Rock and Roll Music

Rock and Roll Music

Written by: Chuck Berry
Recorded: October 18, 1964 (Studio 2, Abbey Road Studios, London, England)
Mixed: October 26 and November 4, 1964
Length: 2:02
Takes: 1
Musicians:
John Lennon: lead vocal, rhythm guitar (1964 Rickenbacker 325)
Paul McCartney: bass guitar (1961 Hofner 500/1)
George Harrison: rhythm guitar (1964 Gibson J160E)
Ringo Starr: drums (Ludwig)
George Martin: piano (1905 Steinway Vertegrand "Mrs. Mills")
Available on: (CDs in bold)

• Beatles For Sale, (UK: Parlophone PMC 1240, PCS 3062; Parlophone CDP 7 46438 2)
• Beatles For Sale (EP), (UK: Parlophone GEP 8931)
• Beatles '65, (US: Capitol (S)T 2228, Capitol CDP 7243 8 66874 2 5)

History:

• Originally a hit for Chuck Berry in 1957, this ode to the genre in question was a staple of the Beatles' live shows in Hamburg and Liverpool, and was dusted off when additional tracks were needed to complete their fourth LP, Beatles For Sale. It apparently brought back some good memories, for it was immediately placed in the live show again after the release of the album, and stayed there more or less until the end of the group's touring days.
• This track was recorded in only one take, due to the group's familiarity with the song. John sings single-tracked, and George Martin plays piano. It was recorded during the sixth session for Beatles For Sale, just after another single-take wonder, "Everybody's Trying To Be My Baby," and just before a third cover, "Words Of Love."
• This version arguably has more energy than Berry's original, mostly due to John, who screams his vocal all the way through. Notably absent is the boogie-woogie piano filigrees of the original. Berry's version is also in a different key (E) than this one (A).

Known live versions:
December 24-26, 28-31, 1964; January 1-2, 4-9, 11-16, 1965 (Odeon Cinema, London, for Another Beatles Christmas Show)
June 20, 1965 (Palais Des Sports, Paris, France)
June 22, 1965 (Palais d'Hiver, Lyon, France)
June 24, 1965 (Velodromo, Milan, Italy)
June 25, 1969 (Palazzo Dello Sport, Genoa, Italy)
June 27-28, 1965 (Teatro Adriano, Rome, Italy)
June 30, 1965 (Palais Des Fetes, Nice, France)
July 2, 1965 (Plaza De Toros De Madrid, Madrid, Spain)
July 3, 1965 (Plaza de Toros Monumental, Barcelona, Spain)
June 24, 1966 (Circus-Krone-Bau, Munich, Germany)
June 25, 1966 (Grugahalle, Essen, Germany)
June 26, 1966 (Ernst Merck Halle, Hamburg, Germany)
June 30 - July 2, 1966 (Budokan Hall, Tokyo, Japan)
July 4, 1965 (Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, Manila, Philippines)
August 12, 1966 (International Amphitheatre, Chicago, IL)
August 13, 1966 (Olympia Stadium, Detroit, MI)
August 14, 1966 (Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, OH)
August 15, 1966 (Washington Stadium, Washington, DC)
August 16, 1966 (Philadelphia Stadium, Philadelphia, PA)
August 17, 1966 (Maple Leaf Gardens, Toronto, Canada)
August 18, 1966 (Suffolk Downs Racecourse, Boston, MA)
August 19, 1966 (Mid-South Coliseum, Memphis, TN)
August 20, 1966 (Crosley Field, Cincinnati, OH)
August 21, 1966 (Busch Stadium, St Louis, MO)
August 23, 1966 (Shea Stadium, New York, NY)
August 25, 1966 (Seattle Coliseum, Seattle, WA)
August 28, 1966 (Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA)
August 29, 1966 (Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA)

BBC radio versions: 1 (for the BBC radio program Saturday Club)
Trivia:

• John flubs a line in the last verse, beginning the line "It's gotta be rock and roll music" as "It oughtta got -- " and then correcting himself midway.
• The band recorded this, perhaps unknowingly, on Berry's 38th birthday.