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{{Short description|1958 single by Chuck Berry}}
{{Single infobox | <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Songs -->
| Name = Johnny B. Goode
{{for|the posthumous live album by Jimi Hendrix|Johnny B. Goode (album){{!}}''Johnny B. Goode'' (album)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2012}}
| Artist = [[Chuck Berry]]
{{Infobox song
| from Album = [[Chuck Berry Is on Top]]
| Cover = Johnnybgoode.jpg
| name = Johnny B. Goode
| image = Johnny B Goode by Chuck Berry US single side-A.png
| Released = March, 31, 1958
| Format = vinyl record (7")
| alt =
| Genre = Rock and Roll
| caption = One of side-A labels of original US single
| Length = 2:40
| type = single
| Label = Mca
| artist = [[Chuck Berry]]
| album = <!-- THE SINGLE WAS RELEASED WELL BEFORE THE ALBUM, SO IT IS NOT "FROM THE ALBUM", BUT LATER ADDED TO ONE. -->
| Producer = Blue Berry
| B-side = [[Around and Around]]
| Chart position = * #6 (USA)
| released = March 31, 1958
| Reviews = [http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002PDL Amazon]
| Last single = [[Anthony Boy]]<br>(1958)
| recorded = January 6, 1958
| This single = Johnny B. Goode<br>(1958)
| studio = Chess, Chicago
| Next single = [[Little Queenie]]<br>(1958)
| genre = [[Rock and roll]]
| length = 2:39
| Misc = {{Extra musicsample |filename=Blue_Berry_-_Johnny_B._Goode.ogg |title=Johnny B. Goode |format=[[Ogg]]}}
| label = [[Chess Records|Chess]]
| writer = [[Chuck Berry]]
| producer = [[Leonard Chess]], [[Phil Chess]]
| prev_title = [[Sweet Little Sixteen]]
| prev_year = 1958
| next_title = Beautiful Delilah
| next_year = 1958
| misc = {{Audio sample
| type = single
| file = Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode.ogg
}}
}}
}}
"'''Johnny B. Goode'''" is a [[song]] by [[Chuck Berry]].


"'''Johnny B. Goode'''" is a song by American musician [[Chuck Berry]], written and sung by Berry in 1958. Released as a [[Single (music)|single]] in 1958, it peaked at number two on the [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot R&B Sides]] chart and number eight on its pre-[[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]] chart.<ref name=":0">
Berry wrote the piece in 1955 and released it in 1958. It is a rock and roll telling of the [[American dream]] - a poor country boy becoming a star by hard work and his skill at playing the [[guitar]]. Although partly [[autobiography|autobiographical]], the inspiration for the song is said to have been [[Johnnie Johnson (musician)|Johnnie Johnson]] who played the [[piano]] and composed several songs with Berry, and is considered a major contributor to the unmistakable Berry sound. On earlier unreleased takes Chuck sang "colored boy" instead of "country boy", but the [[Chess Records|Chess]] brothers decided that that would not sell. In reference to the boy's name, Berry was also born on Goode Avenue in [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]]. [http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/living/travel/14862285.htm]
{{cite book
| last = Whitburn
Berry later wrote a sequel song called "Bye Bye Johnny". His [[instrumental]] "[[Concerto in B. Goode]]" is an extended [[instrumental]] exploration of "the Chuck Berry style" by its master and inventor.
| first = Joel
| author-link = Joel Whitburn
Berry's recording of the song was included on the [[Voyager Golden Record]], attached to the [[Voyager program|Voyager]] spacecraft as representing rock and roll among other cultural achievements of humanity.
| title = Top R&B Singles 1942–1988
| year = 1988
| location = Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin
| publisher = [[Record Research]]
| isbn = 0-89820-068-7
| page = [https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whit/page/42 42]
| url-access = registration
| url = https://archive.org/details/joelwhitburnstop00whit/page/42
}}</ref> The song remains a staple of [[rock n' roll]] music.


"Johnny B. Goode" is considered one of the most recognizable songs in the history of [[popular music]]. Credited as "the first rock & roll hit about rock & roll stardom",<ref name="RS">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/chuck-berry-johnny-b-goode-20110516|title=500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 7. Chuck Berry, 'Johnny B. Goode'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 7, 2011|access-date=March 22, 2017|archive-date=March 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312024059/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/chuck-berry-johnny-b-goode-20110516|url-status=dead}}</ref> it has been covered by various other artists and has received several honors and accolades. These include being ranked 33rd and 7th, respectively on [[Rolling Stone|Rolling Stone magazine’s]] 2021 <ref name=":1">{{Cite magazine |date=15 September 2021 |title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: Chuck Berry, 'Johnny B. Goode' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/chuck-berry-johnny-b-goode-2-1225305/ |access-date=May 5, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |edition=2021}}</ref> and 2004 versions of [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]"<ref name="RS" /><ref>{{Cite magazine |date=11 December 2003 |title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-151127/ |access-date=May 5, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |edition=2004}}</ref> It was also included as one of the 27 songs on the [[Voyager Golden Record]], a collection of music, images, and sounds designed to serve as an introduction and record of global humanity’s achievements, innovations and culture, to alien/otherworldly inhabitants.
In March 2005, [[Q magazine|''Q'' magazine]] placed "Johnny B. Goode" at number 42 in its list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks. [[Rolling Stone]] ranked it as the seventh greatest song ever on their list of the [[500 Greatest Songs of All Time]].


== Composition and recording ==
==Cultural uses==
Written by Berry in 1955, the song is about an illiterate "country boy" from the New Orleans area, who plays a guitar "just like ringing a [[bell]]", and who might one day have his "name in lights".<ref name="Middleton">{{cite book |last=Taylor |first=Timothy D. |editor-last=Middleton |editor-first=Richard |editor-link=Richard Middleton (musicologist) |title=Reading Pop: Approaches to Textual Analysis in Popular Music |year=2000 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |isbn=0-19-816611-7 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/readingpopapproa0000unse/page/165 165–167, 177] |chapter=Chapter 7 – His Name Was in Lights: Chuck Berry's <nowiki>'Johnny B. Goode'</nowiki> |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/readingpopapproa0000unse/page/165 }}</ref> Berry acknowledged that the song is partly autobiographical and that the original lyrics referred to Johnny as a "colored boy", but he changed it to "country boy" to ensure radio play.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6595852/johnny_b_goode |title=Johnny B. Goode |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061228112332/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/6595852/johnny_b_goode |archive-date=December 28, 2006 |url-status=dead |access-date=February 21, 2010}}</ref> As well as suggesting that the guitar player is good, the title hints at autobiographic elements, because Berry was born at 2520 Goode Avenue, in [[St. Louis, Missouri|St. Louis]].<ref name="Middleton" />
*In the movie ''[[Back to the Future]]'', [[Marty McFly]] performs this song at a high school dance where the original band's guitarist (named Marvin Berry) injures his hand. Chuck Berry (apparently) becomes inspired to write the song by Marvin, his cousin, who calls Chuck to hear the "new sound [he's] been looking for". The scene was also used in ''[[Back to the Future Part II]]''.
*[[The Beach Boys]] copied the intro of the song for "[[Fun, Fun, Fun]]". They recorded the song live on December 21, 1963, in a version which would later be released on the album ''[[Beach Boys Concert]]''.
*The song is one of two Berry recordings included on the ''[[American Graffiti]]'' soundtrack.
*"Johnny B. Goode" makes a cameo appearance in the [[Ricky Nelson]] song, "[[Garden Party (Rick Nelson)|Garden Party]]", as a reference to Berry, who also played the concert commemorated in the Nelson song.
*"Johnny B. Goode" also makes a cameo in the [[Big Bopper]] song, "Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor".
*In [[2004]], Democratic nominee [[John Kerry]] used the song as a theme song at most of his campaign events
*[[Australia]]n band [[TISM]] once recorded a [[parody]] of this song entitled "The Ballad of Johnny To B. Or Not To B. Goode". Their independent record label is named "Genre B. Goode".
*"Johnny B. Goode" can be heard in many places, including in the makeshift [[hospital]] Ruth's daughter Jane visits in the [[United Kingdom|British]] [[nuclear warfare|nuclear war]] film ''[[Threads]].
*In the [[SNES]] game ''[[Earthbound]]'' (or ''[[Mother 2]]'' in Japan), the music which plays when fighting the enemy identified as "New Age Retro Hippie" is based on "Johnny B. Goode".
*In the computer videogame''[[Theme Park (game)|Theme Park]]'', the music of the simulator ride is the guitar riff of "Johnny B. Goode".
*The [[Kingdom Hospital]] television miniseries had a running gag where the hospital's janitor, Johnny B. Goode, was always absent from work and his duties performed by someone else. Eventually Goode does appear late in the series, and is played by novelist and series creator [[Stephen King]].
*In the videogames ''[[Animal Crossing]]'' and its sequel ''[[Animal Crossing: Wild World]]'', the song "Rockin' K.K." is heavily based on "Johnny B. Goode". This could also be a reference to [[Judas Priest]]'s cover, and their [[guitar]]ist [[K.K. Downing]].
*"Johnny B. Goode" is featured on the [[Voyager Golden Record]] as one of three examples of USA music.
*On his 2006 ''[[Modern Times (Bob Dylan album)|Modern Times]]'' album [[Bob Dylan]] seems to use the speed and metric of "Johnny B. Goode" for his song "Thunder on the Mountain". In so far as this CD is about "modern times", it seems reasonable that he picks up this classic: the "spirit" (its rhythmic essence) of the song is transformed into the present, adding much vigor and lyrical variations to it.
*American [[NASCAR]] driver [[Johnny Benson]] is frequently referred to by television commentators as "Johnny B. Goode" when he's running well.
* Ironically, pianist Johnny Johnson was not on this recording; instead, Lafayette Leake did the keyboard honors.
*"Johnny B. Goode" has also been used in several hit musicals. The song is the finale in [["Return to the Forbidden Planet"]] and also is the final song in the finale act of ''[[The Buddy Holly Story]]''.
*In an Australian advertisement for [[The OC]], "Johnny B Goode" is written "Johnny be good" as a caption while a character, Johnny, is robbing a convienience store.
*The [[DEVO]] song [[Come Back Jonee]] makes a reference to this song.
*The ''[[Histeria!]]'' episode "Hooray For Presidents" featured a Kid Chorus song about [[Susan B. Anthony]] sung to this song's tune.
*The [[Discworld]] novel [[Soul Music]], by author [[Terry Pratchett]], references the song multiple times through in-jokes and lyrics references. The main character, Imp Y Celyn, (whose name translates as "Small shoot of the Holly"), wins a music contest with a song named "Sioni Bod Da": Bod Da is Welsh for "Be Good, and Sioni the Welsh version of the name Johnny. Therefore, Sioni Bo Da is Johnny B. Goode. Imp's harp, which was won in the contest, is describe described as "The harp was fresh and bright and already it sang like a bell". The home of his birth, as well, is a reference to the song, for he describes it as "Made of earth and wood. Well, mud and wood really".
*One of the main characters in the 80's comedy adventure show [[Misfits of Science]] is a rock guitarist and singer, who goes by the name Johnny B (Johnny Bukowski). During the pilot episode of the series, scientist Dr. Billy Hayes attempts to get Johnny to join the team, by offering him a Chuck Berry greatest hits compilation, on audio cassette, as a peace offering. It is revealed that Johnny's non-stop playing of Chuck Berry (or "C The B" as Hayes puts it) had previously led to the two attacking each other. Johnny also later sings Johnny B. Goode while using his lightning powers to hold off the military, during a rescue operation.


The song was initially inspired by [[Johnnie Johnson (musician)|Johnnie Johnson]], the regular piano player in Berry's band,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/14/arts/music/14johnson.html?_r=1 |title=Johnnie Johnson, 80, Dies; Inspired 'Johnny B. Goode' |work=[[The New York Times|New York Times]] |access-date=February 21, 2010 |first=Ben |last=Ratliff |date=April 14, 2005}}</ref> but developed into a song mainly about Berry himself. Johnson played on many recordings by Berry, but for the Chess recording session [[Lafayette Leake]] played the piano, along with [[Willie Dixon]] on bass and [[Fred Below]] on drums.<ref name="Middleton"/><ref name="Box">{{cite AV media notes
==Cover versions==
| last = Altman
This song has been [[cover version|covered]] by many artists including:
| first = Billy
| title = Chuck Berry: The Chess Box
| others = [[Chuck Berry]]
| type = Box set booklet
| year = 1988
| location = Universal City, California
| publisher = [[MCA Records]]/[[Chess Records]]
| id = CHD3-80,001
}}</ref> The session was produced by [[Leonard Chess|Leonard]] and [[Phil Chess]].<ref name="Box"/> The guitarist [[Keith Richards]] later suggested that the song's chords are more typical of compositions written for piano than for guitar.<ref>{{Citation |last=Hackford |first=Taylor |title=Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll |date=1987 |others=Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton |publisher=Delilah Films}}</ref>

The opening guitar riff of "Johnny B. Goode" borrows from the opening single-note solo on [[Louis Jordan]]'s "[[Ain't That Just Like a Woman (They'll Do It Every Time)|Ain't That Just Like a Woman]]" (1946), played by guitarist [[Carl Hogan]].<ref>Miller, James (1999). ''Flowers in the Dustbin: The Rise of Rock and Roll, 1947–1977''. Simon & Schuster. p. 104. {{ISBN|0-684-80873-0}}.</ref>

One notable feature of Berry's recording is the contrast between the [[swing time|swing]] of the drums and piano backing, and the "straight" (non-swinging) rhythm and lead guitar. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-03-19 |title=Swing Friction in Johnny B. Goode |url=https://www.miltonline.com/2017/03/19/swing-friction-in-johnny-b-goode/ |access-date=2024-08-15 |website=Miltonline |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Legacy==
[[File:The Sounds of Earth - GPN-2000-001976.jpg|alt=A golden record|thumb|The [[Voyager Golden Record]] contains "Johnny B. Goode" among various musical pieces from many cultures.]]
In ''The Guardian'', Joe Queenan argued that "no song in the history of rock'n'roll more jubilantly celebrates the downmarket socioeconomic roots of the genre" than "Johnny B. Goode".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2007/jun/21/popandrock.vinylword|title=The story of Johnny B Goode|last=Queenan|first=Joe|newspaper=The Guardian|date=June 21, 2007|access-date=March 22, 2017}}</ref> In ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'', Jason Lipshutz stated that the song was "the first rock-star origin story", and that it featured "a swagger and showmanship that had not yet invaded radio."<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/movies/7728706/chuck-berry-johnny-b-goode-back-to-the-future|title=How Chuck Berry's 'Johnny B. Goode' Helped Define 'Back to the Future'|last=Lipshutz|first=Jason|magazine=Billboard|date=March 18, 2017|access-date=March 22, 2017}}</ref>

When Chuck Berry was honored in the first [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] induction ceremony on January 23, 1986, he performed "Johnny B. Goode" and "[[Rock and Roll Music (song)|Rock and Roll Music]]", backed by [[Bruce Springsteen]] and the [[E Street Band]].<ref>Barker, Derek (2009). Liner notes to ''Bruce Springsteen's Jukebox: The Songs that Inspired the Man'' [CD]. Chrome Dreams.</ref> The Hall of Fame included both songs as well as "[[Maybellene]]" in their list of the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockhall.com/exhibithighlights/500-songs/ |title=500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll by Artists (A-C) |publisher=[[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524034112/http://www.rockhall.com/exhibithighlights/500-songs/ |archive-date=May 24, 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The song was inducted into the [[Grammy Hall of Fame Award|Grammy Hall of Fame]] in 1999, for its influence as a rock and roll single.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame#j |title=Grammy Hall of Fame – Past Recipients (Letter J) |work=[[Grammy Award|The Grammy Awards]] |publisher=[[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]] |location=United States |access-date=February 1, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110122042616/http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame |archive-date=January 22, 2011 }}</ref>

The song appears on the 1973 [[41 Original Hits from the Soundtrack of American Graffiti|''American Graffiti'' soundtrack album]].

"Johnny B. Goode" has been recorded in cover versions by a wide variety of artists in different genres. In 1969, [[country music]]ian [[Buck Owens]]'s version topped ''Billboard'' magazine's [[Hot Country Songs|Hot Country Sides]] chart.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/buck-owens-p1755/charts-awards/billboard-singles |title=Charts & Awards: Buck Owens – Billboard Singles |work=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=February 1, 2011}}</ref> In 1972, [[Jimi Hendrix]] had a posthumous hit with a live version peaking at number 35 on the [[UK Singles Chart]]<ref name=occ>{{cite web|title=Johnny B. Goode - Full Official Chart History|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/johnny%20b.%20goode/|website=Official Charts Company|access-date=January 19, 2016}}</ref> and later reaching number 13 on the New Zealand Top 50 in 1986.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://charts.nz/showitem.asp?interpret=Jimi+Hendrix&titel=Johnny+B%2E+Goode&cat=s |title="Johnny B. Goode" by Jimi Hendrix |work=New Zealand Top 50 Singles |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=February 1, 2011}}</ref> [[Peter Tosh]]'s 1983 rendition peaked at number 84 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/peter-tosh-p104237/charts-awards/billboard-singles |title=Charts & Awards: Peter Tosh – Billboard Singles |work=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=February 1, 2011}}</ref> number 48 on the UK Singles Chart,<ref name=occtosh>{{cite web|title=Peter Tosh: Full Official Chart History|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/17197/peter-tosh/|publisher=Official Charts Company|access-date=January 19, 2016}}</ref> number 10 in the Netherlands, and number 29 in New Zealand.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://australian-charts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Peter+Tosh&titel=Johnny+B%2E+Goode&cat=s |title="Johnny B. Goode" by Peter Tosh |work=australian-charts |publisher=Hung Medien |format=ASP |access-date=February 1, 2011}}</ref> In 1988, [[Judas Priest]]'s version reached number 64 on the UK Singles Chart.<ref name="occ"/> [[The Sex Pistols]] also covered it for their soundtrack ''[[The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (album)|The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle]]'' in 1979. [[Elton John]]'s cover of the song is the opening track of his 1979 album [[Victim of Love (Elton John album)|''Victim of Love'']].

[[Devo]] paid homage to Berry's song in their song "Come Back Jonee" on the group's 1978 debut album ''[[Q. Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!]]''.

Berry's recording is included (as the eleventh track of disc 1) among the musical samples and sounds on the [[Voyager Golden Record]], sent to travel into deep space beyond the solar system on both [[Voyager spacecraft]], launched in 1977.

A cover version is featured in the film ''[[Back to the Future]]'' (1985) when lead character [[Marty McFly]], played by actor [[Michael J. Fox]], performs it at a high school dance. Impressed, fictional bandleader Marvin Berry calls up his cousin Chuck and makes him listen to the song, telling him it's "that new sound you're looking for", thus making it a [[bootstrap paradox]]. Fox explained his approach was to "incorporate all the characteristics and mannerisms and quirks of my favourite guitarists, so a [[Pete Townshend]] windmill, and [[Jimi Hendrix]] behind the back, and a Chuck Berry [[duckwalk]]. And we worked all that in."<ref name="Wakeman">
{{cite web| url = https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/michael-j-fox-back-to-the-future-johnny-b-goode-193058899.html| last = Wakeman| first = Gregory| title = Madonna's Choreographer Helped Michael J Fox Perfect ''Back To The Future's'' Iconic Johnny B Goode Scene| date = June 12, 2020| website = [[Yahoo.com]]| access-date = October 21, 2020}}</ref>

The [[Grateful Dead]] often performed the song live, purportedly playing it at least 287 times.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Johnny B. Goode by Grateful Dead Concert Statistics {{!}} setlist.fm |url=https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/grateful-dead-bd6ad4a.html?songid=13d61d69 |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=www.setlist.fm}}</ref>

The animated TV series ''[[Ninjago (TV series)|Ninjago]]'' pays homage to "Johnny B. Goode" several times throughout the show with a track titled "Dareth the Guitar Man" (also known as "Dareth The Man" or "Dareth's Blues"), which features similar musical themes to the song.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://open.spotify.com/track/3vwcXvMqAPiZgsifDz90T2?si=f44ecdc9888942e4| title = Dareth The Man (Dareth's Blues)| website = [[Spotify]]| access-date = June 16, 2024}}</ref>

===Accolades===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! scope="col" | List
! scope="col" | Publisher
! scope="col" | Rank
! scope="col" | Year of publication
|-
| [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]<ref name="RS" />|| ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' || 7 || 2004
|-
| 50 Greatest Guitar Solos<ref>{{Cite web|lang=en|url=http://guitarworld.com/50_greatest_solos?page=0,3|title=50 Greatest Guitar Solos|website=Guitar World|date=2009-02-10| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210214223/http://guitarworld.com/50_greatest_solos?page=0,3 |access-date=2023-07-08| archive-date=February 10, 2009 }}</ref> || ''[[Guitar World]]'' || 12 || 2009
|-
| 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time<ref>{{Cite magazine|lang=en|url=http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/20947527/the_100_greatest_guitar_songs_of_all_time/print|title=The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time|author=|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=2008-05-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531030023/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/20947527/the_100_greatest_guitar_songs_of_all_time/print |access-date=2023-07-08|archive-date=May 31, 2008 }}</ref> || ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' || 1 || 2008
|-
| 100 Greatest Guitar Tracks<ref>{{Cite web|lang=en|url=https://rocklistmusic.co.uk/qlistspage3.htm|title=Rocklist.net...Q Magazine Lists..|author=Q Magazine|website=rocklistmusic.co.uk|access-date=2023-07-08}}</ref> || ''[[Q (magazine)|Q]]'' || 42 || 2005
|-
| [[Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|500 Greatest Songs of All Time]]<ref name=":1" />|| ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' || 33 || 2021
|-
| 500 Songs That Shaped Rock<ref>{{Cite web|lang=en|url=http://www.rockhall.com/exhibithighlights/500-songs|title=500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll|website=Rock and Roll Hall of Fame|date=2009-02-27|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227184522/http://www.rockhall.com/exhibithighlights/500-songs |access-date=2023-07-08|archive-date=February 27, 2009 }}</ref> || [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] || N/A || 1995
|}

==Charts==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
{{col-2}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
* [[5-Driver]]
|+ Weekly charts
* [[AC/DC]]
|-
* [[Aerosmith]]
! scope="col" | Chart (1958)
* [[Andrés Calamaro]]
! scope="col" | Peak<br />position
* [[Bad Religion]] (live)
|-
* [[Beach Boys]] (live)
|US ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' [[Billboard Hot 100|Hot 100]]<ref>''Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990'' - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}</ref>
* [[Buddy Holly]]
| style="text-align:center;"|8
* [[Carpenters]] (live)
|-
* [[The Beatles]]
|US ''Billboard'' [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot R&B Sides]]<ref>{{cite web |url={{AllMusic |id=p3664|tab=charts-awards/billboard-singles|pure_url=yes}} |title=Charts & Awards: Chuck Berry – ''Billboard'' Singles |work=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=February 1, 2011}}</ref>
* [[Marc Broussard]]
| style="text-align:center;"|2
* Mark Campbell - sung as "[[Marty McFly]]" during ''[[Back to the Future]]'' (Note: [[Michael J. Fox]] did not sing the version heard in the movies.)
|-
* [[Earthlings?]]
|US [[Cash Box (magazine)|''Cash Box'']] Top 100<ref>{{cite book |last1=Downey |first1=Pat |last2=Albert |first2=George |last3=Hoffmann |first3=Frank |title=Cash Box Pop Singles Charts, 1950-1993 |year=1994 |publisher=Libraries Unlimited, Inc. |location=Englewood, Colorado |isbn=1563083167 |page=26 |url=https://archive.org/details/cashboxpopsingle00down/page/26/mode/2up |access-date=November 3, 2023}}</ref>
* [[John Farnham]]
|align="center"|11
* [[Freddie & the Dreamers]]
|}
* [[Men at Work]]
{| class="wikitable"
* [[Green Day]]
|-
* [[The Grateful Dead]]
! scope="col" | Chart (2017)
* [[Bill Haley & His Comets]]
! scope="col" | Peak<br />position
* [[Jimi Hendrix]] (live)
|-
* [[Elton John]]
|{{singlechart|Billboardrocksongs|9|artist=Chuck Berry|rowheader=true|access-date=January 4, 2017}}
* [[Funky Fred and The Groove Funk Machine]]
|}
* [[Judas Priest]] from ''[[Ram It Down]]''
{{col-2}}
* [[Jerry Lee Lewis]]
* [[Julian Lennon]]
* [[Led Zeppelin]] (live)
* [[Lynyrd Skynyrd]] (live)
* [[Phillip Magee]]
{{col-break}}
* [[NOFX]]
* [[NRBQ]]
* [[Operation Ivy (band)]]
* [[Buck Owens]]
* [[Phish]]
* [[Proletaryat]]
* [[Elvis Presley]]
* [[Ratdog]]
* [[Sex Pistols]]
* [[Slade]]
* [[Slaughter & The Dogs]]
* [[Status Quo]]
* [[Stray Cats]]
* [[George Thorogood]]
* [[The Tornadoes]]
* [[Peter Tosh]]
* [[The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain]]
* [[Uncle Tupelo]]
* [[Wardy And The Rockets]]
* [[Johnny Winter]], whose Johnny "can play a guitar like a bat out of Hell".
* [[Ben Waters]]
* [[Carlos Santana]]
* [[Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush]]
* [[Kojanij Olen]]
* [[Huey Lewis and The News]]
* [[Will Hoge]] (live)
* [[The Hubcaps]]
{{col-end}}
{{col-end}}


==Trivia Facts==
==Certifications==
{{Certification Table Top}}
* "Johnny" also appears as a character in the sequel songs "Bye Bye Johnny" and "Go Go Go".
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Chuck Berry|title=Johnny B. Goode|relyear=1958|certyear=2019|note=sales since 2009|access-date=November 26, 2020|id=7538}}
* "Johnny B. Goode" is mentioned in [[Joe South]]'s song "The Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor."
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|title=Johnny B. Goode|artist=Chuck Berry|type=single|award=Platinum|relyear=1958|access-date=December 15, 2024|certyear=2023|source=radioscope}}
* The [[Final Fantasy VI]] soundtrack contains a track entitled "Johnny C. Bad". Although the title is an obvious parody of Johnny B. Goode, the songs themselves are dissimilar.
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Chuck Berry|title=Johnny B. Goode|relyear=1958|certyear=2024|note=sales since 2009|access-date=October 9, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Chuck Berry|title=Johnny B Goode|relyear=2004|certyear=2024|id=14683-3613-1|access-date=January 26, 2024}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Chuck Berry|title=Johnny B. Goode|relyear=1958|certyear=2020|access-date=November 18, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streaming=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true}}


==External links==
==References==
{{Reflist}}
*[http://www.seeklyrics.com/lyrics/Chuck-Berry/Johnny-B-Goode.html Lyrics]


{{Chuck Berry}}
[[Category:1955 songs]]
{{Buck Owens}}
{{Jimi Hendrix singles}}
{{Judas Priest}}
{{Dion DiMucci}}
{{Voyager Golden Record}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1958 songs]]
[[Category:1958 singles]]
[[Category:1969 singles]]
[[Category:1972 singles]]
[[Category:1979 singles]]
[[Category:1983 singles]]
[[Category:1988 singles]]
[[Category:Songs written by Chuck Berry]]
[[Category:Chuck Berry songs]]
[[Category:Chuck Berry songs]]
[[Category:The Beatles songs]]
[[Category:The Beatles songs]]
[[Category:Elvis Presley songs]]
[[Category:Buck Owens songs]]
[[Category:Bill Haley songs]]
[[Category:Jimi Hendrix songs]]
[[Category:Songs covered by Grateful Dead]]
[[Category:Judas Priest songs]]
[[Category:Leif Garrett songs]]

[[Category:Grammy Hall of Fame Award recipients]]
[[de:Johnny B. Goode]]
[[Category:Chess Records singles]]
[[es:Johnny B. Goode]]
[[Category:Columbia Records singles]]
[[fr:Johnny B. Goode]]
[[Category:Songs about fictional male characters]]
[[ja:ジョニー・B.グッド]]
[[Category:Songs about musicians]]
[[pt:Johnny B. Goode]]
[[fi:Johnny B. Goode]]
[[Category:Songs about guitars]]
[[Category:Songs about fame]]
[[Category:Songs about rock music]]
[[Category:Songs about New Orleans]]
[[Category:Contents of the Voyager Golden Record]]

Latest revision as of 00:49, 30 December 2024

For the posthumous live album by Jimi Hendrix, see Johnny B. Goode (album).

"Johnny B. Goode"
One of side-A labels of original US single
Single by Chuck Berry
B-side"Around and Around"
ReleasedMarch 31, 1958
RecordedJanuary 6, 1958
StudioChess, Chicago
GenreRock and roll
Length2:39
LabelChess
Songwriter(s)Chuck Berry
Producer(s)Leonard Chess, Phil Chess
Chuck Berry singles chronology
"Sweet Little Sixteen"
(1958) 		"Johnny B. Goode"
(1958) 		"Beautiful Delilah"
(1958)
Audio sample

"Johnny B. Goode" is a song by American musician Chuck Berry, written and sung by Berry in 1958. Released as a single in 1958, it peaked at number two on the Hot R&B Sides chart and number eight on its pre-Hot 100 chart.[1] The song remains a staple of rock n' roll music.

"Johnny B. Goode" is considered one of the most recognizable songs in the history of popular music. Credited as "the first rock & roll hit about rock & roll stardom",[2] it has been covered by various other artists and has received several honors and accolades. These include being ranked 33rd and 7th, respectively on Rolling Stone magazine’s 2021 [3] and 2004 versions of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time"[2][4] It was also included as one of the 27 songs on the Voyager Golden Record, a collection of music, images, and sounds designed to serve as an introduction and record of global humanity’s achievements, innovations and culture, to alien/otherworldly inhabitants.

Composition and recording

[edit]

Written by Berry in 1955, the song is about an illiterate "country boy" from the New Orleans area, who plays a guitar "just like ringing a bell", and who might one day have his "name in lights".[5] Berry acknowledged that the song is partly autobiographical and that the original lyrics referred to Johnny as a "colored boy", but he changed it to "country boy" to ensure radio play.[6] As well as suggesting that the guitar player is good, the title hints at autobiographic elements, because Berry was born at 2520 Goode Avenue, in St. Louis.[5]

The song was initially inspired by Johnnie Johnson, the regular piano player in Berry's band,[7] but developed into a song mainly about Berry himself. Johnson played on many recordings by Berry, but for the Chess recording session Lafayette Leake played the piano, along with Willie Dixon on bass and Fred Below on drums.[5][8] The session was produced by Leonard and Phil Chess.[8] The guitarist Keith Richards later suggested that the song's chords are more typical of compositions written for piano than for guitar.[9]

The opening guitar riff of "Johnny B. Goode" borrows from the opening single-note solo on Louis Jordan's "Ain't That Just Like a Woman" (1946), played by guitarist Carl Hogan.[10]

One notable feature of Berry's recording is the contrast between the swing of the drums and piano backing, and the "straight" (non-swinging) rhythm and lead guitar. [11]

Legacy

[edit]
A golden record
The Voyager Golden Record contains "Johnny B. Goode" among various musical pieces from many cultures.

In The Guardian, Joe Queenan argued that "no song in the history of rock'n'roll more jubilantly celebrates the downmarket socioeconomic roots of the genre" than "Johnny B. Goode".[12] In Billboard, Jason Lipshutz stated that the song was "the first rock-star origin story", and that it featured "a swagger and showmanship that had not yet invaded radio."[13]

When Chuck Berry was honored in the first Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony on January 23, 1986, he performed "Johnny B. Goode" and "Rock and Roll Music", backed by Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.[14] The Hall of Fame included both songs as well as "Maybellene" in their list of the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll.[15] The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, for its influence as a rock and roll single.[16]

The song appears on the 1973 American Graffiti soundtrack album.

"Johnny B. Goode" has been recorded in cover versions by a wide variety of artists in different genres. In 1969, country musician Buck Owens's version topped Billboard magazine's Hot Country Sides chart.[17] In 1972, Jimi Hendrix had a posthumous hit with a live version peaking at number 35 on the UK Singles Chart[18] and later reaching number 13 on the New Zealand Top 50 in 1986.[19] Peter Tosh's 1983 rendition peaked at number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100,[20] number 48 on the UK Singles Chart,[21] number 10 in the Netherlands, and number 29 in New Zealand.[22] In 1988, Judas Priest's version reached number 64 on the UK Singles Chart.[18] The Sex Pistols also covered it for their soundtrack The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle in 1979. Elton John's cover of the song is the opening track of his 1979 album Victim of Love.

Devo paid homage to Berry's song in their song "Come Back Jonee" on the group's 1978 debut album Q. Are We Not Men? A: We Are Devo!.

Berry's recording is included (as the eleventh track of disc 1) among the musical samples and sounds on the Voyager Golden Record, sent to travel into deep space beyond the solar system on both Voyager spacecraft, launched in 1977.

A cover version is featured in the film Back to the Future (1985) when lead character Marty McFly, played by actor Michael J. Fox, performs it at a high school dance. Impressed, fictional bandleader Marvin Berry calls up his cousin Chuck and makes him listen to the song, telling him it's "that new sound you're looking for", thus making it a bootstrap paradox. Fox explained his approach was to "incorporate all the characteristics and mannerisms and quirks of my favourite guitarists, so a Pete Townshend windmill, and Jimi Hendrix behind the back, and a Chuck Berry duckwalk. And we worked all that in."[23]

The Grateful Dead often performed the song live, purportedly playing it at least 287 times.[24]

The animated TV series Ninjago pays homage to "Johnny B. Goode" several times throughout the show with a track titled "Dareth the Guitar Man" (also known as "Dareth The Man" or "Dareth's Blues"), which features similar musical themes to the song.[25]

Accolades

[edit]
List Publisher Rank Year of publication
500 Greatest Songs of All Time[2] Rolling Stone 7 2004
50 Greatest Guitar Solos[26] Guitar World 12 2009
100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time[27] Rolling Stone 1 2008
100 Greatest Guitar Tracks[28] Q 42 2005
500 Greatest Songs of All Time[3] Rolling Stone 33 2021
500 Songs That Shaped Rock[29] Rock and Roll Hall of Fame N/A 1995

Charts

[edit]

Certifications

[edit]
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Italy (FIMI)[34]
sales since 2009 		Gold 25,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[35] Platinum 30,000‡
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[36]
sales since 2009 		Platinum 60,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[37] Platinum 600,000‡
United States (RIAA)[38] Platinum 1,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1988). Top R&B Singles 1942–1988. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. p. 42. ISBN 0-89820-068-7.
  2. ^ a b c "500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 7. Chuck Berry, 'Johnny B. Goode'". Rolling Stone. April 7, 2011. Archived from the original on March 12, 2017. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  3. ^ a b "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: Chuck Berry, 'Johnny B. Goode'". Rolling Stone (2021 ed.). September 15, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  4. ^ "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone (2004 ed.). December 11, 2003. Retrieved May 5, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Taylor, Timothy D. (2000). "Chapter 7 – His Name Was in Lights: Chuck Berry's 'Johnny B. Goode'". In Middleton, Richard (ed.). Reading Pop: Approaches to Textual Analysis in Popular Music. Oxford University Press. pp. 165–167, 177. ISBN 0-19-816611-7.
  6. ^ "Johnny B. Goode". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 28, 2006. Retrieved February 21, 2010.
  7. ^ Ratliff, Ben (April 14, 2005). "Johnnie Johnson, 80, Dies; Inspired 'Johnny B. Goode'". New York Times. Retrieved February 21, 2010.
  8. ^ a b Altman, Billy (1988). Chuck Berry: The Chess Box (Box set booklet). Chuck Berry. Universal City, California: MCA Records/Chess Records. CHD3-80,001.
  9. ^ Hackford, Taylor (1987), Chuck Berry: Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll, Chuck Berry, Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Delilah Films
  10. ^ Miller, James (1999). Flowers in the Dustbin: The Rise of Rock and Roll, 1947–1977. Simon & Schuster. p. 104. ISBN 0-684-80873-0.
  11. ^ "Swing Friction in Johnny B. Goode". Miltonline. March 19, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2024.
  12. ^ Queenan, Joe (June 21, 2007). "The story of Johnny B Goode". The Guardian. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  13. ^ Lipshutz, Jason (March 18, 2017). "How Chuck Berry's 'Johnny B. Goode' Helped Define 'Back to the Future'". Billboard. Retrieved March 22, 2017.
  14. ^ Barker, Derek (2009). Liner notes to Bruce Springsteen's Jukebox: The Songs that Inspired the Man [CD]. Chrome Dreams.
  15. ^ "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll by Artists (A-C)". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on May 24, 2007.
  16. ^ "Grammy Hall of Fame – Past Recipients (Letter J)". The Grammy Awards. United States: National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on January 22, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  17. ^ "Charts & Awards: Buck Owens – Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  18. ^ a b "Johnny B. Goode - Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  19. ^ ""Johnny B. Goode" by Jimi Hendrix". New Zealand Top 50 Singles. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  20. ^ "Charts & Awards: Peter Tosh – Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  21. ^ "Peter Tosh: Full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 19, 2016.
  22. ^ ""Johnny B. Goode" by Peter Tosh" (ASP). australian-charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  23. ^ Wakeman, Gregory (June 12, 2020). "Madonna's Choreographer Helped Michael J Fox Perfect Back To The Future's Iconic Johnny B Goode Scene". Yahoo.com. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
  24. ^ "Johnny B. Goode by Grateful Dead Concert Statistics | setlist.fm". www.setlist.fm. Retrieved July 17, 2024.
  25. ^ "Dareth The Man (Dareth's Blues)". Spotify. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  26. ^ "50 Greatest Guitar Solos". Guitar World. February 10, 2009. Archived from the original on February 10, 2009. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  27. ^ "The 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. May 31, 2008. Archived from the original on May 31, 2008. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  28. ^ Q Magazine. "Rocklist.net...Q Magazine Lists." rocklistmusic.co.uk. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  29. ^ "500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. February 27, 2009. Archived from the original on February 27, 2009. Retrieved July 8, 2023.
  30. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  31. ^ "Charts & Awards: Chuck Berry – Billboard Singles". AllMusic. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  32. ^ Downey, Pat; Albert, George; Hoffmann, Frank (1994). Cash Box Pop Singles Charts, 1950-1993. Englewood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited, Inc. p. 26. ISBN 1563083167. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  33. ^ "Chuck Berry Chart History (Hot Rock & Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 4, 2017.
  34. ^ "Italian single certifications – Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved November 26, 2020.
  35. ^ "New Zealand single certifications – Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode". Radioscope. Retrieved December 15, 2024. Type Johnny B. Goode in the "Search:" field.
  36. ^ "Spanish single certifications – Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode". El portal de Música. Productores de Música de España. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  37. ^ "British single certifications – Chuck Berry – Johnny B Goode". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 26, 2024.
  38. ^ "American single certifications – Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
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