Johnny B. Goode (4:50)
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Johnny B. Goode is a seminal 1958 rock and roll song by Chuck Berry, ranked by Rolling Stone as the seventh greatest song ever on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and the best guitar song on their list of the 100 greatest guitar songs of all time.
Written by Berry in 1955, the song is a rock and roll version of the American dream — a poor country boy becomes a star by hard work and inspired guitar playing. This image of unknowns with no future achieving fame and fortune through music became a paradigm for countless songs and even careers to follow.
The opening guitar riff on “Johnny B. Goode” may be the most famous single riff in rock and roll history. It is essentially a note-for-note copy of the opening single-note solo on Louis Jordan’s “Ain’t That Just Like a Woman” (1946), played by guitarist Carl Hogan.
Although partly autobiographical, the inspiration for the song is said to have been Johnnie Johnson who played the piano and composed several songs with Berry, and is considered a major contributor to the unmistakable Berry sound. On earlier unreleased takes Chuck sang “colored boy” instead of “country boy”, but it was changed for fear of it not being played on the radio. As a possible source for the last name, it has been noted that Berry was born on Goode Avenue in St. Louis.
Aware of the importance of the song to his fame and his image, Berry has written two more songs about Johnny, “Bye Bye Johnny” and “Go Go Go”, and also titled an instrumental album as “Concerto in B. Goode”.
Written by Berry in 1955, the song is a rock and roll version of the American dream — a poor country boy becomes a star by hard work and inspired guitar playing. This image of unknowns with no future achieving fame and fortune through music became a paradigm for countless songs and even careers to follow.
The opening guitar riff on “Johnny B. Goode” may be the most famous single riff in rock and roll history. It is essentially a note-for-note copy of the opening single-note solo on Louis Jordan’s “Ain’t That Just Like a Woman” (1946), played by guitarist Carl Hogan.
Although partly autobiographical, the inspiration for the song is said to have been Johnnie Johnson who played the piano and composed several songs with Berry, and is considered a major contributor to the unmistakable Berry sound. On earlier unreleased takes Chuck sang “colored boy” instead of “country boy”, but it was changed for fear of it not being played on the radio. As a possible source for the last name, it has been noted that Berry was born on Goode Avenue in St. Louis.
Aware of the importance of the song to his fame and his image, Berry has written two more songs about Johnny, “Bye Bye Johnny” and “Go Go Go”, and also titled an instrumental album as “Concerto in B. Goode”.
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Shouts
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pontiac1954 wrote:
get down on it Chuck
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johnny7gun wrote:
this is where it started.....
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sdlierle wrote:
Makes ya wanna do a duck walk and comb your hair in a duck tail!!!!!!!!!!
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frimsah wrote:
Johnny, be good tonight
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SonOfThirteen wrote:
Oh my, but that country boy could play!
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YamesSaves wrote:
The Real King of Rock N Roll
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gladsad89 wrote:
"Hey, It's your cousin Marvin Berry. Remember that new sound you were looking for? Well, listen to this!" Chuck's a legend and not just because of toilet cams.
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ShaniaEve wrote:
Very good!
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laurieguidobono wrote:
rock babe.
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MusicaLilly wrote:
Classic. LOVE it!
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JIMMYCROWLEY wrote:
I HAVE NO WORDS.FOOOOODAAA!!!!!!!!!!!
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gungh0 wrote:
Stunning. Still sounds great.
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pontiac1954 wrote:
Get on it chuck you the man
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WasteNoReason wrote:
Chuck you rock my socks man.
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Dora117 wrote:
Rocking the house down :)
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victoria1908 wrote:
Classic Song
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marmur7 wrote:
definitely THE KING
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onetrp2mny wrote:
The King of Rock-n-Roll. Elvis is secondary in comparison.
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radio-tractore wrote:
the best
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chiphall72 wrote:
often imitated, never duplicated.
Chuck Berry
Johnny B. Goode
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LorneRocknRoll added Johnny B. Goode to the playlist Lorne's favourite songs of 1958. yesterday morning
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