Bay City Rollers – Keep On Dancing

About the song

For fans of nostalgia-laced pop-rock and the vibrant spirit of the 1970s, “Keep On Dancing” by the Bay City Rollers offers more than just a toe-tapping tune—it’s a time capsule of youthful energy, raw ambition, and the early formation of a band that would later be dubbed “the tartan teen sensations from Edinburgh.”

Originally released in 1971, “Keep On Dancing” marked the very first single by the Bay City Rollers, and though it didn’t carry the full polish of their later mega-hits like “Saturday Night” or “Shang-A-Lang,” it was crucial in setting the tone for their future success. What many may not realize is that this track is a cover of a song originally recorded by The Avantis and popularized by The Gentrys in 1965. Yet, in true Rollers fashion, they infused it with a brash charm and Scottish bravado that gave it new life for a new generation.

Listening to this track is like stepping into a smoke-filled dancehall with a jukebox crackling in the corner. The gritty guitars, the frantic handclaps, and the almost reckless tempo all scream teenage liberation. The production feels deliberately unrefined, and that’s part of the appeal. Unlike the slick harmonies and layered arrangements of their later work, “Keep On Dancing” is raw and immediate. It’s the sound of a young band trying to break through, and in doing so, they deliver a snapshot of that early ’70s post-Beatles/pre-disco pop terrain.

It’s worth noting that this song was a modest hit—it didn’t skyrocket to number one, but it did reach No. 9 on the UK Singles Chart, which was a commendable feat for a then-unknown group. This early success laid the groundwork for what would become one of the most feverish fan followings in British pop history.

In retrospect, “Keep On Dancing” is less about innovation and more about spirit. It showcases the Bay City Rollers not at their peak, but in their infancy—when their hunger to make it was palpable, and their sound still carried the fingerprints of garage bands and local gigs. It’s youthful, a bit chaotic, but undeniably infectious. For longtime fans, it’s a thrilling reminder of where it all began. For new listeners, it’s a refreshing departure from today’s overly produced tracks—a glimpse into a more earnest musical era where dancing wasn’t just suggested; it was mandatory.

Video

Lyrics

Keep on dancing
Keep on doin’ the jerk
Shake it, shake it baby
Come on and show me how you work

Now you’re in motion
I’m gonna do the locomotion yeah
Well don’t you hurry me away
Shake it shake it till the break of day.

Keep on dancin’ and a prancin’
Keep on dancin’ and a prancin’
Keep on dancin’ and a prancin’

All right everybody
we want to see why’all get up and
dance. We want to see why’all
havin’ a real good time.
And now by popular demand

Keep On Dancin’, dancin’, dancin’…