"A Rockin' Good Way (to Mess Around and Fall in Love)" is a song first recorded in 1958 by Priscilla Bowman, on the Abner Records label (ABNER DJ 1018). Bowman was given vocal backing by The Spaniels.
Dinah Washington and Brook Benton version In 1960 the song was recorded as a pop and R&B duet by Dinah Washington and Brook Benton. The single was the second pairing for the singers and, like their first single together, it went to number 1 on the R&B chart and was a top ten pop single as well.
The song was written by Benton, Clyde Otis and Luchi de Jesus. The single, with the song title styled "A Rockin' Good Way (to Mess Around and Fall in Love)", included orchestra arranged and conducted by Belford Hendricks.
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1960)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)28Canada (CHUM)17US Cash Box Top 1005
Year-end charts Chart (1960)PositionUS Billboard Top 10075US Cash Box Top 10044
Shakin' Stevens and Bonnie Tyler version
A duet by Welsh singers Shakin' Stevens and Bonnie Tyler was released on 30 December 1983; it made number 5 in the UK Singles Chart and number 1 in Ireland. It was included on Stevens' 1984 album The Bop Won't Stop. The B-side was a live recording by Stevens of "Why Do You Treat Me This Way?" at the Birmingham Odeon.
Charts
Weekly charts +Weekly chart performance for "A Rockin' Good Way"Charts (1984)PeakpositionAustralia (Kent Music Report)21
Year-end charts +1984 year-end chart performance for "A Rockin' Good Way"Chart (1984)PositionBelgium (Ultratop Flanders)60New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)33
References
External links "A Rockin' Good Way (to Mess Around and Fall in Love)" at 45cat.com