| The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle | |
| Type: | single |
| Artist: | Sex Pistols |
| Album: | The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle |
| B-Side: | Rock Around The Clock |
| Released: | 12 September 1979 |
| Recorded: | Ramport Studios 1978 |
| Genre: | Punk rock |
| Length: | 3:20 |
| Label: | Virgin |
| Producer: | Steve Jones and Paul Cook |
| Prev Title: | C'mon Everybody |
| Prev Year: | 1979 |
| Next Title: | (I'm Not Your) Steppin' Stone |
| Next Year: | 1980 |
"The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle" is the title song of The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle movie soundtrack album.
The single was released on 12 September 1979 and featured vocals by Edward Tudor-Pole on both sides.
According to producer Dave Goodman, both songs were recorded at The Who's Ramport Studios[1] with himself playing bass on both tracks.[2] According to Edward Tudor-Pole, the song originally featured lead vocals by Steve Jones.[3]
The final vocals were recorded live on the second day of an audition for singers specially filmed for inclusion in The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle movie. Vocal takes by Edward Tudor-Pole and three others were recorded and later edited together.[3] According to the soundtrack album record sleeve, filming and recording took place at the Duchess Theatre[4] in June 1978, however John Lydon wrote in his autobiography that it was actually the Rainbow Theatre in Finsbury Park[5] near his parents' home.
Vocals for the B-side, “Rock Around The Clock”, were recorded several weeks later.[3]
The song was covered by several bands, including Chaotic Dischord, Lolita No.18, Niblick Henbane, Rumble Militia