Ringo Starr - Live at the Greek Theatre - 16. The Stroke (Billy Squier)

August 2nd 2008.

"The Stroke" is a rock song written and recorded by Billy Squier. It was released in May 1981 as the debut single from his 1981 album Don't Say No.

Perhaps his most enduringly popular song, this was Squier's first single, reaching #17 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It was an even bigger hit at rock radio, hitting #3 on the Hot Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. Squier's song even dented the British pop charts, rising to #52. It was named the 59th best hard rock song of all time by VH1.

The song is a reference to the music industry and how musicians are used by an industry wanting more and bigger hits, and the concept of "strokes" from transactional analysis.

Also of note, the drum in the song was accidentally played backwards during the recording of the track. Everyone involved liked the sound better than the drum being played forward and the recording was kept intact.