Rock and Roll Music

Written by Chuck Berry

Album This song officially appears on the Beatles For Sale (Mono) LP.
Timeline This song has been officially released in 1964

Master release


Related sessions

This song has been recorded during the following studio sessions





Other Chuck Berry songs


Little Queenie

Unreleased song


Related interviews


Paul McCartney - Exclusive interview

Sep 01, 1983 • From International Musician And Recording World


Spread the love! If you like what you are seeing, share it on social networks and let others know about The Paul McCartney Project.

Song facts

From Wikipedia:

Rock and Roll Music” is a 1957 hit single written and recorded by rock and roll icon Chuck Berry. The song has been widely covered, and is recognized as one of Berry’s most popular and enduring compositions. In the fall of 1957, the song reached #6 on Billboard magazine’s R&B Singles chart and #8 on the Hot 100 chart.

The song has been recorded by many well-known artists, including Bill Haley & His Comets, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, REO Speedwagon, Mental As Anything, Humble Pie, and Manic Street Preachers. Berry performed his song on December 16, 1957, on ABC’s short-lived variety program, The Guy Mitchell Show. […]

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 United States, it was released on the LP, Beatles ’65. The song was part of the set list for the group’s final tour in 1966 – the performance from their June 30 show at the Nippon Budokan was included in 1996’s Anthology 2 – and was also performed during the Get Back/Let It Be Sessions in January 1969.

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 Finland, Norway, the Netherlands (double a-side with “No Reply“) and Australia.

Sources have varied when crediting the piano on the track. The original Beatles for Sale liner notes by Derek Taylor said that “George Martin joins John and Paul on one piano“, implying an overdub by all three that was added after the basic take. In the 1988 book The Complete Beatles Recording Sessions, Mark Lewisohn described the recording as a single take with no overdubs, with “all The Beatles on their familiar instruments” and Martin on piano. The tape engineer for the session, Geoff Emerick, provided yet another account in his 2006 book; he recalled that McCartney played piano while Harrison covered on bass, and that the only overdub was for double-tracking Lennon’s vocal. […]

FromĀ The Usenet Guide to Beatles Recording Variations:

  • [a] mono 26 Oct 1964
    UK: Parlophone PMC 1240 For Sale 1964.
    US: Capitol T 2228 Beatles ’65 1964.
    CD: EMI CDP 7 46438 2 For Sale 1987.
  • [b] stereo 4 Nov 1964
    UK: Parlophone PCS 3062 For Sale 1964.
    US: Capitol ST 2228 Beatles ’65 1964.

Last updated on March 10, 2016

Lyrics

Just let me hear some of that rock and roll music
Any old way you choose it
It's got a backbeat you can blues it
Any old time you use it
Gotta be rock 'n' roll music
If you wanna dance with me
If you wanna dance with me

I got no kick against modern jazz
Unless they try to play it too darn fast
And lose the beauty of the melody
Until they sound just like a symphony

That's why I go for that rock and roll music
Any old way you choose it
It's got a backbeat you can blues it
Any old time you use it
It's gotta be rock 'n' roll music
If you wanna dance with me
If you wanna dance with me

I took my love on over 'cross the tracks
And she began, her man a wailin' sax
I must admit they had a rockin' band
Man they were blowin' like a hurricane

That's why I go for that rock and roll music
Any old way you choose it
It's got a backbeat you can blues it
Any old time you use it
Gotta be rock and roll music
If you wanna dance with me
If you wanna dance with me

Way down South they had a jubilee
Them Georgia folks they had a jamboree
They're drinkin' Hommel from a wooden cup
The folks were dancin' they got all shook up

And started playin' that rock and roll music
Any old time you use it
It's got a backbeat you can blues it
Any old time you use it
Gotta be rock 'n' roll music
If you wanna dance with me
If you wanna dance with me

Don't care to hear them play a tango
And in the mood they take a mambo
It's way too early for the congo
So keep a rockin' that piano

That's why I go for that rock and roll music
Any old time you use it
It's got a backbeat you can blues it
Any old time you use it
Only got rock 'n' roll music
If you wanna dance with me
If you wanna dance with me

Officially appears on


Beatles For Sale (Mono)

LP • Released in 1964

2:32 • Studio versionA • Mono

Paul McCartney :
Bass guitar, Piano
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Piano, Rhythm guitar, Vocals
George Harrison :
Acoustic guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Oct 18, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Recording:
Oct 26, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Beatles For Sale (Stereo)

LP • Released in 1964

2:32 • Studio versionB • Stereo

Paul McCartney :
Bass guitar, Piano
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Piano, Rhythm guitar, Vocals
George Harrison :
Acoustic guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Oct 18, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Recording:
Nov 04, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Beatles '65 (Mono)

Official album • Released in 1964

2:32 • Studio versionA • Mono

Paul McCartney :
Bass guitar, Piano
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Piano, Rhythm guitar, Vocals
George Harrison :
Acoustic guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Oct 18, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Recording:
Oct 26, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Beatles '65 (Stereo)

Official album • Released in 1964

2:32 • Studio versionB • Stereo

Paul McCartney :
Bass guitar, Piano
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Piano, Rhythm guitar, Vocals
George Harrison :
Acoustic guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Oct 18, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Recording:
Nov 04, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Beatles for Sale

EP • Released in 1965

2:36 • Studio versionA

Paul McCartney :
Bass guitar, Piano
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Piano, Rhythm guitar, Vocals
George Harrison :
Acoustic guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer

Session Recording:
Oct 18, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Recording:
Oct 26, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Rock 'n' Roll Music

LP • Released in 1976

Studio version


Live At The BBC

Official live • Released in 1994


Anthology 2

Official album • Released in 1996

1:39 • LiveL2

Concert From the concert in Tokyo, Japan on Jun 30, 1966


Beatles '65 (2004 remaster)

Official album • Released in 2004

2:32 • Studio versionB2004 • Stereo • 2004 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Bass guitar, Piano
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Piano, Rhythm guitar, Vocals
George Harrison :
Acoustic guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer
Ted Jensen :
Remastering

Session Recording:
Oct 18, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Recording:
Nov 04, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Beatles '65 (2004 remaster)

Official album • Released in 2004

2:32 • Studio versionA2004 • Mono • 2004 remaster

Paul McCartney :
Bass guitar, Piano
Ringo Starr :
Drums
John Lennon :
Piano, Rhythm guitar, Vocals
George Harrison :
Acoustic guitar
George Martin :
Piano, Producer
Norman Smith :
Recording engineer
Ted Jensen :
Remastering

Session Recording:
Oct 18, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road

Session Recording:
Oct 26, 1964
Studio :
EMI Studios, Studio Two, Abbey Road


Bootlegs


The Beatles At The Beeb - Volume 11

Unofficial live • Released in 2003

2:03 • Live • Rock And Roll Music (Saturday Club #10 26Dec64)


A/B Road Complete Get Back Sessions - Jan 7th, 1969 - 3 & 4

Unofficial album • Released in 2004

2:07 • Rehearsal • Jan.07 - D4-13 - Rock And Roll Music 7.101

Performed by :
Paul McCartneyJohn Lennon

Session Recording:
Jan 07, 1969
Studio :
Twickenham Film Studios, London, UK


Beatles For Sale - Studio Sessions - Back To Basics

Unofficial album • Released in 2011

2:33 • Alternate take • Rock And Roll Music (RS from Take 1 version 1 US Rock And Roll Music Stereo)


Beatles For Sale - Studio Sessions - Back To Basics

Unofficial album • Released in 2011

2:31 • Alternate take • Rock And Roll Music (RS from Take 1 version 2 with crowd overdubs Stereo)


Beatles For Sale - Studio Sessions - Back To Basics

Unofficial album • Released in 2011

2:40 • Alternate take • Kansas City (RS from Take 1 US Rock And Roll Music Stereo)


Live performances

“Rock and Roll Music” has been played in 87 concerts.

Latest concerts where Rock and Roll Music has been played







Contribute!

Have you spotted an error on the page? Do you want to suggest new content? Or do you simply want to leave a comment ? Please use the form below!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *