# Rock and Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)

"Rock and Roll (I Gave You the Best Years of My Life)" is a 1973 song written and originally performed by Australian singer Kevin Johnson, most famously covered by American singer Mac Davis.
Johnson's version reached number four in Australia. The guitar solo in Johnson's version was played by Rory O'Donoghue. In Australia, Ireland and Great Britain, it was only Johnson's original version which charted.

## Mac Davis cover version

In the United States it was Mac Davis who had the primary hit version in 1974, although three versions of the song became American chart hits. His version reached #15 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Rock 'N' Roll" is the first track on his sixth studio album All the Love in the World. The song was the lead single of two issued from the LP, the other being the title track, and both of which became hit records.

## The Cats cover version

The Dutch band The Cats released a version in the Netherlands in 1973 on EMI Nederland. The song made to #3 on the Dutch charts Single Top 100 and Dutch Top 40.

## Terry Jacks cover version

In Canada Terry Jacks got it into the charts in 1975. It also made it to number 97 on Billboard Hot 100. His version appeared in Y' Don't Fight the Sea and was a bonus song appearing in his 1974 album Seasons in the Sun.

## Other cover versions

New Zealand's very popular singer Craig Scott covered the song in 1974, reaching #13.
In 1977 Gary Glitter recorded a version on his album Silver Star. (His version is now banned from TV and from radio airplay)
Over the years there have been recorded versions by other artists, these include Albert West, Digby Richards, and Samuel Neely.
In 1973 Joe Dassin recorded Les plus belles années de ma vie (The best years of my life), a French cover.
In 1975 Peter Belli recorded a Danish cover, called Rock'N'Roll, Jeg Gav Dig Mine Aller Bedste År (Rock'n Roll, All My Best Years).
In 1976 Brimkló recorded an Icelandic cover, called Rock'n Roll, Öll Mín Bestu Ár (Rock'n Roll, All My Best Years).
In 1975 Esko Rahkonen recorded a Finnish cover, called Rock'n'Roll sen teit (Rock'n'Roll You Did It). The same version was recorded also by Kai Hyttinen, also in 1975. The Finnish lyrics were written by Veikko 'Vexi' Salmi.

## Chart history
### Weekly charts
#### Kevin Johnson original

| Chart (1973–74) | Peak position |
| Australia (Go-Set) | 4 |
| Germany | 47 |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 8 |
| UK (The Official Charts Company) | 23 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 73 |
| U.S. Billboard Adult Contemporary | 43 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 | 90 |
| Chart (1975) | Peak position |
| Ireland (IRMA) | 18 |

#### The Cats cover

| Chart (1973–74) | Peak position |
| Belgium Flanders Top 30 (Belgium) | 15 |
| Netherlands Single Top 100 | 3 |
| Netherlands Dutch Top 40 | 3 |

#### Craig Scott cover

| Chart (1974) | Peak position |
| New Zealand | 13 |

#### Mac Davis cover

| Chart (1974–75) | Peak position |
| Canada RPM Top Singles | 40 |
| Canada RPM Adult Contemporary | 14 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | 15 |
| U.S. Billboard Easy Listening | 4 |
| U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles | 29 |
| U.S. Cash Box Top 100 | 16 |
| Chart (1975) | Rank |
| U.S. (Joel Whitburn's Pop Annual) | 143 |