I'm In Love With My Pet Rock

Album: single release only (1976)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • You know a trend has peaked when there's a song about it. "I'm In Love With My Pet Rock" was inspired by one of the biggest and most bizarre fads of the 1970s: the Pet Rock.

    Selling for $3.95 (about $20 today), the Pet Rock was just a rock packaged in small box (with air holes) with a cleverly written instruction manual. You didn't have to feed it or take it for walks, and it always obeyed a small set of commands: sit, stay, play dead. The manual explains how it can be used for security: If you're being threatened the rock could be used to "bash the mugger's head in."

    The craze hit during the Christmas season of 1975; the song was released in February 1976 as the novelty was wearing off but many folks still had the Pet Rocks they got as gifts on display.

    In the song, a boy brings home a pet rock and asks his dad to keep it - it's already housebroken. The rock quickly becomes part of the family.
  • The song went to #85 on the Country chart. There were other Pet Rock songs as well, including an audio collage called "The Pet Rocks Are Coming" (by "Walter Rockite") and "Pet Rock Rock" by Merlin.
  • Bill Pineo wrote the song and it was produced by Hal Freeman. Al Bolt never hit the big time but did land another song on the Country chart with "Family Man" later in 1976.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Andrew Farriss of INXS

Andrew Farriss of INXSSongwriter Interviews

Andrew Farriss on writing with Michael Hutchence, the stories behind "Mystify" and other INXS hits, and his country-flavored debut solo album.

Jethro Tull

Jethro TullFact or Fiction

Stage urinals, flute devices, and the real Aqualung in this Fact or Fiction.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)

Mike Rutherford (Genesis, Mike + The Mechanics)Songwriter Interviews

Mike Rutherford talks about the "Silent Running" storyline and "Land Of Confusion" in the age of Trump.

Donald Fagen

Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews

Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillian

Soul Train Stories with Stephen McMillianSong Writing

A Soul Train dancer takes us through a day on the show, and explains what you had to do to get camera time.