Friday Night Jukebox, Vol. CCLXXIV--Chuck Berry: Johnny B. Goode

My introduction to this week's tune was from my father, who was quite the dancer, and who, it dawned on me this week, probably liked Chuck Berry as much as he did because virtually every song Berry performed was just so goddamned danceable...

Chuck Berry is another in a long line of artists featured here on Friday Night Jukebox whose career accomplishments are just a bit long for a one paragraph summary...but what the fuck, chutzpah is my middle name (no, it's not).  Often called the "Father of Rock and Roll," Berry's career began in 1953 in my old hometown of St. Louis, MO and lasted up until his death in 2017 (he actually released his final album the year he died, at the age of 90).  Berry's influence was immeasurable--he set standards for guitar playing, showmanship, and songwriting that are emulated to this day.  His musical output was prolific--for his career he released twenty studio albums, thirteen live albums, eight EPs, and 36 compilations.  He also released 53 singles, seven of which hit the top ten, including one number one.
Berry was among the first inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and has just about every accolade a music performer could earn.  Unfortunately, Berry also had a bit of a dark side, spending time in reformatory school when he was younger (for armed robbery), and twice spending time in prison for income tax evasion and improper relations with women who weren't of age (somehow, though, he did manage to stay married to his wife for 69 years).  Despite his failings, if it hadn't been for Elvis Presley, Berry quite likely would have been the King.

"Johnny B. Goode" was released as a single in 1958, and would reach #8 (with a bullet!) on the Billboard Hot 100.  It was #7 on Rolling Stone's list of the "500 Greatest Singles of All-Time" and has also been chosen by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Grammy Awards in tributes to the greatest songs of all time.

Fun Fact:  In 1977 NASA launched two space probes called Voyager in search of extraterrestrial life (both of which will be cruising through space long after we're gone).  Both crafts contained a golden record which consisted of the sights and sounds of our planet--including "Johnny B. Goode" by Chuck Berry.

And the odds of me having something novel to say about one of the greatest singles in the history of rock and roll?  Zero.  Suffice it to say, excellent guitar, excellent songwriting, excellent storytelling, and chock full of joy.  Oh--and you can dance to it.

Lyric Sheet: "His mother told him, "Someday you will be a man/And you will be the leader of a big ol' band/Many people comin' from miles around/To hear you play your music when the sun go down/Maybe someday your name'll be in lights/Sayin' 'Johnny B. Goode tonight!'"

Enjoy: