Johnny B. Goode

 

Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode (Live) (1958)

Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode," released in 1958, is a legendary rock 'n' roll anthem that became one of the era's most influential songs. Telling the story of Johnny, a Louisiana country boy with dreams of fame through his guitar skills, the song captures youthful ambition and the American dream. Berry's energetic performance and signature guitar riffs made it an instant classic, influencing countless artists across genres.

 

Partly reflecting Berry's life and his pianist Johnnie Johnson, "Johnny B. Goode" combines fact and fiction, adding authenticity and inspiring aspiring musicians. The song's widespread impact is evident in its numerous covers, features in films, and inclusion in the Voyager Golden Record, representing humanity's cultural heritage.

 

Reaching number two on the Hot R&B Sides chart and number eight on the pre-Hot 100 chart in 1958, "Johnny B. Goode" resonated with a broad audience. Artists like Buck Owens, Jimi Hendrix, Peter Tosh, and Judas Priest have covered the song, each adding their style to this rock staple.

 

Berry's performance of "Johnny B. Goode" during his 1986 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame highlighted its status as a rock anthem. The song's inclusion in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 and its ranking in Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" further underscore its significance in rock history.

 

"Johnny B. Goode" also made a memorable appearance in "Back to the Future," introducing it to new generations. Its continued chart success and certifications in various countries attest to its enduring popularity and appeal.

 

Chuck Berry's "Johnny B. Goode" transcends being a mere song to become a cultural phenomenon. Its autobiographical roots and wide-reaching influence embody the spirit of rock 'n' roll, showcasing Berry's genius and the power of music to inspire across time and space.

Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu

Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu is an upbeat, infectious rock 'n' roll hit by Johnny Rivers, released in 1972. Originally written and recorded by Huey "Piano" Smith in 1957, the song was reinterpreted by Rivers with a lively arrangement featuring groovy piano riffs and a driving rhythm. Rivers’ version keeps the playful spirit of the original, with its catchy, danceable melody and lyrics that use “rockin’ pneumonia” and “boogie woogie flu” as metaphors for an uncontrollable urge to dance. The song became a fun and energetic addition to Rivers' catalog, blending rock, blues, and boogie-woogie influences.

Johnny Rivers' version of "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" became a hit, reaching #6 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972, giving the song new life 15 years after its original release by Huey "Piano" Smith.

Huey "Piano" Smith first recorded the song in 1957 as a New Orleans R&B track, which became a regional hit and a classic of the genre, but it was Rivers' cover that brought it mainstream success.

Johnny Rivers was already well-known for hits like "Secret Agent Man" and "Memphis," and his version of "Rockin' Pneumonia" further cemented his reputation as a versatile artist able to blend rock, pop, and blues.

The song was part of Rivers' "L.A. Reggae" album, which, despite its title, was more of a rock and roll record with a few reggae-inspired elements.

The boogie-woogie piano style featured in the song pays homage to the energetic, rhythm-based style that was popular in the early days of rock 'n' roll and blues, tying it back to its original roots.

"Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" remains a fun and enduring hit, thanks to its catchy beat, playful lyrics, and Johnny Rivers' lively interpretation, making it a staple of 1970s rock.

Listen to the Music

 

The Doobie Brothers performed March 16, 1973 on The Midnight Special

From 73 to my last WestPac cruse this was playing in all the "sailor" clubs in the Pacific.

The Doobie Brothers have been together for 50 years! Can you believe it? To celebrate their 50th anniversary, they are going on tour and working on a new album. 2020 was actually supposed to be their 50th-anniversary tour, but like many other artists, it was delayed due to the pandemic.

Band member Tom Johnston said, “We had everything going and it got dumped on by the pandemic, which kind of sucked. We did the virtual induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, that was pretty much it. Then it was a year of every day’s Thursday and nothing ever changes. It was pretty much a lost year.”

However, they are back at it! The Doobie Brothers are set to hit 30 cities in North America throughout 2020. On this 50th anniversary, it will be the first time in 25 years Johnston, McDonald, Simmons, and McFee will be touring on the road together. Such a reunion has been a long time coming.

Smoke on the Water

 

Whenever the conversation of the greatest guitar riffs of all time crops up, Smoke on the Water is usually the first uttered. It was voted the best ever, according from a 2008 survey of students from music schools in London.

Despite the riff's popularity, its origin is still something of an enigma. Back in 2007, Blackmore said he conceived Smoke on the Water after listening to the foreboding chimes of Beethoven’s track: “I thought [I’d] play [Beethoven’s fifth symphony] backwards, put something to it… that’s how I came up with it.”

When asked to clarify if Smoke on the Water really was just Beethoven’s fifth backwards, Blackmore explained, “It’s an interpretation of inversion. You turn it back, and play it back and forth, it’s actually Beethoven’s fifth.”

However, Blackmore's tongue-in-cheek humor is well documented, meaning the riff may have just been a classic example of “talented guitarist plays guitar and stumbles on something that sounds good”. Judging by the comments used in the latest Classic Rock, though, this looks far more likely.

In the winter of 1971, when Purple began work on the Machine Head album in Montreux, Switzerland, guitarist Ritchie Blackmore played the riff in their first jam session, and as Gillan recalled: “We didn’t make a big deal out of it. It was just another riff. We didn’t work on the arrangement – it was a jam.” 

But by the end of the recording sessions they came up short of material, and so, in Gillan’s words, “We dug out that jam and put vocals to it.” Blackmore played his Strat and was plugged into – as far as Gillan could recall – “a Vox AC30 and/or a Marshall”. Over that mighty riff, the singer told the true story of how the Montreux casino – where Purple had been scheduled to record – burned down in a fire that started during a Frank Zappa concert. And with that, a deathless rock classic was created. 

If you were a WestPac sailor anytime between 72 and 78 (my years) you heard this in every "sailor" bar you went into. And most of the hotels and restaurants. I still remember walking across the bridge over shit river (yea, that's what we called it) in Olongapo separating the town from the base and hearing Smoke on the Water. 

Just one of my remembrances of WestPac 72 - 78.

High School Memories - the Music We Listened To

 

Tommy James and the Shondells - Crimson & Clover

This brings back memories of Lincoln-Way High School in New Lenox Illinois. I ran track (mile) and cross country for all 4 years. Our cross country (2-mile) practice consisted of a 5 mile run from the high school down Rt. 30 into town then down Cedar Road to Francis Road then down Schoolhouse Road back to the school. I would listen to WLS radio station on a tiny transistor radio while running. My senior year, I almost always heard Crimson & Clover on my run.  I didn't really get the words, but I really liked the guitar. 

 

You can find the meaning behind the song here.  At that time there were very few songs that held meaning to me, most of the time I just liked the rhythm, melody or the guitar.