Rock and Roll Music (song)

2025-09-09T23:30:19Z

99.26.253.170: /* The Beatles version */

{{Short description|1957 song by Chuck Berry}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2019}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Rock and Roll Music
| cover = Output-onlinepngtools (7).png
| caption =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = [[Chuck Berry]]
| B-side = Blue Feeling
| released = September [[1957 in music|1957]]<ref>{{cite web |last1=Rudolph |first1=Dietmar |title=Details For Song: Rock And Roll Music |url=http://www.crlf.de/ChuckBerry/cbdb/song/178-ROCKANDROLLMUSIC.html |website=The Chuck Berry Database |access-date=10 December 2021}}</ref>
| recorded = May 1957
| studio = [[Chess Records|Chess]] (Chicago)<ref>{{cite web |title=The Chuck Berry Database Details For Recording Session: 6. or 15. 5. 1957|url=http://www.crlf.de/ChuckBerry/cbdb/session/10-1957-05-15%2000:00:00.html |website=A Collector's Guide to the Music of Chuck Berry |publisher=Dietmar Rudolph |access-date=28 September 2021}}</ref>
| genre = [[Rock and roll]]
| length = 2:30
| label = [[Chess Records|Chess]]
| writer = Chuck Berry
| producer = [[Leonard Chess]], [[Phil Chess]]
| prev_title = Oh Baby Doll
| prev_year = 1957
| next_title = [[Sweet Little Sixteen]]
| next_year = 1958
}}

"'''Rock and Roll Music'''" is a song by American musician and songwriter [[Chuck Berry]], written and recorded by Berry in May 1957. It has been widely [[cover version|covered]] and is one of Berry's most popular and enduring compositions.

"Rock and Roll Music" was met with instant success, reaching the top 10 in the United States. [[The Beatles]]' 1964 recording topped singles charts in Europe and in Australia, and [[the Beach Boys]] had a U.S. top 10 hit with the song in 1976.

== Original song ==
The sessions for "Rock and Roll Music" took place in May 1957 in Chicago.<ref name="Box">{{cite AV media notes| year = 1988| title = The Chess Box| type = Box set booklet| others = [[Chuck Berry]]| location = Universal City, California| publisher = [[Chess Records]]/[[MCA Records]]| id = CHD3-80,001| pages = 29, 31}}</ref> The session was [[Record producer|produced]] by [[Leonard Chess]] and [[Phil Chess]].<ref name="Box"/> Backing Berry were [[Lafayette Leake]] (piano), [[Willie Dixon]] (bass), and [[Fred Below]] (drums).<ref name="Box" /> Chess records issued the song as a single in September 1957 on both the 45 and 78 rpm formats. It reached number six on ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' magazine's [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|R&B Singles]] chart and number eight on Hot 100 chart before the year's end.<ref name="Whitburn">{{cite book| last = Whitburn| first = Joel| author-link = Joel Whitburn| year = 1988| section = Chuck Berry| title = Top R&B Singles 1942–1988| location = Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin| publisher = [[Record Research]]| isbn = 0-89820-068-7| page = 41}}</ref>

In 2004, ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' magazine ranked Berry's version number 128 on its list of the "[[The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]".<ref>{{cite magazine| date = December 9, 2004| title = The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time| magazine = [[Rolling Stone]]| issue = 963| location = U.S.| url = https://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080622142703/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/coverstory/500songs/page/2| archive-date = June 22, 2008| url-status = dead}}</ref> The song is also included in the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]'s list of the "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll".<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.rockhall.com/exhibithighlights/500-songs| title = 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll| website = [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]| year = 1995| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070502032502/http://www.rockhall.com/exhibithighlights/500-songs| archive-date = 2007-05-02| access-date = April 16, 2020}}</ref>
{{-}}
== The Beatles version ==
{{Infobox song
| name = Rock and Roll Music
| cover = Rock_and_Roll_Music_-_The_Beatles.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Belgian single picture sleeve (1965)
| artist = [[the Beatles]]
| released = *{{Start date|1964|12|04}} (UK: ''[[Beatles for Sale]]'')<ref name="beatle1">{{cite AV media notes|title=Beatles for Sale|title-link=Beatles for Sale|others=[[The Beatles]]|year=2008|chapter=Beatles for Sale – Historical Notes|first=Kevin|last=Howlett|author2=Mike Heatley|page=16|type=CD liner|publisher=[[Capitol Records]]|id=0946 3 82414 2 3}}</ref>
*December 15, 1964 (US: ''[[Beatles '65]]'')
| recorded = October 18, 1964
| studio = [[Abbey Road Studios|EMI]], London
| genre = [[Rock and roll]]
| length = {{Duration|2:30}}
| label = *[[Parlophone]] (UK)
*[[Capitol Records|Capitol]] (US)
| writer = [[Chuck Berry]]
| producer = [[George Martin]]
}}

[[The Beatles]] performed the song in many of their early [[The Beatles in Hamburg|Hamburg shows]], and also played it on the [[BBC]] program ''[[Pop Go the Beatles]]''. In late 1964, with limited time to record a new album before embarking on a UK tour, in addition to original material, they recorded several covers of their rock and rhythm & blues favorites to fill out their next LP release ''[[Beatles for Sale]]'', which was due out in December in time for Christmas.

[[John Lennon]] provided the vocal, employing more dynamics in contrast to Berry's original, even-toned rendition. In the U.S., it was released on the LP ''[[Beatles '65]]''. The song was played during the group's [[The Beatles' 1966 US tour|final tour]] in 1966, and the performance from their show of June 30 at the [[Nippon Budokan]] was included in 1996's ''[[Anthology 2]]''{{snd}}and was also performed during the [[Let It Be (album)#Twickenham rehearsals|''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 (album)|Rock 'n' Roll Music]]''.

Credits for the piano vary. The original ''Beatles for Sale'' liner notes, by [[Derek Taylor]], state that "George Martin joins John and Paul on one piano", implying an overdub by all three that was added after the basic take.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://albumlinernotes.com/Beatles_For_Sale.html |title=Album Liner Notes: ''Beatles for Sale'' |access-date=August 22, 2010}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lewisohn |first=Mark |title=The Beatles Recording Sessions |year=1988 |publisher=[[Harmony Books]] |location=New York City |isbn=0-517-57066-1 |page=50}}</ref> On the other hand, Geoff Emerick recalls that the song was recorded with McCartney on piano and George Harrison on bass.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Emerick |first1=Geoff |last2=Massey |first2=Howard |title=Here, There and Everywhere: My Life Recording the Music of the Beatles |date=2006 |publisher=Penguin Group (USA) Inc. |location=New York |isbn=1-592-40179-1 |pages=96–97}}</ref>

In some countries, "Rock and Roll Music" was released as a single, with "[[I'm a Loser]]" as the B-side, in early 1965. It topped the charts in Norway,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://norwegiancharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=The+Beatles&titel=Rock+And+Roll+Music&cat=s|title=The Beatles – Rock and Roll Music (song)|website=norwegiancharts.com|date=April 23, 2019}}</ref> Sweden,<ref>{{cite web|title=Swedish Charts 1962 – March 1966/Kvällstoppen – Listresultaten vecka för vecka > Mars 1965|url=http://www.hitsallertijden.nl/charts/swedish%20charts/SwedishCharts1962-march66.pdf|website=hitsallertijden.nl|language=sv|access-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref> Finland<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |first= |date=12 August 2015 |title=Sisältää hitin: Levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1960: Artistit SAR - SEM |url=http://suomenlistalevyt.blogspot.com/2015/08/bat-bif.html |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date=2022-03-26 |website=Sisältää hitin}}</ref> and Australia.<ref name=":1">{{cite web|title=Australian Number One Hits 1960s|url=http://www.worldcharts.co.uk/chartfeatures/aus/aus60.htm|website=World Charts|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731072733/http://www.worldcharts.co.uk/chartfeatures/aus/aus60.htm|archive-date=July 31, 2013|access-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref> The single peaked at number two in Germany<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/The+Beatles/2278/?type=single |title=The Beatles Single-Chartverfolgung ''(in German)'' |website=musicline.de |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213203848/http://www.musicline.de/de/chartverfolgung_summary/artist/The%2BBeatles/2278/?type=single |archive-date=December 13, 2013 |access-date=June 27, 2018}}</ref> and the Netherlands, and number three in Belgium.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/song/36bd/The-Beatles-Rock-And-Roll-Music|title=The Beatles – Rock and Roll Music|website=ultratop.be|date=April 23, 2019}}</ref>

===Personnel===
*[[John Lennon]] – [[Singing|vocals]], rhythm guitar, piano
*[[Paul McCartney]] – bass guitar, piano
*[[George Harrison]] – lead guitar
*[[Ringo Starr]] – drums
*[[George Martin]] – piano

===Charts===
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! scope="col"| Chart (1965)
! scope="col"| Peak position
|-
! scope="row"| Austria ([[Ö3 Austria Top 40]])<ref name=":1" />
| 4
|-
! scope="row"| Belgium ([[Ultratop 50 (Flanders)|Ultratop 50]] Flanders)<ref name=":1" />
| 3
|-
! scope="row"| Belgium ([[Ultratop 50 (Wallonia)|Ultratop 50]] Wallonia)<ref name=":1" />
| 6
|-
! scope="row"| Italy (''[[Musica e dischi]]'')<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hit per Interprete |url=https://www.hitparadeitalia.it/indici/per_interprete/ab.htm |website=HPI}}</ref>
| 36
|-
! scope="row"| Netherlands ([[Single Top 100]])<ref name=":1" />
| 2
|-
! scope="row"| Norway ([[VG-lista]])<ref name=":1" />
| 1
|-
! scope="row"| West Germany ([[Media Control]])<ref name=":1" />
| 2
|}
{{-}}

== The Beach Boys version ==
{{Infobox song
| name = Rock and Roll Music
| cover = Beach Boys - Rock and Roll Music.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = [[the Beach Boys]]
| album = [[15 Big Ones]]
| B-side = T M Song
| released = {{Start date|1976|05|24}}
| recorded = 1976
| studio =
| genre = [[Rock and roll]]<ref name= "Ainsley 2024">{{cite web|first= Will|last= Ainsley|title= Every Beach Boys Album, Ranked|website= [[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]|date= May 24, 2024|url= https://www.spin.com/2024/05/every-beach-boys-album-ranked/|accessdate= August 19, 2024}}</ref>
| length = {{Duration|2:29}}
| label = [[Brother Records|Brother]]/[[Reprise Records|Reprise]]
| writer = [[Chuck Berry]]
| producer = [[Brian Wilson]]
| prev_title = [[Sail On, Sailor]]
| prev_year = 1975
| next_title = [[It's O.K. (The Beach Boys song)|It's O.K.]]
| next_year = 1976
}}

[[The Beach Boys]]' version includes the use of backing vocals which repeat the phrase "Rock, roll, rockin' and rollin’.”{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} There is a difference between the LP version and the single version in that the single version has more synthesizer.{{citation needed|date=May 2020}} Their version reached No. 5 on the US chart and No. 11 in Canada during the summer of 1976.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/image.aspx?Image=nlc008388.4299a&URLjpg=http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/obj/028020/f4/nlc008388.4299a.gif&Ecopy=nlc008388.4299a|title=Image: RPM Weekly|first=Library and Archives|last=Canada|date=July 17, 2013|website=bac-lac.gc.ca}}</ref>

===Personnel===
Personnel per 2000 liner notes.<ref name="liner">{{Cite AV media notes |title=15 Big Ones/Love You |others=[[The Beach Boys]] |year=2000 |first=Dennis |last=Diken |authorlink1=Dennis Diken |last2=Buck |first2=Peter |authorlink2=Peter Buck |page=2 |type=booklet |url=http://www.albumlinernotes.com/15_Big_Ones_Love_You.html |publisher=[[Capitol Records]] |location=California}}</ref>
;The Beach Boys
*[[Al Jardine]] – backing vocals
*[[Mike Love]] – backing vocals, lead vocals
*[[Brian Wilson]] – backing vocals, arranger, piano, [[Moog bass]], [[ARP synthesizer]]
*[[Carl Wilson]] – backing vocals
*[[Dennis Wilson]] – backing vocals, drums

;Additional musicians and production staff
{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|
*[[Marilyn Wilson]] – backing vocals
*Ed Carter – guitar
*[[Billy Hinsche]] – guitar
*[[Gene Estes]] – percussion
*Carol Lee Miller – autoharp
*[[Steve Douglas (saxophonist)|Steve Douglas]] – saxophone
*[[Dennis Dreith]] – saxophone, clarinet
*Mike Altschul – saxophone, clarinet
*[[Jackie Kelso|John J. Kelson, Jr.]] – saxophone, clarinet
*[[Jack Nimitz]] – saxophone, clarinet
}}
Album cover, art direction and logo was done by [[Dean Torrence]] and Jim Evans.

=== Charts ===
'''Weekly charts'''
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Chart (1976)
!Peak position
|-
|Canada ''[[RPM (magazine)|RPM]]'' Top Singles<ref>{{cite web|title=Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada |url=http://Collectionscanada.gc.ca |date= March 30, 2012|access-date=January 26, 2017}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|11
|-
|align="left"|[[UK Singles Chart]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/Rock+and+Roll+Music|title=The Official Charts Company - Rock and Roll Music by The Beach Boys Search|date=21 March 2023|publisher=The Official Charts Company}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|36
|-
|US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]]<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990'' – {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|5
|-
|US [[Cash Box (magazine)|''Cash Box'']] Top 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19760731.html|title=Cash Box Top 100 7/31/76|website=tropicalglen.com|access-date=March 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181020004150/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19760731.html|archive-date=October 20, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|align="center"|11
|}

'''Year-end charts'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Chart (1976)
! style="text-align:center;"|Rank
|-
|Canada<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?file_num=nlc008388.5173b&brws_s=&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=u9874ano8k0c5b6bkp4r8qrbp3 |title= Top Singles – Volume 26, No. 14 & 15, January 08 1977 |work= [[RPM (magazine)|RPM]] |publisher= [[Library and Archives Canada]] |access-date= January 22, 2016 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160610094136/http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?file_num=nlc008388.5173b&brws_s=&type=1&interval=20&PHPSESSID=u9874ano8k0c5b6bkp4r8qrbp3 |archive-date= June 10, 2016 }}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|112
|-
|US ''Billboard'' Hot 100<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicoutfitters.com/topsongs/1976.htm|title=Top 100 Hits of 1976/Top 100 Songs of 1976|website=www.musicoutfitters.com}}</ref>
| style="text-align:center;"|81
|-
|}
{{Clear}}

== Mental As Anything version ==
{{Infobox song
| name = Rock and Roll Music
| cover =
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = [[Mental As Anything]]
| album = [[Cyclone Raymond]]
| B-side = Secret Life (Aus) Get You Back (UK)
| released = November 1988
| recorded = World Expo '88
| studio =
| genre = [[Rock music|Rock]]
| length = 3:00 4:50 (Extended mix)
| label = CBS Records (Aus) [[Epic Records]] (UK) [[Columbia Records]] (US)
| writer = [[Chuck Berry]]
| producer = Steve James
| prev_title = If You Leave Me, Can I Come Too?
| prev_year = 1988
| next_title = Love Comes Running
| next_year = 1988
| misc =
}}

Australian band [[Mental As Anything]] covered the song Rock and Roll Music. It was released as the first single from the band's seventh studio album [[Cyclone Raymond]].<ref>[https://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Mental+As+Anything&titel=Rock+And+Roll+Music&cat=s Australian Charts - Mental As Anything - Rock And Roll Music]</ref> The song was released in November 1988 and charted at number 5 on the [[Kent Music Report]] and it stayed on the chart for 22 weeks.<ref>[http://www.australianmusicdatabase.com/recordings/rock-and-roll-music-by-mental-as-anything Australian Music Database - Mental As Anything - Rock And Roll Music]</ref>

===Track listings===
{{Track listing
| headline = CBS (653122 7)

| title1 = Rock and Roll Music
| writer1 = [[Chuck Berry]]
| length1 = 3:00

| title2 = Apocalypso (Live)
| writer2 = [[Martin Plaza]], [[Reg Mombassa]]
| length2 = 4:46

}}

{{Track listing
| headline = 12" version

| title1 = Rock and Roll Music (Extended Mix)
| writer1 = Chuck Berry
| length1 = 4:50

| title2 = Apocalypso (Live)
| writer2 = Martin Plaza, Reg Mombassa
| length2 = 4:46

| title3 = Secret Life (Live)
| writer3 = Martin Plaza
| length3 = 3:37

}}

===Charts===
{| class="wikitable"
!Chart (1988)
!Peak position
|-
|Australian ([[Kent Music Report]])<ref name="Kent">{{cite book |title=[[Kent Music Report|Australian Chart Book 1970–1992]] |last=Kent |first=David |authorlink= David Kent (historian) |publisher=Australian Chart Book |location=[[St Ives, New South Wales|St Ives]], NSW |year=1993 |isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=198 }}</ref>
|align="center"| 5
|}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Chuck Berry}}
{{Beatles for Sale}}
{{The Beatles singles}}
{{The Beach Boys singles}}
{{15 Big Ones}}
{{Mental As Anything}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1957 songs]]
[[Category:1965 singles]]
[[Category:1976 singles]]
[[Category:Chuck Berry songs]]
[[Category:Bill Haley songs]]
[[Category:Emerson, Lake & Palmer songs]]
[[Category:Humble Pie (band) songs]]
[[Category:Jan and Dean songs]]
[[Category:Mental As Anything songs]]
[[Category:1988 singles]]
[[Category:CBS Records singles]]
[[Category:Columbia Records singles]]
[[Category:Epic Records singles]]
[[Category:REO Speedwagon songs]]
[[Category:The Beach Boys songs]]
[[Category:The Beatles songs]]
[[Category:Chess Records singles]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Australia]]
[[Category:Number-one singles in Norway]]
[[Category:Parlophone singles]]
[[Category:Reprise Records singles]]
[[Category:Song recordings produced by George Martin]]
[[Category:Songs about rock music]]
[[Category:Songs written by Chuck Berry]]

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Rock and Roll Music (song)