Gwen McCrae ~ Rockin’ Chair 1975 Soul Purrfection Version

Here’s the extended version you always wanted to hear! Did you know that “Rockin’ Chair“ was written with Betty Wright in mind? She turned it down, so it went to Gwen. Written by Clarence Reid and Willie Clarke, the song used the “rockin’“ metaphor as an invitation to partake of her feminine wiles. George and Gwen were signed together for Henry Stone’s TK Records, but the hits were hard to come by from the house producers Steve Alaimo and Brad Shapiro. George then took his wife on a client and managed her career giving her her first hit 1970’s “Lead Me On“. It is well known now that George’s #1 hit, “Rock Your Baby“ was written for Gwen and George felt that he should support his wife and find her a hit. Betty Wright was a rising star at the time, so after she declined to record “Rockin’ Chair“ George took the song to Gwen. The music track had already been recorded so all Gwen had to do was sing the song and sing it she did, making it her own with background vocals by George & Gwen the song perfectly dovetailed with “Rock Your Baby“ and was taken to be an answer song. George even sang “Rock Your Baby“ in the song to reinforce the connection. The song was released and it hit #1 R&B for one week peaking at a very respectable #9 on the national Hot100 Survey and became her signature There has NEVER been an official remix, so here is my take on what it should have been. I have always loved this song, so sexy and inviting and have gotten many, many requests to remix it. With my new toy I did just that! Time to start rockin’ that chair!