Rock and Roll Music
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| "Rock and Roll Music" | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Chuck Berry | |||||
| from the album One Dozen Berrys | |||||
| B-side | "Blue Feeling" | ||||
| Released | September 1957 | ||||
| Format | 7" single | ||||
| Genre | Rock and roll | ||||
| Length | 2:30 | ||||
| Label | Chess 1671 | ||||
| Writer(s) | Chuck Berry | ||||
| Producer | Leonard and Phil Chess | ||||
| Chuck Berry singles chronology | |||||
|
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| "Rock and Roll Music" | ||
|---|---|---|
| Song by The Beatles | ||
| Album | Beatles for Sale | |
| Released | 4 December 1964 | |
| Recorded | Abbey Road: 18 October 1964 | |
| Genre | Rock and roll | |
| Length | 2:30 | |
| Label | Parlophone | |
| Writer | Chuck Berry | |
| Producer | George Martin | |
| Beatles for Sale track listing | ||
|
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| "Rock and Roll Music/TM Song" | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
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| Single by The Beach Boys | |||||
| from the album 15 Big Ones | |||||
| Released | 24 May 1976 | ||||
| Format | Vinyl | ||||
| Recorded | Unknown | ||||
| Genre | Rock music | ||||
| Length | 2:29 | ||||
| Label | Brother/Reprise | ||||
| Writer(s) | Chuck Berry | ||||
| Producer | Brian Wilson | ||||
| The Beach Boys singles chronology | |||||
|
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"Rock and Roll Music" is a song written and originally recorded by Chuck Berry which became a hit single in 1957, reaching #8 in the U.S. chart, and was later covered by many artists, notably The Beatles and The Beach Boys.
The lyrics of the song extoll the virtues of rock and roll in comparison to other musical styles, and express the singer's resolve to dance only to this style of music.
The song has subsequently been recorded by a number of other well-known artists, including Humble Pie, Manic Street Preachers, Bill Haley & His Comets, REO Speedwagon, Tenpole Tudor and Australian new wave band Mental As Anything.
Berry's version is ranked number 128 on Rolling Stone's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
Contents |
[edit] The Beatles version
The Beatles performed the song in many of their early Hamburg shows, and also played it on the BBC show Pop Go the Beatles. In late 1964, exhausted from non-stop touring and recording and short of original material, they decided to record several of their old rock and rhythm and blues favorites to fill out their LP release Beatles for Sale. Among these was a version of Berry's tune that eventually became as well-known as the original. The lead vocal in the Beatles' version was performed by John Lennon. In contrast to Berry's even-toned rendition, Lennon sang it as loudly and dynamically as his voice would permit. In the USA, it was released on the LP Beatles '65.
It also served as the title song to the Beatles' 1976 compilation album, Rock 'n' Roll Music.
The Beatles' version of "Rock and Roll Music" was released as a single in some countries, and topped the charts in Norway, The Netherlands (double a-side with No Reply) and Australia.
[edit] Personnel
- John Lennon – vocals, rhythm guitar
- Paul McCartney – bass
- George Harrison – acoustic guitar
- Ringo Starr – drums
- George Martin – piano
- Personnel per The Beatles Bible[1]
[edit] The Beach Boys version
The Beach Boys' version is notable for the use of backing vocals which repeat the phrase "Rock, roll, rockin' and roll." There is a difference between the LP version and the single version in that the LP version has more synthesizer. Their version reached #5 in the US chart in 1976.
[edit] Personnel
- Mike Altschol – saxophone, clarinet
- Ed Carter – guitar
- Steve Douglas – saxophone
- Dennis Dreith – saxophone, clarinet
- Gene Estes – percussion
- Billy Hinsche – guitar
- Al Jardine – vocals
- John J. Kelson, Jr. – saxophone, clarinet
- Mike Love – lead vocal
- Carol Lee Miller – autoharp
- Jack Nimitz – saxophone, clarinet
- Brian Wilson – organ, piano, Moog bass, synthesizer
- Carl Wilson – vocals
- Dennis Wilson – drums, vocals
- Marilyn Wilson – vocals
[edit] References
- ^ "The Beatles Bible: Rock and Roll Music". http://www.beatlesbible.com/songs/rock-and-roll-music/. Retrieved on 2009-04-15.
