Memphis, Tennessee (song)
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"Memphis, Tennessee" | ||||
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Single by Chuck Berry | ||||
A-side | "Back in the U.S.A." | |||
Released | June 1959 | |||
Recorded | September 26, 1958[1] | |||
Genre | Rhythm and blues, rock and roll | |||
Length | 2:12 | |||
Label | Chess 1729 | |||
Songwriter(s) | Chuck Berry | |||
Chuck Berry singles chronology | ||||
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"Memphis, Tennessee", sometimes shortened to "Memphis", is a song by Chuck Berry, first released in 1959. In the UK, the song charted at number 6 in 1963; at the same time Decca Records issued a cover version in the UK by Dave Berry and the Cruisers, which also became a UK Top 20 hit single. Johnny Rivers's version of the song was a number two US hit in 1964.
Background
In the song the narrator is speaking to a long-distance operator, trying to find out the number of a girl named Marie, who lives in Memphis, Tennessee, "on the southside, high upon a ridge, just a half a mile from the Mississippi bridge."[2] The narrator offers little information to the operator at first, only that he misses Marie and that they were separated by Marie's mother. The final verse reveals that Marie is, in fact, the narrator's six-year-old daughter; her mother, presumably the narrator's ex-wife, "tore apart our happy home" because she "did not agree", as it turned out, with their marriage, not his relationship with Marie, as the listener was misdirected to assume. This song was recorded in St. Louis at Chuck Berry's home, in July 1958.
- Chuck Berry – vocals, guitar, guitar overdubs, electric bass
- Jasper Thomas – drums
The song was released as Chess single 1729.[3]
Chuck Berry later composed a sequel, "Little Marie", which appeared in 1964 as a single and on the album St. Louis to Liverpool.[4]
Beatles versions
The Beatles recorded five versions of "Memphis, Tennessee", for BBC Radio. One version that was recorded on July 30, 1963, for the Pop Go The Beatles radio show was included on Live at the BBC in 1994. Another version that was recorded a few months later on October 5, 1963, for the Saturday Club radio show was included on On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2 in 2013.
The group first performed it for their failed Decca audition on January 1, 1962, with Pete Best on drums.[5]
Personnel
- John Lennon – vocals, rhythm guitar
- Paul McCartney – bass guitar
- George Harrison – lead guitar
- Ringo Starr – drums[5]
Other popular versions
"Memphis" | |
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Single by Lonnie Mack | |
from the album The Wham of that Memphis Man! | |
B-side | "Down in the Dumps" |
Released | September 1963 |
Recorded | June 1963 |
Genre | Instrumental rock, blues rock |
Length | 2:30 |
Label | Fraternity |
Songwriter(s) | Chuck Berry |
In 1963, guitarist Lonnie Mack recorded a fast-paced instrumental version, which he called "Memphis". It went to number 5 on Billboard's Pop chart and number 4 on Billboard's R&B chart.[6]
"Memphis" | |
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Single by Johnny Rivers | |
from the album At the Whisky à Go Go | |
B-side | "It Wouldn't Happen with Me" |
Released | May 1964 |
Recorded | January 1964 |
Venue | Whisky a Go Go, West Hollywood |
Genre | Rock and roll, rhythm and blues |
Length | 2:28 |
Label | Imperial |
Songwriter(s) | Chuck Berry |
In 1964 singer Johnny Rivers recorded another version of the tune (which he, following Mack, called "Memphis"), copying Mack's pacing and some of his instrumental improvisations, and reinstating the vocal line from Berry's original.[7] This version hit number 2 on Billboard's Pop chart.
"Memphis" | |
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Single by Fred Knoblock | |
Released | 1981 |
Recorded | September 1981 |
Genre | Country music |
Length | 2:35 |
Label | Scotti Brothers ZS5 02434 |
Songwriter(s) | Chuck Berry |
Producer(s) | James Stroud |
In 1981, country singer-songwriter Fred Knoblock recorded his rendition of "Memphis". It went to number 10 on Billboard's Country chart and number 28 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.
Chart history
Weekly charts
- Chuck Berry
Chart (1963) | Peak position |
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Ireland (IRMA)[8] | 3 |
UK[9] | 6 |
- Dave Berry & the Cruisers
Chart (1963) | Peak position |
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Ireland (IRMA)[8] | 9 |
UK[10] | 19 |
- Lonnie Mack
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Year-end charts
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Notable covers
The song has been covered over 200 times by musical artists.[22] The most notable examples include Bernd Spier who hit number 1 in 1964 in Germany.[23]
References
- ^ "The Chuck Berry Database: Details For Recording Session: 26. 9. 1958". A Collector's Guide to the Music of Chuck Berry. Dietmar Rudolph. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
- ^ Cheseborough, Steve, Blues Traveling: The Holy Sites of Delta Blues, Fourth Edition. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p.40
- ^ Berry, Chuck, Chuck Berry: The Anthology, CD, 088 1120304-2, MCA Records, Chess, 2000, liner notes
- ^ "The Chuck Berry Database — Details For Song: Memphis, Tennessee — Chuck Berry Collector's Guide". Crlf.de. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ a b "Memphis, Tennessee | The Beatles Bible". www.beatlesbible.com. Retrieved August 28, 2016.
- ^ 25 Rockin' Instrumentals, Varese Vintage CD, 2003
- ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 21 – Forty Miles of Bad Road: Some of the best from rock 'n' roll's dark ages. [Part 2]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
- ^ a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Memphis". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
- ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. October 16, 1963. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. October 16, 1963.
- ^ a b "flavour of new zealand - search lever". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ a b c Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 7/20/63". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. July 6, 1964. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 7/11/64". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. December 5, 1981. Retrieved July 11, 2019.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1963/Top 100 Songs of 1963". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 28, 1963". Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ "Sixties City - Pop Music Charts - Every Week Of The Sixties". Sixtiescity.net. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1964/Top 100 Songs of 1964". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved April 26, 2021.
- ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 26, 1964". Archived from the original on June 1, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
- ^ "Memphis, Tennessee". SecondHandSongs.
- ^ "Bernd Spier". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
- Chuck Berry songs
- 1959 singles
- The Beatles songs
- Jan and Dean songs
- 1963 singles
- 1964 singles
- American songs
- Chess Records singles
- Elvis Presley songs
- Imperial Records singles
- Johnny Rivers songs
- Gene Summers songs
- The Animals songs
- Paul Anka songs
- Conway Twitty songs
- The Dave Clark Five songs
- Dave Berry (musician) songs
- Bo Diddley songs
- Tom Jones (singer) songs
- Jerry Lee Lewis songs
- Roy Orbison songs
- The Rolling Stones songs
- Fred Knoblock songs
- Number-one singles in Germany
- Songs about Memphis, Tennessee
- Songs about telephone calls
- Songs written by Chuck Berry
- Song recordings produced by George Martin
- RPM Top Singles number-one singles
- 1959 songs