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{{Infobox song
| name = Rowche Rumble
| cover = Rowche Rumble.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = [[The Fall (band)|The Fall]]
| album =
| B-side = In My Area
| released = October 1979
| recorded =
| studio =
| venue =
| genre = [[Post-punk]]
| length = {{Duration|m=3|s=59}}
| label = [[Step-Forward Records|Step-Forward]]
| writer = [[Mark E. Smith]], [[Craig Scanlon]], [[Marc Riley]]
| producer = Oz McCormick, the Fall
| prev_title = It's the New Thing
| prev_year = 1978
| next_title = [[Fiery Jack]]
| next_year = 1980
}}

"'''Rowche Rumble'''" is a 1979 song by British [[post-punk]] band [[The Fall (band)|the Fall]], written by [[Mark E. Smith]], [[Craig Scanlon]] and [[Marc Riley]]. Released as the band's second single, it was the first record by the Fall to reach a recognised national chart when it reached number 31 on the [[indie chart]] in January 1980, the first month of that chart's existence.

The song was recorded at [[Cargo Studios]] in [[Rochdale]] in June 1979 by the band, at that time comprising Smith (vocals), Scanlon (guitar), Riley (guitar), [[Steve Hanley (musician)|Steve Hanley]] (bass), Yvonne Pawlett (keyboards), and Mike Leigh (drums). It was produced by Oz McCormick and the band.<ref>[http://annotatedfall.doomby.com/pages/the-annotated-lyrics/rowche-rumble.html "Rowche Rumble", ''Discogs.com'']. Retrieved 2 March 2018</ref> Its lyrics reputedly reference an incident when Smith worked as a shipping clerk dealing with the [[Hoffmann-La Roche|Roche]] pharmaceutical company, and as a result of a clerical error acquired a supply of [[barbiturates]] which he attempted to hide around [[Manchester]].<ref name=atoz>[https://sites.google.com/site/reformationposttpm/fall-tracks/rowche-rumble "Rowche Rumble", ''The Fall Tracks A-Z and The Fall Live'']. Retrieved 2 March 2018</ref> According to Riley, the music is loosely based on "Tight Pants", [[The Stooges discography|a 1977 b-side]] from American band [[Iggy & The Stooges]].<ref>Marc Riley BBC Radio 6 15/09/20</ref>

The record received positive reviews, with Ned Raggett at [[Allmusic]] describing it as "both a highlight of the young band's career and a clear signpost toward much it would do in the future".<ref>[https://www.allmusic.com/song/rowche-rumble-mt0054900822 Ned Raggett, Review of "Rowche Rumble", ''Allmusic.com'']. Retrieved 2 March 2018</ref> It was placed at number 21 among the year's top tracks by the ''[[NME]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nme.com/bestalbumsandtracksoftheyear/1979-2-1045405 |title=Albums and Tracks of the Year |author= |date=2016 |work=[[NME]] |accessdate=2 March 2018}}</ref> and number 40 in [[John Peel]]'s "[[Festive Fifty]]" in 1979.<ref name=atoz/>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{The Fall}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:The Fall (band) songs]]
[[Category:1979 singles]]
[[Category:Songs written by Mark E. Smith]]
[[Category:1979 songs]]
[[Category:Songs written by Craig Scanlon]]
[[Category:Songs written by Marc Riley]]