Streetwalkers – Daddy Rolling Stone

I love the energy of this song. It has rock, soul, gospel, a tinge of blues plus a super lead singer. They did a great job of this Otis Blackwell song.

CB sent a link months ago on this band and got lost in the shuffle. I really like Roger Chapman’s voice. They were not a singles band…more like really great album tracks and I was enjoying them on my work trip last week. This song, however, would have fit in on the radio beside the Stones with no problem.

After the breakup of the band Family in 1973, Roger Chapman and Charlie Whitney decided to continue their musical collaboration. They initially formed a group called Chapman-Whitney Streetwalkers, which later became simply Streetwalkers. They knew the lineup would be fluid and it was from then on.

The initial lineup included Chapman and Whitney, along with other musicians such as John Wetton (bass), who later became famous with King Crimson and Asia, and drummer Ian Wallace, also from King Crimson. Another bass player they had,  Nicko McBrain, later joined Iron Maiden. Ric Grech (bass player for Blind Faith) was also with them at times.

This song was on their album Red Card released in 1976. It’s full of great songs. That is the album I’ve been listening to recently. Red Card peaked at #20 on the UK charts in 1976.

The band had some internal tensions and the changing musical tastes (disco) led to the band’s disbandment in 1977. Roger Chapman and Charlie Whitney went on to pursue solo projects, with Roger Chapman achieving some success as a solo artist in Europe.

They released 4 studio albums, 2 live, and one greatest hits. They were a band that deserved more attention globally than they got. I’m also going to check the band Family out more now. Below is a video of them on the Old Grey Whistle Test…it should be ready to play Daddy Rolling Stone.

Daddy Rolling Stone

Now girls you think you’ve had lovin’ (yeah)
And girls you think you’ve had fun (yeah)
And sisters you ain’t seen nothin’ (yeah) till I come along

(Daddy Rolling) Oh, what’s my name ?
(Daddy Rolling) Yeah yeah yeah, what’s my game ?
(Daddy Rolling) Oh well, I’m Daddy, I’m Daddy, Daddy Rolling Stone, yeah yeah yeah

I’ve got a friend named Tony (yeah)
He’s got a girl named Cherise (yeah)
I’m gonna get that girl though he’s twice my size and I know I can do it like this

(Daddy Rolling) Oh, sing it to me
(Daddy Rolling) Yeah yeah yeah …
(Daddy Rolling) Oh well, I’m Daddy, I’m Daddy, Daddy Rolling Stone

That’s my name

Now girls you think you’ve had lovin’ (yeah)
And girls you think you’ve had fun (yeah)
And sisters you ain’t seen nothin’ (yeah) till I come along

(Daddy Rolling) Oh, what’s my name ?
(Daddy Rolling) Yeah, what’s my game ?
(Daddy Rolling) Oh well, I’m Daddy, I’m Daddy

Unknown's avatar

Author: Badfinger (Max)

Power Pop fan, Baseball, Beatles, Alternative music, old movies, and tv show fan. Also anything to do with pop culture in the 60s and 70s... I'm also a songwriter, bass and guitar player. Not the slightest bit interested in politics at all.

48 thoughts on “Streetwalkers – Daddy Rolling Stone”

      1. Thank you CB. My doc at UT Southwest told me the five year mark usually means you beat it, so I counted every day of those five. Yeah, I played country music for a long time, and still do.

        Liked by 1 person

  1. I mostly know Roger Chapman by name. One of the songs I remember was his collaboration with Mike Oldfield for an ’80s Oldfield song called “Shadow On the Wall.” I like “Daddy Rolling Stone” way more, at least from today’s perspective.

    That Gibson double neck in the Old Grey Whistle Test clip is wild and looks like the Jimi Page guitar he used for Stairway? Must be super heavy!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thanks for listening! They are really good man… oh I will be late reading blogs today… Church is having a revival so I’ll be here longer…

      Liked by 1 person

      1. You know what gets me more than the solos…and I love the whah whah effect… The biting rhythm he puts in there especially in the first few minutes. He plays a counter melody to the melody…a hard crunching one.

        We were talking about sound and tone the other day…he has the tone down.

        Like

      2. Charlie was under the radar but other musicians at the time talked about his playing and sound. I guess because i listened to him a lot I rank him high with the guitar players I like. I love that cut. Bob Tench is another guy that plays on on lot of music I have. Van, Beck, Humble Pie etc.

        Liked by 1 person

      3. He was under the radar.
        Bob Tench I’ve heard of quite a bit. The reason is he played in Van Morrison’s band…that told me all I needed to know.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. Currently watching a clip of a 1975 Rockpalast concert. Sounds mighty sweet!

        Both guitarists are great. Is Charlie the dude with the double-neck? He really does remind me of Jimmy Page, especially from the distance.

        Liked by 2 people

      5. Christian listen to the riff he throws in the rhythm part in the first few minutes.

        Like

  2. Another band I’d never heard of. They had John Wetting though so that’s something going for them right there. This one doesn’t sound all that commercial but does sound like a band who could have comfortably opened up for the Rolling Stones back then and not been booed offstage.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Good…I try my best on weekends to get some new blood in if possible.
      I thought of some of the Stones songs when I heard it like All Down The Line… they sound really good and a lot of talent in there.

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Streetwalkers (and Family) were terrific bands. Saw Streetwalkers in 1976 when they played in the Who Puts the Boot In tour.

    And I bagged a 2nd hand copy of their Live, Double LP from the following year.

    Good to read you like ’em and helping spread the word, Max. 😃

    Liked by 3 people

  4. Where the hell did you find that clip? Just watching all that hardened bar band makes me want to be there. Another no frills bunch, just playing and digging what they are doing.Charlie is another guy that can tear off some solos. I have a “live” one coming up from these guys. Phil Alvin does another killer version of this cool song off of his first solo record. You a guy that gives my ear some enjoyable tunes. Crank it. deKE might even chime in if he knows Niko is on the drums.
    Did I send you a clip of Rogers latest cut? It is so cool when you lay it beside this early stuff.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. This is a fantastic clip of them! I like the first song as well that I blanked out by picking up on the second one.
      Oh yes…I found Phil Alvin’s version while looking for a live version of this one. It’s great.

      I don’t think so CB…I don’t remember getting his latest stuff.

      Like

      1. He still has it man… still has that commanding voice and the music is awesome…love those power chords that follow him.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. That did come out of nowhere…he is more popular in the UK…like Tom Robinson…
        Going through some of the comments…a few UK guys had their albums and one or two saw them…one opening up for The Who…which is very cool.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I agree…I liked that cut as well. I also love that title…I’m jealous I didn’t think of it first. Would make a good vindictive title of a song.

      Liked by 1 person

    1. Thanks for listening Lisa….I love finding ones that sound good that no one knows… they are very different and really good.

      Liked by 1 person

Leave a comment