Bassist Alan Longmuir, his younger brother Derek Longmuir, a drummer, along with school mate, lead singer Gordon "Nobby" Clark founded the group in Edinburgh, Scotland in 1967, as The Saxons. Shortly afterwards, seeking a less English-sounding moniker, they chose a new name allegedly by throwing a dart at a map of the United States. The dart landed on the map in the state of Arkansas, but since "Arkansas Rollers" did not sound quite right, and might also lead to problems with pronunciation, they tried again and this time the dart landed near the community of Bay City, Michigan.
The Bay City Rollers were managed from early on by the imposing and controversial Tam Paton, himself a former big band leader. Paton was notorious for his rigid control over all aspects of the band's career, including the shuffling in and out of group members at a very high rate. Short term members from this period include David Paton (member 1969-1970) and Billy Lyall (member 1969-1971), who went on to be founding members of another successful Edinburgh band, Pilot.
The Bay City Rollers received their first break when prominent record executive Dick Leahy caught their act by chance in an Edinburgh club. After signing with Leahy's Bell Records, the band's first hit was "Keep on Dancing" (UK #9, 1971), a cover of a 1965 Gentrys hit, recorded at the suggestion of pop impresario and producer Jonathan King. (Singer Nobby Clark was backed on vocals on "Keep on Dancing" by King himself.) Upon this release's success, they made guest appearances on BBC-TV's Top of the Pops. The group then won a Radio Luxembourg-sponsored song contest with the tune "Mañana", which was later popular in parts of Europe and in Israel.
Several non-charting singles were released over the following two years. This period did see the addition of long term members Eric Faulkner and Stuart "Woody" Wood.
In late 1973 they narrowly missed the UK chart with "Saturday Night", one of many singles written and produced for the band by the highly successful songwriting duo of Scotsman Bill Martin and Irishman Phil Coulter.
By the end of 1973, Nobby Clark had become disillusioned by the band's lack of success and decided to move on. He was replaced as lead singer by Leslie McKeown.
The five members at the very end of 1973 - the Longmuir brothers, Faulkner, Wood and McKeown - are generally referred to as the "classic line-up". In early 1974 McKeown hastily re-recorded lead vocals of the group's forthcoming single, "Remember (Sha La La La)", which became a sizable hit and a lead in to a series of UK chart hits.
Beginning with "Remember" (UK #6), the Rollers' popularity exploded, and they released a string of very successful hits on the British charts. Following in succession were "Shang-a-Lang" (UK #2), "Summerlove Sensation" (UK #3), and "All of Me Loves All of You" (UK #4).
By early 1975, they were one of the highest-selling acts in Britain. That year saw a successful UK tour (which prompted newspaper headlines about "Rollermania"), and a 20-week UK television series, Shang-a-Lang.
A cover of the Four Seasons' "Bye, Bye, Baby", stayed at #1 in the UK for six weeks in the spring of 1975, selling nearly a million copies to become the biggest seller of the year, and the subsequent single "Give a Little Love" topped the charts that summer, their second #1 hit. At the peak of their popularity in the UK, comparisons were even made to The Beatles.
By this time, BCR fans had a completely distinctive style of dress, the main elements of which were ankle length tartan trousers and tartan scarves which they had copied from another Tam Paton Band "Bilbo Baggins".
As the group's popularity swelled to superstardom in the UK, a concerted effort was made by Arista Records (the record company that evolved from Bell) to launch the Rollers in America. New Arista head Clive Davis was instrumental in grooming and overseeing the project. His work paid off as in early '76, the Rollers reached #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 with "Saturday Night", the song which had missed the UK chart completely two years earlier. A second US hit came with "Money Honey" which hit #9, and finally reaching a lackluster 62 with a cover version of Dusty's love power. Prior to that, they made their American TV debut on Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell singing Saturday Night.
The dark side of the band's unending schedule of tours and appearances was the great amount of stress the band members felt. By early '76, the strain of success (and the discomfort of a mature man in a teen band) had taken its toll on bassist Alan Longmuir, who decided to leave the group. He was replaced for 7 months by 17 year old Ian Mitchell - the first band member born outside of Edinburgh, Scotland (he was from Northern Ireland). With Mitchell, the group released an album titled Dedication, and hit the charts with a cover version of the Dusty Springfield song "I Only Want To Be With You", which reached US #12, as well as "Yesterday's Hero" and "Dedication".
As the Rollers' popularity waned, the shuffling of personnel continued: Mitchell quit the band, replaced by Pat McGlynn. The group's commercial success began to decline towards the end of the 1970s. In 1977, they covered an unsuccessful 1973 single by String Driven Thing, "It's a Game" to give them their final UK Top 20 hit (#16 in the spring), but "You Made Me Believe in Magic" could only make #34 in the summer. It managed to just crack the top ten in the United States, but this would be their final major success there too. Summer of 1977 saw the group release the It's a Game album and world tour as a four-piece group - McKeown, Wood, Faulkner and Derek Longmuir.
In 1978, Alan Longmuir reunited with the band for the recording of Strangers in the Wind. The release of this LP was timed to coincide with the debut of the Rollers' US television show "The Krofft Superstar Hour" later renamed "The Bay City Rollers Show" on the NBC network. The show was a poor match for the band. Their time in the teen-idol spotlight was slipping away and their music had matured and become more sophisticated compared to the bubblegum hits they had released in '75-'76. The show and album were each dismal failures.
Les McKeown left to pursue a solo career after an on-stage fight with Faulkner in Japan.The Rollers fired Tam Paton in 1979. South African-born Duncan Faure was hired to replace McKeown as lead vocalist and the band shortened its name to The Rollers. Three albums were issued under this name, including Voxx (1980) and 1981's Ricochet, before the group disbanded.
During the 1980s and 1990s, there were various short-lived revivals featuring some of the original members, including a New Year's Eve 1999 concert. Interest was rekindled in Britain by television documentaries about the group and a television-advertised compilation of greatest hits, which entered the UK charts on release in 2004 at its #11 peak.
Currently, there is one touring version using the group's name: Les McKeown's Legendary Bay City Rollers.
Alan Longmuir died on 2 July 2018 in an Edinburgh hospital after contracting an illness while on holiday in Mexico. He was 70.
Summer Love Sensation
Bay City Rollers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And the love that's in everyone's eye
Now the waiting the anticipating is over, over, over, over
Leave your books and get out in the sun
Summer's here and we're gonna have fun
Schooldays are past and at last you can really feel free
And you can run in the sun
Walk in the sand hand in hand
With the boy that you met on vacation
And on a warm summer night it's all right
When he says, baby I love you
Then boy oh boy you're enjoying that summer love sensation
Hitch a ride and get down to the sea
On the beach where the gang's gonna be
You can stay there all day
Still the fun isn't over, over, over, over
In the evening he's waiting for you
When you go to the beach barbecue
And you all have a ball dancing dusk until dawn
And you can run in the sun
Having fun with the one that you really love
Walk in the sand hand in hand
With the boy that you met on vacation
And on a warm summer night it's all right
When he says, baby I love you
Then boy oh boy you're enjoying that summer love sensation
[Repeat x7]
Do wop be do be do
And you can run in the sun
Having fun with the one that you really love
Walk in the sand hand in hand
With the boy that you met on vacation
And on a warm summer night it's all right
When he says, baby I love you
Then boy oh boy you're enjoying that summer love sensation
The lyrics of Bay City Rollers’ “Summer Love Sensation” capture the enthusiasm and joy of summer love. The singer sets the scene by referring to the sun high in the sky and the love in everyone’s eye, signaling that summer has arrived. He then encourages everyone to leave their books behind and head outside to enjoy the sun. The nostalgia of being free from school days and feeling the excitement of summer love is captured when he sings “at last you can really feel free.”
The chorus of the song emphasizes the thrill of experiencing love during the carefree days of summer, including running and having fun with the one you love along the beach, holding hands and walking in the sand, and enjoying the warm summer nights. The song’s highlight is when the beloved says, “Baby, I love you,” creating the perfect “summer love sensation.”
The song’s message is amplified by the upbeat melody, cheerful chorus, and lively drumbeat, all of which encapsulate the spirit of young love in summer. It’s reminiscent of the innocence and exhilaration of a time long gone, but always remembered.
Line by Line Meaning
Now the sun's sitting high in the sky
With the sun shining in the sky, summer is in full swing.
And the love that's in everyone's eye
Everyone is feeling the love and happiness that comes with the summer season.
Now the waiting the anticipating is over, over, over, over
All the waiting for the summer season to arrive is over, and it's time to enjoy it to the fullest.
Leave your books and get out in the sun
It's time to put aside schoolwork and embrace the warmth and joy of the summer sun.
Summer's here and we're gonna have fun
Summer is finally here, and it's time to relax, have fun, and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Schooldays are past and at last you can really feel free
The school year is over, and there's a sense of freedom that comes with summer, allowing for more leisure time and doing the things one truly enjoys.
And you can run in the sun
There's a feeling of freedom and joy that comes from running around in the sun without a care in the world.
Having fun with the one that you really love
Spending quality time with the person you truly care about adds to the excitement and romance of summer.
Walk in the sand hand in hand
Strolling hand in hand with your loved one on the warm sandy beaches is a romantic and enjoyable experience.
With the boy that you met on vacation
Meeting someone special on a summer vacation can create a memorable experience that adds to the summer love sensation.
And on a warm summer night it's all right
The warm summer nights add to the ambiance of a magical and romantic summer experience.
When he says, baby I love you
Hearing those three words from someone special can create an unforgettable feeling of bliss and joy.
Then boy oh boy you're enjoying that summer love sensation
Experiencing love during the summer season adds to the excitement and magic of the season, creating unforgettable memories that last a lifetime.
Hitch a ride and get down to the sea
Taking a road trip to the ocean for some fun in the sun and sand is a quintessential summer experience.
On the beach where the gang's gonna be
Spending time with friends and loved ones on the beach creates a fun and enjoyable atmosphere.
You can stay there all day
Having the freedom to stay on the beach all day without any obligations creates a sense of leisure and relaxation.
Still the fun isn't over, over, over, over
Even though the day at the beach may be ending, the fun and excitement of summer is never over.
In the evening he's waiting for you
Spending romantic evenings with the one you love adds to the summer love sensation and creates memories that last a lifetime.
When you go to the beach barbecue
Attending a beach barbecue with friends and loved ones is a fun and enjoyable summer activity.
And you all have a ball dancing dusk until dawn
Dancing the night away with friends and loved ones until the early morning hours is a fun and enjoyable summer experience.
Do wop be do be do
A callback to the catchy and upbeat doo-wop music from the time period in which the song was released.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILL MARTIN, PHILLIP MICHAEL COULTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Garry Wood
Probably my favourite of all the rollers hits. Sometimes you only realise The True Value of a Moment When it Becomes a Memory. 😎🏴
Simon Luckin
@Garry Wood. Definitely their very best song. And the awesome summer of '74. Amazing memories!
Ross Davidson
👌
who nose anyway
I love them all...but Maryanne was a Bside in Australia. And as a 12 year old girl....it got my eternal soul forever.
John Carbone
it had a Beach Boys Vibe about.. such a great song....
sandra zayas
The glorious days of the 70' listening to the bay city rollers,superr!!!!
Luther Buckhurst
Rip Les, you brought a lot of joy to a lot of people
mark lawton
I felt for Les. There was something dark and exploitative at the heart of Tam Paton’s vision for the Rollers, and Les looked really uncomfortable as the years dragged on. He didn’t fit with the other members.
Gary Ong
RIP Les McKeown, thanks for the memories 🙏
Karn allsop
One of the best boy band's from the 70's.
You had all us teenage girls hooked.
Rip Les my favourite 😢 💔