Little Queenie (song)

“Little Queenie” is a song written and performed by Chuck Berry. It appeared on the 1959 album Chuck Berry Is on Top and was released as a double A-side with “Almost Grown”. Berry performed the song in the movies Go, Johnny Go! (1959) and Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll (1987). It has been covered by many artists, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and REO Speedwagon. One year earlier a Christmas song using the same melody had been released by Berry with the title “Run Rudolph Run”.

7″ Vinyl

The song peaked at #80 on the US Hot 100 Charts.

Allmusic calls the song an “incredible rock & roll anthem” and “one of the greatest dance/sex ritualistic classics.” It is included on many of Berry’s greatest hits compilations, including The Great Twenty-Eight and Chuck Berry’s Golden Decade.

The song was part of the Beatles’ early repertoire when performing in Hamburg and appears on Live! at the Star-Club in Hamburg, Germany; 1962. The Rolling Stones also frequently performed the song live, and a version recorded in November 1969 at Madison Square Garden appears on Get Yer Ya-Ya’s Out! The Rolling Stones in Concert. Other artists who have covered the song include Jerry Lee Lewis, the Kinks, Eric Clapton, Rod Stewart, the Velvet Underground, Eric Burdon, Johnny Moped, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Seger, Johnny Thunders, Savoy Brown, Jan Berry and REO Speedwagon.

The song helped to inspire Marc Bolan to write the T. Rex song “Get It On”, which quotes “Little Queenie” as it fades out: “And meanwhile, I’m still thinking…”

Last updated on July 20, 2014