Last Child
{{short description|Song by Aerosmith}}
{{about|Aerosmith's song|the Indonesian band|Last Child (band)}}
{{Refimprove|date=June 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Last Child
| cover = Aerosmith-Last-Child-347790.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = Aerosmith
| album = Rocks
| B-side = Combination
| released = {{start date|1976|05|27}}
| recorded = 1976
| studio =
| genre = Funk rock{{cite web|first= Greg |last= Prato |title= Brad Whitford – Artist Biography |website= AllMusic |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/brad-whitford-mn0000617471 |access-date= 4 May 2016}}{{cite web |url=http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-05-30/top-20-best-funk-rock-song |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602202921/http://teamrock.com/feature/2016-05-30/top-20-best-funk-rock-song |title=The Top 20 Greatest Funk Rock Songs |first=Paul |last=Elliott |work=TeamRock |publisher=Team Rock Limited |date=May 30, 2016 |archive-date=June 2, 2016 |access-date=January 31, 2017 |url-status=live}}
| length = 3:27
| label = Columbia
| writer =
| producer = Jack Douglas
| prev_title = Dream On
| prev_year = 1976
| next_title = Home Tonight
| next_year = 1976
}}
"Last Child" is a song by American rock band Aerosmith. It was written by Steven Tyler and Brad Whitford and released as the first single from the album Rocks in 1976. It peaked at number 21 on the Billboard Hot 100, one of a string of hits for the band in the mid-1970s.{{cite book |title= Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |authorlink=Joel Whitburn |year=2013 |publisher=Record Research |page=22}}
Structure
The song is one of Brad Whitford's best-known contributions to the band. "Brad wrote, 'Take me back to sweet Tallahassee, home sweet home…'" recalled Tyler. "Whatever he put into 'Last Child', that's his moment. He can take that, and that's his, forever."Sharp, Ken: "Country roads"; Classic Rock #227, September 2016, p41
Reception
Cash Box said that "it's right in the groove: a straightforward rock tune with a slick, rhythm oriented arrangement."{{cite news|title=CashBox Singles Reviews|date=June 12, 1976|page=16|accessdate=2021-12-11|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1976/Cash-Box-1976-06-12.pdf|newspaper=Cash Box}}
Legacy
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2025}}
Long after its release, "Last Child" enjoys regular airplay on rock radio and is regularly rotated into Aerosmith's concert setlist. In concert, it is often Whitford's feature spot, in which Tyler introduces him with something like "Brad Whitford, what do you got to show for yourself?" or "What do you got up your sleeve?" Whitford often does a little bit of an intro before playing the opening notes to the song.{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Editorial |date=2024-05-02 |title=Learn AEROSMITH's “Last Child” Solo With BRAD WHITFORD; Video |url=https://bravewords.com/news/learn-aerosmith-s-last-child-solo-with-brad-whitford-video/ |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=BraveWords - Where Music Lives |language=en-US}}
Although it was often assumed that the guitar solo as heard on the studio recording was played by Joe Perry, it was originally rumored to have been played by an uncited (hired) guitarist. During his appearance as a guest on That Metal Show in 2012, Whitford stated that he actually wrote and performed the solo himself.{{Citation |title=Last Child - Aerosmith |url=https://rockalia.com/en/component/muscol/video/2110-aerosmith/https%3A%2F%2Frockalia.com%2Fen%2Fcomponent%2Fmuscol%2Fvideo%2F2110-aerosmith%2F6959-last-child |access-date=2025-06-13 |language=en-gb}}
"Last Child" has been rereleased on compilations including Aerosmith's Greatest Hits, O, Yeah! Ultimate Aerosmith Hits, and Devil's Got a New Disguise as well as live collections including Live! Bootleg, Classics Live II, and A Little South of Sanity.{{Cite web |title=Learn the “Last Child” Solo With Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford - Premier Guitar |url=https://www.premierguitar.com/podcast/shred-with-shifty/learn-the-last-child-solo-with-aerosmiths-brad-whitford |access-date=2025-06-13 |website=www.premierguitar.com |language=en}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
!Chart (1976) !Peak |
| {{single chart|Canadatopsingles|26|chartid=4299a|rowheader=true|access-date=15 January 2023|refname="can"}} |
| {{single chart|Billboardhot100|21|artist=Aerosmith|rowheader=true|access-date=15 January 2023|refname="hot100"}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Aerosmith singles}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Steven Tyler
Category:Songs written by Brad Whitford
Category:Song recordings produced by Jack Douglas (record producer)