Picariello grew up in the North Boston suburb of Lynn and learned to play guitar as a boy. In high school, he formed a band and tried to emulate the hard-driving style of Little Richard. Picariello eventually signed with Philadelphia label Swan Records, a recording studio in which Dick Clark had an interest. Clark brought Picariello national exposure through numerous appearances on Clark's TV show, American Bandstand. Cannon holds the record for most appearances by a performer (110) on Bandstand! He and Clark continued to collaborate on Bandstand reunion concerts long after the TV show ended.
By 1959, Picariello was singing using the stage name, Freddy Cannon. He was also called "Boom Boom" because of his thundering musical renditions and the "Cannon" name. From 1959 through the early 60s, Cannon had three Top Ten hit:
Palisades Park
Tallahassee Lassie (A song written by Cannon's mother. It was also the first of 22 songs which appeared on the Billboard Charts for Cannon.)
Way Down Yonder in New Orleans
On June 24, 1966, Cannon played himself and performed one of his own songs during the final episode of the teen soap opera "Never Too Young." The role of Cannon was played by David Julian Hirsh in George Clooney's 2003 film, "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind.'
As of 2006, Cannon was a resident of Tarzana, California, and continued performing in concert.
If You Were A Rock And Roll Record
Freddy Cannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You would be a hit, I know
If you were a rock and roll record
You'd be played on every record show
You'd go round and around
And around and around
They'd never let you stop all day
With the grooviest sound
You would be the one
That everybody would play
If you were a musical platter
Soon you would be number one
If I was your phonograph needle
Ooh, it would be such fun
We'd go round and around
And around and around
And, baby, before we were through
If you were a rock and roll record
I know they'd sell a million of you
You'd go round and around
And around and around
They'd never let you stop all day
Around and around
With the grooviest sound
You would be the one
That everybody would play
If you were a musical platter
Soon you would be number one
If I was your phonograph needle
Ooh, it would be such fun
We'd go round and around
And around and around
And, baby, before we were through
If you were a rock and roll record
I know they'd sell a million of you
I know they'd sell a million of you
I know they'd sell a million of you
I know they'd sell a million of you
The song "If You Were A Rock And Roll Record" by Freddy Cannon is a fun and catchy tune that expresses the singer's admiration for a hypothetical rock and roll record. The lyrics suggest that if the subject of the song were a record, it would undoubtedly be a hit and played on every record show. The lines "You'd go round and around, and around and around, they'd never let you stop all day" highlight the energetic and infectious nature of rock and roll and how it can captivate listeners for extended periods.
As the song continues, the singer imagines themselves as a phonograph needle, playing the record over and over again, further emphasizing the record's irresistibility. The repetition of the lines "We'd go round and around, and around and around" reiterates the perpetual nature of the music and how it never gets old. The repeated affirmations that the record would sell a million copies suggest that the singer believes that the song would be immensely popular and loved by all.
Overall, the song's upbeat and playful tone, combined with its catchy lyrics and catchy melody, make it an enjoyable and entertaining tune that captures the essence of rock and roll music.
Line by Line Meaning
If you were a rock and roll record
Addressing the hypothetical scenario of the person being a rock and roll record
You would be a hit, I know
Expressing confidence that the person would be popular if they were a rock and roll record
If you were a rock and roll record
Reiterating the hypothetical scenario of the person being a rock and roll record
You'd be played on every record show
Asserting that the person would be played frequently on music shows
You'd go round and around
Describing the motion of a record as it plays
And around and around
Repeating the earlier described motion
They'd never let you stop all day
Emphasizing the continuous nature of the record's playtime
Around and around
Again describing the circular motion of the record
With the grooviest sound
Highlighting the appealing nature of the record's music
You would be the one
Stressing the significance of the record's popularity
That everybody would play
Suggesting that everyone would want to hear and play the record
If you were a musical platter
Rephrasing the earlier hypothetical scenario of the person being a record
Soon you would be number one
Predicting the record's quick rise to the top of the charts
If I was your phonograph needle
Changing the subject to talk about the interaction between the record and the needle that plays it
Ooh, it would be such fun
Expressing enjoyment and excitement over playing the record
And, baby, before we were through
Transitioning back to the hypothetical scenario of the person being a record and the artist being the needle
If you were a rock and roll record
Reiterating the initial hypothetical scenario
I know they'd sell a million of you
Expressing confidence that the record would sell many copies and be very popular
You'd go round and around
Describing the circular motion of the record
And around and around
Repeating the earlier described motion
They'd never let you stop all day
Emphasizing the continued playtime of the record
Around and around
Again describing the circular motion of the record
With the grooviest sound
Reasserting the record's appealing music
You would be the one
Stressing the importance and popularity of the record
That everybody would play
Repeating the earlier suggestion that everyone would want to hear and play the record
If you were a musical platter
Rephrasing again the hypothetical scenario of the person being a record
Soon you would be number one
Repeating the prediction that the record would quickly rise to the top of the charts
If I was your phonograph needle
Returning once more to the interaction between the record and the needle that plays it
Ooh, it would be such fun
Reasserting the enjoyment and excitement of playing the record
And, baby, before we were through
Returning again to the hypothetical scenario of the person being a record and the singer being the needle
If you were a rock and roll record
Reiterating again the initial hypothetical scenario
I know they'd sell a million of you
Repeating the earlier expression of confidence in the record's popularity
Writer(s): Jay Goodis
Contributed by Jack L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.