Johnny B. Goode#In popular culture

{{for|the posthumous live album by Jimi Hendrix|Johnny B. Goode (album){{!}}Johnny B. Goode (album)}}

{{Infobox song

| name = Johnny B. Goode

| image = Johnny B Goode by Chuck Berry US single side-A.png

| alt =

| caption = One of side-A labels of original US single

| type = single

| artist = Chuck Berry

| album =

| B-side = Around and Around

| released = March 31, 1958

| recorded = January 6, 1958

| studio = Chess, Chicago

| genre = Rock and roll

| length = 2:39

| label = 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 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-Billboard Hot 100 chart.

{{cite book

| last = Whitburn

| first = Joel

| author-link = Joel Whitburn

| 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

}} 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",{{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}} 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's 2021{{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}} and 2004 versions of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.{{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}} 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

Written by Chuck 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".{{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 'Johnny B. Goode' |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/readingpopapproa0000unse/page/165 }} 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 eligibility for radio play.{{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}} 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.

The song was initially inspired by Johnnie Johnson, the regular piano player in Berry's band,{{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=New York Times |access-date=February 21, 2010 |first=Ben |last=Ratliff |date=April 14, 2005}} 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.{{cite AV media notes

| last = Altman

| 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

}} The session was produced by Leonard and Phil Chess. The guitarist Keith Richards later suggested that the song's chords are more typical of compositions written for piano than for guitar.{{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}}

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.Miller, James (1999). Flowers in the Dustbin: The Rise of Rock and Roll, 1947–1977. Simon & Schuster. p. 104. {{ISBN|0-684-80873-0}}.

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. {{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}}

Legacy

File:The Sounds of Earth - GPN-2000-001976.jpg 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".{{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}} 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".{{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}}

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.Barker, Derek (2009). Liner notes to Bruce Springsteen's Jukebox: The Songs that Inspired the Man [CD]. Chrome Dreams. The Hall of Fame included both songs as well as "Maybellene" in their list of the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll.{{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 }} The song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, for its influence as a rock and roll single.{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.org/recording-academy/awards/hall-of-fame#j |title=Grammy Hall of Fame – Past Recipients (Letter J) |work=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 }}

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 from his album Buck Owens in London "Live" topped Billboard magazine's Hot Country Sides chart.{{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}} In 1972, Jimi Hendrix had a posthumous hit with a live version from the live album Hendrix in the West peaking at number 35 on the UK Singles Chart{{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}} and later reaching number 13 on the New Zealand Top 50 in 1986.{{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}} Peter Tosh's 1983 rendition from his album Mama Africa peaked at number 84 on the Billboard Hot 100,{{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}} number 48 on the UK Singles Chart,{{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}} number 10 in the Netherlands, and number 29 in New Zealand.{{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}} In 1988, Judas Priest's version from their album Ram It Down reached number 64 on the UK Singles Chart. 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 (Harry Waters Jr.) 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."

{{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}}

The Grateful Dead often performed the song live, purportedly playing it at least 287 times.{{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}}

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.{{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}}

Accolades

scope="col" \| List ! scope="col" \| Publisher ! scope="col" \| Rank ! scope="col" \| Year of publication
class="wikitable"
500 Greatest Songs of All Time	Rolling Stone	7	2004
50 Greatest Guitar Solos{{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 }}	Guitar World	12	2009
100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time{{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 }}	Rolling Stone	1	2008
100 Greatest Guitar Tracks{{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}}	Q	42	2005
500 Greatest Songs of All Time	Rolling Stone	33	2021
500 Songs That Shaped Rock{{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 }}	Rock and Roll Hall of Fame	N/A	1995

Charts

class="wikitable sortable" \|+ Weekly charts
scope="col" \| Chart (1958) ! scope="col" \| Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - {{ISBN\|0-89820-089-X}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|8
US Billboard Hot R&B Sides{{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}} \| style="text-align:center;"\|2
US Cash Box Top 100{{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}} \|align="center"\|11

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ Weekly charts

scope="col" | Chart (1958)

! scope="col" | Peak
position

US Billboard Hot 100Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 - {{ISBN|0-89820-089-X}}

| style="text-align:center;"|8

US Billboard Hot R&B Sides{{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}}

| style="text-align:center;"|2

US Cash Box Top 100{{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}}

|align="center"|11

class="wikitable"
scope="col" \| Chart (2017) ! scope="col" \| Peak position
{{singlechart\|Billboardrocksongs\|9\|artist=Chuck Berry\|rowheader=true\|access-date=January 4, 2017}}

class="wikitable"

scope="col" | Chart (2017)

! scope="col" | Peak
position

{{singlechart|Billboardrocksongs|9|artist=Chuck Berry|rowheader=true|access-date=January 4, 2017}}

Certifications

{{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}}

{{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}}

{{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}}