From the name-dropping and oldies references to the heavy slapback delay on David Essex’s vocals, “Rock On” is undoubtedly a product of the 50s nostalgia trend of the 1970s, which produced films like Grease and bands like Sha-Na-Na, just to name a few. But what sets “Rock On” apart from other nostalgia-influenced media of the time is its stark, menacing production by Jeff Wayne, stripping the song down to its bare bones and building up slowly, but surely, into a hypnotic crescendo that fades out as mysteriously and coldly as it entered.

The song was released just as Essex had starred in That’ll Be The Day, a British drama set in the late 50s to early 60s, and was originally demoed by Essex in Advision Studios following a jingle recording session, featuring only the actor banging on a trashcan and singing out the lyrics. This inspired producer Jeff Wayne to create a song where “nothing… played a chord,” hence the lack of traditional rock rhythm instruments like keyboards or guitars on the track. Wayne also believed that such an experimental approach would propel Essex as a star far better than a conventional ballad—it would give him an edge.

“Rock On” was a top ten US and UK hit, reaching number 1 and 3 on the charts respectively, and it also launched Essex into a lengthy and successful music career.