Rock Steady – Whispers | Top 40 Chart Performance, Story and Song Meaning
Chart Performance: Pop (#7) and R&B (#1); 1987
Story Behind The Song By Ed Osborne
Two groups from L.A. – The Scott Twins and the Eden Trio – joined forces as a five member outfit in the early 1960’s. In 1964 the teens recorded five singles for Dore Records as the Whispers, so named for their soft sound.
They switched to Soul Clock in 1969 and their second single there, The Time Will Come, rose to #17 R&B. Over the next decade the group scored a few Top 10 hits for Soul Train/ Solar Records, before breaking through nationally in 1980 with the #1 smash, And The Beat Goes On.
The Whispers next big triumph came in 1987 courtesy of novice producers Babyface and L.A. Reid. Babyface and Bo Watson of Midnight Star started a new song together at Face’s apartment; a song later titled Rock Steady after a keyboard stand called “Rok Steady.”
Although the Whispers wanted In The Mood – another Babyface composition – as the single, the label owner insisted they release Rock Steady, which became their second #1 record.
This content and all Song Meaning articles were created and written by Top 40 Contributing Editor Ed Osborne. © 2024 Ed Osborne. All Rights Reserved. In addition to these song meaning articles, Ed has written our “Year in Music 1960s-1990s” articles.
Produced by:
- L.A. Reid
- Babyface
Lyrics Written by:
- Babyface
- L.A. Reid
- Bo Watson
- Dwayne Ladd
Ed Osborne
Hi. I got my first record at age two and never looked back, spending a decades-long career in radio and the music business. Even after years of reading about and listening to all types of music, I am still fascinated by it. Apart from that, I’m endlessly intrigued by art, nature, and the inner lives of people (and dogs).