manner similar to “Rock Around the Clock“. The lyrics end on a surprisingly morbid note relative to other pop music songs of the time.

The barely 15-year-old Paul McCartney used “Twenty Flight Rock” as his first song when he auditioned for John Lennon on July 6, 1957 in Liverpool, England. The 16-year-old Lennon was impressed by the young McCartney’s ability to play the song on the guitar during their first official introductions at St. Peter’s Church Hall prior to a church garden fete. The good first impression of McCartney’s performance led to an invitation to join The Quarrymen – John Lennon’s band that would eventually evolve into The Beatles. On The Beatles Anthology, McCartney noted that: “I think what impressed him most was that I knew all the words.” […]

The first version of “Twenty Flight Rock” interpreted by Paul McCartney to be officially released was on Choba B CCCP, the Russian Album – the liner notes of the album explains:

Almost thirty years after his tragic death in a car crash Eddie Cochran still notches up hit singles in the U.K. Always one of the most popular of all US rock visitors to Britain (his tours with Gene Vincent are legend) covers of Cochran’s greatest hits have successfully served everyone from The Who through to Rod Stewart and even The Sex Pistols. However, ‘Twenty Flight Rock’ – sung by Eddie in the most endearing of all rock ‘n’ roll movies, ‘The Girl Can’t Help It’ – is probably his most elusive hit. Again it’s all down to perfect timing and it’s because of this that Paul’s spot-on treatment succeeds where all other covers have previously failed.

You must feel so fucking blessed to have had the life you’ve had.

I’d be mad not to feel blessed, wouldn’t I? I’ve been a lucky bugger and so many things that happened to me were pure chance. So much of it was an amazing accident. If I’d never gone to that fete behind the church and met John in 1957. If I hadn’t known the chords to “Twenty Flight Rock” and “Be Bop A Lula” which got me into the band, I might have got the elbow and ended up playing in some little pub band. And so might John, George and Ringo.

That’s the miracle of it right there. The chances of those four people coming together as they did. I’m lucky, very fucking lucky, just to still be vibing and loving life and holding onto my enthusiasm for things.

Paul McCartney – From interview with UNCUT, July 2004

Last updated on September 3, 2023

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