Johnny B. Goode

«Johnny B. Goode» is a song by American singer and guitarist Chuck Berry that first appeared on his third studio album Chuck Berry Is on Top by 1959. On March 31, 1958, it was published as a single through Chess Records and since then it has been his most recognized song worldwide and, also, one of the most covered by other artists.

A few days after going on sale, it reached second place on the R&B Singles chart and reached eighth position on the Billboard Hot 100, both in the United States. For years it has been recognized as one of the first songs of rock and roll and is located on the lists of the best of rock both in books and magazines and on websites. One of them is Rolling Stone magazine, which placed it in seventh place on its list of the 500 best songs of all time. According to the list aggregator site Acclaimed Music, it is 12th. ª most critically acclaimed song of all time.

Composition

Written by Chuck Berry in 1955, its lyrics tell how a country boy plays the guitar in order to be a celebrity on stage. Berry has acknowledged that the song is partly autobiographical and that initially "colored boy" appeared in its lyrics - "chico de color" in Spanish and which refers to the guitarist's skin color - but that he changed it to "country." boy" —"country boy" in Spanish— with the idea that it could be played on American radio.

Its title, in addition to suggesting that the guitarist is good, which in English and literally is said be good, alludes to certain biographical elements of Berry, since he was born on the avenue Goode 2520 from Saint Louis, Missouri. The song was initially inspired by pianist Johnnie Johnson, although it became a Berry reference in itself. Although Johnson played piano on all of the guitarist's previous songs, In this the pianist was Lafayette Leake.

On the other hand, the guitar riff that opens the song is a note-for-note copy of the opening of the leader's 1946 song "Ain't That Just Like a Woman." by Louis Jordan orchestra and which was played by guitarist Carl Hogan.

Legacy and other appearances

Over the years the song has appeared in television series and movies, and has been performed by many bands. It is worth mentioning that Berry has written a dozen songs where he uses Johnny B. Goode as a fictional character in songs such as "Bye Bye Johnny", "Go Go Go" and "Johnny B. Blues", and even in 1969 he published the long play Concerto in B. Goode. In addition, his original recording was included on the Voyager Golden Record that was launched into space in the probe of the same name as a testimony to humanity.

On January 23, 1986, when he was inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame, Berry performed it along with "Rock & Roll Music”, backed by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band. Additionally, the hall of fame included “Johnny B. Goode,” “Rock & Roll Music" and "Maybellene" on his list of the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll. In 1999 Berry received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award for considering the song as influential for rock and roll.

On the other hand, and among the films in which it has been included as a soundtrack, Back to the Future from 1985 stands out, where its protagonist Michael J. Fox performs it at the school dance called Enchantment Under the Sea which was celebrated in November 1955. While Fox was playing the song, musician Marvin Berry makes a call to his cousin Chuck telling him that he had just found the sound he was looking for. It should be noted that the vocalist of this version was actually Mark Campbell, while the guitar was played by Tim May.

Versions

Since its publication it has been covered by dozens of artists both in their live concerts, studio albums or as an additional track for certain countries. Some of them have also entered the popularity lists, such as the version made by country singer Buck Owens in 1969, which reached first place on the American Hot Country Songs. In 1972, the version made by guitarist Jimi Hendrix was published posthumously, ranking at number 35 on the British Singles Chart. For its part, in 1983 Peter Tosh's version was ranked at number 84 on the Billboard chart and at number 48. in the United Kingdom.

Elvis Presley version

Elvis Presley included the song Johnny B. Good on his 1972 tour of the United States, being the opening theme of the Golden Globe-winning film Elvis on Tour. Elvis would return to sing it again the following year during his concert in Hawaii broadcast via satellite to several countries, known as Aloha from Hawaii, which would help to popularize the song even more.

Elvis' version had guitar arrangements by James Burton and unlike the original, the second verse was omitted, repeating the third verse twice.

Judas Priest version

In 1988 the British heavy metal band Judas Priest recorded it for their album Ram It Down, released that same year. Also in 1988 the song was included on the soundtrack of the comedy film Johnny Be Good, starring Anthony Michael Hall, Robert Downey Jr. and Paul Gleason.

To promote it, a music video directed by Wayne Isham was recorded in a live performance during the Mercenaries of Metal Tour. A few days after its release it reached number 64 on the UK Singles Chart.

Song list

List of versions

Below is a partial list of artists who have ever covered the song in live concerts, studio albums or in special performances and even in home versions filmed with cell phones: