The Bay City Rollers' 10 greatest ever songs

23 April 2021, 09:53 | Updated: 6 October 2023, 08:59

The Bay City Rollers were one of the biggest pop groups of the 1970s, earning a legion of fans around the world.

The Bay City Rollers' line-up had various changes over the years, but the classic line-up at its height featured guitarists Eric Faulkner and Stuart Wood, singer Les McKeown, bassist Alan Longmuir, and drummer Derek Longmuir.

Following the sad news of former lead singer Les McKeown's death at the age of 65, we're taking a look back at some of the Rollers' best ever songs, to make for one perfect playlist.

1. Bye Bye Baby

   

   Bay City Rollers - Bye Bye Baby • TopPop

   This classic pop song was originally by the Four Seasons in 1965, but 10 years later the Rollers made it their own.

   Their version hit number one in the UK for six weeks and sold over a million copies, taking them to new levels of fame not seen since The Beatles.

2. Give a Little Love

   

   Bay City Rollers - Give a little love 1975

   This was the band's second and final UK number one, released in 1975.

   It was co-written by Phil Wainman, who would later produce 'I Don't Like Mondays' by the Boomtown Rats.

3. Shang-a-Lang

   

   Bay City Rollers - Shang a Lang

   Taken from their debut album Rollin', this tune was an attempt to bring back the Brill Building-style of songwriting, in particular the onomatopoeic lines of 'Da Doo Ron Ron'.

   The songwriters wanted to use the clanging sounds they'd long heard from the shipyards in the Glasgow.

4. Keep on Dancing

   

   Bay City Rollers - Keep On Dancing

   This was the Rollers' debut single, released in 1971 and reaching number 9 in the UK charts.

   It was originally by The Avantis and later the Gentrys before the Scottish band picked it up.

5. Remember (Sha-La-La-La)

   

   Bay City Rollers - Remember (Sha La La La)

   Another slice of brilliant '70s pop, this gave the band another UK top 10 hit.

6. Saturday Night

   

   Bay City Rollers - Saturday Night • TopPop

   This song surprisingly wasn't a hit in the UK, when it was originally sung by Nobby Clark.

   However, it did reach the very top of the US charts with a re-recorded version with Les McKeown, making them international stars.

7. Summerlove Sensation

   

   Bay City Rollers - Summerlove Sensation • TopPop

   The Rollers were in full flow by the time this song came out in 1974, giving them their biggest hit at the time, reaching number 3.

8. Money Honey

   

   The Bay City Rollers - Money,Honey

   This power pop track gave the Rollers a top 10 hit in both the UK and US, and topped the chart in Canada.

9. You Made Me Believe in Magic

   

   Bay City Rollers - You made me believe in magic 1977

   The Rollers had matured by 1977, and they took on disco with great results with this top 10 track.

10. I Only Want to Be With You

    

    I Only Wanna Be With You - Bay City Rollers - 1976

    In 1976, the Rollers recorded an inspired cover of Dusty Springfield's pop anthem, and it equalled the peak chart position of the original in both the UK and US.