Holly Rock

"Holly Rock"
Single by Sheila E.
from the album Krush Groove: Music from the Motion Picture
B-side	"Toy Box"
Released	1986
Recorded	April 24, 1985
Studio	Sunset Sound, Los Angeles
Genre	R&B funk rap
Length	4:56 (album version) 3:58 (single version) 6:35 (extended version)
Label	Warner Bros.
Songwriter(s)	Prince, Sheila E.
Producer(s)	Prince, Sheila E.
Sheila E. singles chronology
"A Love Bizarre" (1985) "Holly Rock" (1986) "Hold Me" (1987)

"Holly Rock" is a song written and produced by Prince and performed by Sheila E. who also received writing and production credits. The song appeared on the soundtrack of the 1985 film Krush Groove, with Sheila E.^[1] performing the song in the film. It is a high-energy rap number with Sheila E. rapping throughout most of the song. The song did not chart except in the Low Countries, but it became a fan favorite.^{[citation needed]} The 7" single release was backed by "Toy Box", a track from Romance 1600.

Music video

A live performance of the song was used as the music video.

Background

"Holly Rock" is the sixth track (and only Prince-related track) on the movie Krush Groove soundtrack. It was released as the album's fifth single nine months after the album's release.

Basic tracking took place on April 24, 1985, at Sunset Sound in Hollywood, California (the day after "Evolsidog" and four days before "All My Dreams" and "Kiss").

In 2019 the original Prince version of the song was released on the posthumous Prince album Originals.^[2]

Formats and track listings

US 7"

1. "Holly Rock" (edit) – 3:58
2. "Toy Box – 5:32

US 12" promo

1. "Holly Rock" (extended version) – 6:35
2. "Holly Rock" (7" single edit) – 3:58

Originals release

1. "Holly Rock" – 6:38
2. "Holly Rock" (music video edit) – 3:56
3. "Holly Rock" (edit) – 3:47

Personnel

Credits sourced from Duane Tudahl^[3]

• Sheila E. – lead and backing vocals, drums, bongos, timbales, cowbells
• Prince – backing vocals, electric guitar, Oberheim OB-8, bass guitar, Linn LM-1, cymbal
• Eddie M. – saxophone

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "Holly Rock" Chart (1986) Peak position Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[4] 8 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[5] 8 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[6] 8

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for "Holly Rock" Chart (1986) Position Belgium (Ultratop Flanders)[7] 74 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[8] 86

References

1. Aubrey, Elizabeth (July 26, 2019). "Fan-favourite 'lost' Prince song 'Holly Rock' is released as a single, with a brand-new video". NME. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
2. Ghosh, Soma (June 20, 2019). "Prince In A Camisole: Undressing The 'Originals' Album". The Quietus. Retrieved July 21, 2020.
3. Tudahl, Duane (2021). Prince and the Parade and Sign O' The Times Era Studio Sessions 1985 and 1986. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781538144527.
4. "Sheila E. – Holly Rock" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
5. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 29, 1986" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
6. "Sheila E. – Holly Rock" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
7. "Jaaroverzichten 1986". Ultratop. Retrieved November 11, 2020.
8. "Top 100-Jaaroverzicht van 1986". Dutch Top 40. Retrieved November 11, 2020.