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Released in 1964

Rock and Roll Music

Written by Chuck Berry

Last updated on March 10, 2016

Album This song officially appears on the Beatles For Sale (Mono) LP.

Timeline This song was officially released in 1964

Master album

Related sessions

This song was recorded during the following studio sessions:

Other Chuck Berry songs

Related interviews

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. […]

From 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.

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

See all official recordings containing “Rock and Roll Music”

Bootlegs

See all bootlegs containing “Rock and Roll Music”

Live performances

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

Latest concerts where “Rock and Roll Music” has been played

See all concerts where “Rock and Roll Music” has been played

Going further

Paul McCartney writing

Talk more talk, chat more chat

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