Whole Lotta Rosie

2008-11-16T10:55:32Z

Owlgorithm: /* Personnel */ added internal link to rhythm guitar

{{Infobox Single
| Name = Whole Lotta Rosie
| Cover = AC DC wholelottarosie.jpg
| Artist = [[AC/DC]]
| from Album = [[Let There Be Rock (Australian album)|Let There Be Rock]]
| B-side = "[[Dog Eat Dog (song)|Dog Eat Dog]]"
| Released = 1978
| Format = [[Compact Disc|CD]]
| Recorded = 1977
| Genre = [[Hard rock]]
| Length = 5:20
| Label = [[Atco Records|ATCO]]
| Producer = [[Harry Vanda]], [[George Young (rock musician)|George Young]]
| Chart position =
| Last single = "[[Let There Be Rock (song)|Let There Be Rock]]" / "[[Problem Child (song)|Problem Child]]"<br>(1977)
| This single = "Whole Lotta Rosie"<br>(1978)
| Next single = "[[Rock 'n' Roll Damnation]]" / "[[Sin City (song)|Sin City]]"<br>(1978)
}}
{{Infobox Song 
| Name = Whole Lotta Rosie
| Cover =
| Artist = [[AC/DC]]
| Album = [[Let There Be Rock (Australian album)|Let There Be Rock]]
| Released = March 1977
| track_no = 8
| Recorded = January-February 1977
| Genre = [[Hard rock]]
| Length = 5:33
| Writer = [[Angus Young]], [[Bon Scott]], [[Malcolm Young]]
| Label = [[Atco Records|ATCO]]
| Producer = [[Harry Vanda]], [[George Young (rock musician)|George Young]]
| Chart Position =
| prev = "[[Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be]]"
| prev_no = 7
| next = N/A
}}
{{Infobox Song 
| Name = Whole Lotta Rosie

| Artist = [[AC/DC]]
| Album = [[Let There Be Rock (International album)|Let There Be Rock]]
| Released = [[June 23]], [[1977]]
| track_no = 8
| Length = 5:33
| prev = "[[Hell Ain't a Bad Place to Be]]"
| prev_no = 7
| next = N/A
}}

"'''Whole Lotta Rosie'''" is a song by [[Australia]]n [[hard rock]] band [[AC/DC]]. It is the eighth and final track on the band's fourth Australian album, ''[[Let There Be Rock (Australian album)|Let There Be Rock]]'', released in Australia in March [[1977 in music|1977]], and was written by [[Angus Young]], [[Malcolm Young]], and [[Bon Scott]]. It is also the eighth and final track on the [[Let There Be Rock (International album)|international version]] of the album, released in June the same year.

It was also released as a single in 1978, with ''Let There Be Rock'' album track "[[Dog Eat Dog (song)|Dog Eat Dog]]" as the [[b side]].

== Composition ==
The song is about an obese woman, Rosie, with whom the singer has had [[sexual relations]]. In addition to pointing out the woman's obesity, the singer finds her to be one of the most talented lovers he's ever experienced.

The song's first verse reveals Rosie's substantial physical measurements (42"-39"-56"), and that she weighs nineteen [[stone (weight)|stone]] (approximately 266 pounds/120 kilograms). On the ''[[Live from the Atlantic Studios]]'' disc, however, Scott describes the titular woman as "...a Tasmanian devil... weighs 305 pounds...," a measurement that differs from the "19 stone" lyric.

== Influences ==
The song's lyrics are based on Bon Scott's actual sexual experiences with an obese woman, whose first name was Rosie.<ref>Bon Scott Interview, ''Bonfire'' Box Set, Disc 4</ref> There is an ongoing search for the real Rosie, although she has yet to be found.<ref>[http://www.theadvocate.com.au/news.cgi?type=1&id=254224 YourGuide - News, classifieds and community in your town]</ref>

Some believe the title is a reference to the [[Led Zeppelin]] classic "[[Whole Lotta Love]]",{{Fact|date=April 2007}} but it is more likely just a variation of the idiomatic English phrase ''"a whole lot of [something]"'': hence the chorus lyric, "you're a whole lotta woman".

== Early version ==
The song's main riff was also featured on an earlier recording with different lyrics, titled "Dirty Eyes", which saw official release on ''[[Volts (album)|Volts]]'', part of the ''[[Bonfire (album)|Bonfire]]'' box set. "Dirty Eyes" features a different chord progression in the chorus, as well as a slower tempo than "Rosie".

== Live recordings and performances ==
One of AC/DC's most popular songs, "Whole Lotta Rosie" has been included on each of the band's official live albums: three with Scott (''[[If You Want Blood You've Got It]]'', ''[[Live from the Atlantic Studios]]'', ''[[Let There Be Rock: The Movie]]'', the latter two released in 1997 as part of the ''[[Bonfire (album)|Bonfire]]'' box set), and also three with Brian Johnson (released on ''[[Live (AC/DC album)|Live]]'', ''[[Live: 2 CD Collector's Edition]]'', and also the [[Stiff Upper Lip Tour Edition|tour edition]] of ''[[Stiff Upper Lip]]''). The only other song that appears on all five of these releases is "[[The Jack]]". A live video of "Whole Lotta Rosie" is also featured on the DVD [[Family Jewels]], from a 1978 performance on the [[BBC]]'s TV concert series [[Rock Goes To College]], on which Scott refers to Rosie as the "biggest, fattest woman who ever [[fornication|fornicated]]."

Current live performances of "Whole Lotta Rosie" are accompanied by a giant, inflatable "Rosie" as seen on the ''[[Live at Donington (AC/DC)|Live at Donington]]'' video. In March 2005, [[Q magazine|''Q'' magazine]] placed the live version from ''If You Want Blood...'' at number 16 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks.

== Trivia ==
{{Trivia|date=March 2008}}
*After the death of Scott in 1980, [[Brian Johnson]] sang "Whole Lotta Rosie" in his audition as Scott's successor.<ref name="acdc.cc">{{cite web | title=AC/DC History | work=AC/DC - Bedlam in Belgium | url=http://www.ac-dc.cc | accessdate = 2006-09-23}}</ref>

*Angus the bull, the mascot of [[Aberdeen F.C.]], runs out to the riff from "Whole Lotta Rosie".

*A live cover version, performed by [[Guns N' Roses]], can be found on their "Live from the Jungle" EP, a CD that was released in Japan but is currently discontinued.

*When they play the song live, the crowd usually yells "Angus" between the opening chords until Bon/Brian starts to sing. This can be heard in the live album ''[[If You Want Blood You've Got It]]'', as well as following live performances.

*[[Sweet (band)|Sweet]] has covered the song live.

== Personnel ==
*[[Bon Scott]] - [[lead vocals]]
*[[Angus Young]] - [[electric guitar|lead guitar]]
*[[Malcolm Young]] - [[rhythm guitar]]
*[[Mark Evans (musician)|Mark Evans]] - [[bass guitar|bass]]
*[[Phil Rudd]] - [[drum kit|drums]]

== Production ==
*Producers: [[Harry Vanda]], [[George Young (rock musician)|George Young]]

== External links ==
*[http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=33:fnem9kb7kr5t Review of Whole Lotta Rosie by All Music Guide]

== References ==
<div style="font-size:90%;"><references/></div>

[[Category:AC/DC songs]]

[[nl:Whole Lotta Rosie]]

Wikipedia - Benutzerbeiträge [de]

Whole Lotta Rosie