Drift Away

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"Drift Away" (also known erroneously as "Give Me The Beat, Boys") is a song written by Mentor Williams and originally recorded by John Henry Kurtz in 1972. However, Dobie Gray's cover is the most well known version. It became Gray's biggest hit in 1973, peaking at number five on the Billboard Hot 100.

This song is also a famous "goodbye" or ending song for concerts. Its use is often as filler for a last song, usually in preparation for an encore, since it has a catchy beat and a guitar solo can be easily added to the end of the song in order to spice things up before the encore. As such, many live covers have been performed by a multitude of bands and it has become a hit among soft rock fans. Appropriately, it was the final pop hit for Decca Records in the United States.

There is a common misheard lyric in the chorus, as many incorrectly claim the first line to the chorus is "Gimme the Beach Boys and free my soul" as opposed to the actual "Gimme the beat, boys, and free my soul". This is also possibly a Beatles reference. They were called The Beat Boys during their early recording days with Tony Sheridan.

[edit] Covers

"Drift Away" is famous for being covered by bands and people all over the world for years. The list includes:

• Tony Christie
• Andy Bernard
• Bo Bice, on American Idol
• Michael Bolton 1992
• Bon Jovi

• Cannibal Corpse
• Clarence Carter 1997
• Ray Charles 1973
• The Chosen Few 1976
• Richard Christy (referring to K.C. Armstrong in a song parody to the theme that K.C. is gay)
• John Denver (with Paul Williams, the songwriter's brother in a 1973 televised special)
• Linda Eder
• Narvel Felts 1994
• Heptones (1973, also in 2006 album "50 Very Best of Reggae")
• Humble Pie 1974
• Waylon Jennings 2000
• John Kay 1973
• Kid Rock-covered it on his 2006 'Live' Trucker Tour
• Jon Peter Lewis, on American Idol
• Aaron Neville
• The Nylons 1989
• Roy Orbison 1974
• Natalia Oreiro
• The Rolling Stones 1974
• Uncle Kracker
• Judson Spence
• Bruce Springsteen occasionally during the encores in 1984 with Little Steven as a guest
• Ringo Starr featuring Alanis Morissette, Tom Petty and Steven Tyler on 1998's "Vertical Man"
• Steppenwolf
• Rod Stewart 1975
• Bill Withers
• Steve Young on his 1978 album No Place to Fall
• Ike & Tina Turner
• The Great Pretenders 1999
• Kenny Chesney with Uncle Kracker on the 2003 "Back Where I Come From" concert (Televised from Knoxville, TN)
• Reaux Sham Beaux 2006
• David Allan Coe Live cover - 2007