Chuck Berry – Rock and Roll Music (1958)

About the song

**”Rock and Roll Music”** is a celebrated song by Chuck Berry, written and recorded by him in May 1957. This classic track stands as one of Berry’s most beloved and influential works, reflecting his significant contribution to the rock and roll genre.

The recording session for “Rock and Roll Music” took place in Chicago in May 1957, and was produced by the Chess brothers, Leonard and Phil Chess. Berry was supported by talented musicians including Lafayette Leake on piano, Willie Dixon on bass, and Fred Below on drums. The song was released by Chess Records in September 1957, appearing on both 45 and 78 rpm formats. It quickly gained popularity, reaching number six on Billboard’s R&B Singles chart and climbing to number eight on the Hot 100 chart before the year concluded.

The success of “Rock and Roll Music” was not confined to Berry’s original version. The Beatles, in 1964, recorded their own rendition of the song, which soared to the top of the singles charts in Europe and Australia. Later, in 1976, the Beach Boys also brought the song back into the limelight with a U.S. top 10 hit.

The impact of “Rock and Roll Music” is well recognized in the music industry. In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Berry’s version number 128 on its list of the “500 Greatest Songs of All Time.” Additionally, the song is honored in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of the “500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll,” further cementing its place in rock music history.

The enduring appeal of “Rock and Roll Music” underscores Chuck Berry’s remarkable influence on the genre and his role in shaping the sound of rock and roll for generations to come.

Video

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’t lose it
Any old time you use it
It’s gotta be rock and roll music
If you wanna dance with me
If you wanna dance with me

I have no kick against modern jazz
Unless they try to play it too darn fast
And change 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’t lose it
Any old time you use it
It’s gotta be rock and roll music
If you want to dance with me
If you want to dance with me

I took my loved one over cross the tracks
So she can hear my man a-wail a sax
I must admit they have 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’t lose it
Any old time you use it
It’s gotta be rock and roll music
If you wanna dance with me
If you wanna dance with me

Way down South they gave a jubilee
The jokey folks, they had a jamboree
They’re drinkin’ homebrew from a wooden cup
The folks dancin’ got all shook up

And started playin’ that rock and roll music
Any old way you choose it
It’s got a backbeat, you can’t lose it
Any old time you use it
It’s gotta be rock and roll music
If you wanna dance with me
If you wanna dance with me

Don’t care to hear ’em play a tango
I’m in the mood to dig a mambo
It’s way too early for a congo
So keep a-rockin’ that piano

So I can hear some of that rock and roll music
Any old way you choose it
It’s got a backbeat, you can’t lose it
Any old time you use it
It’s gotta be rock and roll music
If you wanna dance with me
If you wanna dance with me