Keep on Dancing (The Gentrys song)

"Keep on Dancing" is a rock song written by Allen A. Jones and Willie David Young, originally performed by the Avantis on Argo Records in 1963, and covered by The Gentrys in 1965. The song was also covered by The Bay City Rollers in 1971.

The Gentrys' version was first released on Youngstown 601 in 1965, but soon nationally distributed by MGM Records. "Keep on Dancing" reached #4 in 1965 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks. It reached #5 on Cashbox for two weeks. It stayed on the Hot 100 for 13 weeks and Cashbox for 14 weeks. It surpassed a million copies in sales after leaving the charts.

"Keep on Dancing" is notable for the fact that it is actually one short recording repeated in order to stretch the record out to the length of the typical pop single of its day. The second part of the song (after the false fade, beginning with Gentrys drummer Larry Wall's drum fill) is the same as the first. Although the Gentrys usually had Jimmy Hart and Bruce Bowles as singers, the band's guitarist, Larry Raspberry, sang lead vocals on the song.

"Keep on Dancing" is available on the compilations Frat Rock! The Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Party Tunes of All-Time and Classic Rock (Time-Life Music).

The Bay City Rollers covered the song and their version charted at No. 9 in the UK in 1971.

The lyrics, as recorded by The Gentrys:

I keep on dancing. Keep on doing the Jerk right now. Shake it shake it baby. Come on and show me how you work.

Now you're in motion. Keep on do the Locomotion yeah. Don't hurry me this way. Shake it shake it to the break of day.

Keep on dancing and a prancing. (x3)