"Roxette" is the debut single by the band Dr. Feelgood released in 1974, from their 1975 debut album ''

Down by the Jetty ''Down by the Jetty'' is the debut album by English rock band Dr. Feelgood, released in January 1975. The band's Johnny Kidd & the Pirates-influenced originals ("Keep It Out of Sight") appear alongside covers material like " Bonie Moronie" a ...

''.

Release

"Roxette" was issued as a

single Single may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Single (music), a song release Songs * "Single" (Natasha Bedingfield song), 2004 * "Single" (New Kids on the Block and Ne-Yo song), 2008 * "Single" (William Wei song), 2016 * "Single", by ...

in the UK in November 1974. It failed to reach the UK Singles Chart. It was written by

Wilko Johnson John Andrew Wilkinson (12 July 1947 – 21 November 2022), better known by the stage name Wilko Johnson, was an English guitarist, singer, songwriter and occasional actor. He was a member of the pub rock/rhythm and blues band Dr. Feelgood in ...

and produced by Vic Maile. The

B-side The A-side and B-side are the two sides of phonograph record, vinyl records and Compact cassette, cassettes, and the terms have often been printed on the labels of two-sided music recordings. The A-side of a Single (music), single usually ...

of the record is a cover of "

(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" is a popular rhythm and blues song, composed in 1946 by American songwriter Bobby Troup. The lyrics relate a westward roadtrip on U.S. Route 66, a highway which traversed the western two-thirds of the U.S. from Chi ...

". Later, in September 1976, a live recording of the song was issued by the band as a single, with a live recording of "Keep It Out of Sight" on the B-side. The live recording of the track also appeared on Dr. Feelgood's 1976

live album An album is a collection of audio recordings (e.g., music) issued on a medium such as compact disc (CD), vinyl (record), audio tape (like 8-track or cassette), or digital. Albums of recorded sound were developed in the early 20th centur ...

, ''

Stupidity Stupidity is a lack of intelligence, understanding, reason, or wit, an inability to learn. It may be innate, assumed or reactive. The word ''stupid'' comes from the Latin word ''stupere''. Stupid characters are often used for comedy in fictio ...

''. "Roxette" was also later included on Dr. Feelgood's 1997's

compilation album A compilation album comprises Album#Tracks, tracks, which may be previously released or unreleased, usually from several separate recordings by either one Performing arts#Performers, performer or by several performers. If the recordings are from ...

, '' Twenty Five Years of Dr. Feelgood''. Johnson re-recorded the song with

Norman Watt-Roy Norman Joseph Watt-Roy (born 15 February 1951) is an English musician, arranger and composer. Watt-Roy's music career spans more than 40 years. He came to prominence in the late 1970s, during the punk and new wave era of rock music as the bass ...

for his 2013 album, ''Faith and Grace'', performing it live on a few occasions on Watt-Roy's tour in October 2013. The Swedish duo

Roxette Roxette is a Swedish pop rock duo originally consisting of Marie Fredriksson and Per Gessle, both of whom were already established musicians in Sweden prior to the band's formation. Fredriksson had released a number of successful solo albums, ...

took their name from this song.

References

1974 songs 1974 debut singles Music in Southend-on-Sea Dr. Feelgood (band) songs United Artists Records singles Songs written by Wilko Johnson Song recordings produced by Vic Maile {{1970s-single-stub