Stevie Wonder once said, “There is only one true King of Rock and Roll. His name is Chuck Berry.” Elvis fans may not agree with the soul legend, but let’s not get into a correspondence debate. Charles Edward Anderson Berry was indeed an iconic figure in the history of the development of this musical direction. He expressed his attitude to the then young genre with the song “Rock and Roll Music”.
Chuck Berry became the author of the words and music of the composition. It is performed on behalf of a guy who cannot imagine life without rock and roll. He compares it with other genres and makes sure that any parallels are out of place.
Chuck recalled:
I was crazy about rock and roll and had to create something that hit the nail on the head.
The song was recorded in May 1957 in Chicago. The single “Rock and Roll Music/Blue Feeling” was released in September of the same year. The track peaked at number eight on the R&B chart and number six on the Billboard Hot 100.
Cover versions
In subsequent years, the composition was performed by many famous artists, including Bill Haley and His Comets, Manic Street Preachers and Bryan Adams.
The Beatles started playing “Rock and Roll Music” at their early gigs. The studio version of the song was included on the Beatles for Sale and Beatles ’65 albums. It was also included in the Rock ‘n’ Roll Music compilation. The single topped the charts in several countries.
A cover version of “Rock and Roll Music” by The Beach Boys climbed to number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976. They released it as a single from the album “15 Big Ones”.
Interesting Facts
- The bass guitar part in the studio version of the song was played by Willie Dixon, the legend of the Chicago blues.
- The famous guitar riff from the song inspired many musicians to create new compositions.
- The Beatles rehearsed the song so well in concert that they recorded it in the studio in one take.
- Chuck Berry’s “Rock and Roll Music” is on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Songs and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Greatest Tracks.
Lyrics of Rock and Roll Music by Chuck Berry
Just let me hear some of that…
Chorus:
rock and roll music,
Any old way you choose it
It’s got a back beat, you can’t lose it,
Any old time you use it
It’s gotta be rock and roll music
If you want to dance with me
If you want to dance with me
Rock’n’roll,
Something old, for your taste
You can’t miss his backbeat
Every time you listen
It must be rock and roll
If you want to dance with me
If you wanna dance with me I’ve got no kick against modern jazz
Unless they try to play it too darn fast,
And change the beauty of the melody
Until they sounded like a symphony
That’s why I go for that… I don’t mind modern jazz
Unless it’s played damn fast
And do not change the beauty of the melody,
Unless it sounds like a symphony
That’s why I prefer…
Chorus
Chorus
I took my loved one over cross the tracks
So she can hear my man await a sax,
I must admit they have a rockin’ band,
Man they were going like a hurricane
That’s why I go for that…
For her to listen to the sax playing
Gotta admit they got a cool band
They play like a hurricane
That’s why I prefer…
Chorus
Chorus
Way down South they gave a jubilee,
The jockey folks they had a jamboree,
They’re drinkin’ homebrew from a water cup,
The folks dancin’ they all got shook up
And started playin’ that…It was a holiday way down South
The DJs are having a party
They sipped homemade booze from a hydrant
The people danced, wound up,
And they started to play… Chorus Don’t care to hear ’em play a tango,
I’m in the mood to dig a mambo,
It’s way too early for a congo
So keep a rockin’ that piano
So I can hear some of that… Don’t expect them to tango
I’m ready to dance and mambo
It’s still too early for the Congo
So keep playing the piano
For me to hear a little…
Chorus
Chorus
