Johnny B. Goode

"Johnny B. Goode" is a 1958 rock and roll song written and originally performed by Chuck Berry. The song was a major hit among both black and white audiences peaking at #2 on Billboard magazine's Hot R&B Sides chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song is one of Berry's most famous recordings, has been covered by many artists, and has received several honors and accolades. It is also considered to be one of the most recognizable songs in music history. The song is ranked as number seven on Rolling Stone's list of "the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time"

Composition and recording

Written by Berry in 1955, the song is about a poor country boy who plays a guitar "just like ringing a bell," and who might one day have his "name in lights." Berry has acknowledged that the song is partly autobiographical, and originally had "colored boy" in the lyrics, but he changed it to "country boy" to ensure radio play. 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 Berry's piano player, Johnnie Johnson, though developed into a song mainly about Berry himself. Though Johnnie Johnson played on many other Chuck Berry songs, it was Lafayette Leake who played piano on this song.

Johnny B. Goode (album)

Johnny B. Goode is a posthumous live album by Jimi Hendrix released in June 1986. This release was the "mini LP" soundtrack to the VHS and laserdisc that were released at the same time. The album contains three songs from Hendrix's performance at the 1970 Atlanta International Pop Festival on July 4, 1970 and two songs from his performance at Berkeley Community Theatre on May 30, 1970. This release contains an edited version of Voodoo Child (Slight Return) from the Atlanta International Pop Festival.

Critical reception

In The Village Voice, Robert Christgau gave Johnny B. Goode an "A–" and called it "vivid testimony to the uses of digital mastering for archival music", finding the sound particularly "powerful" on side one. He highlighted the "intense" rendition of "All Along the Watchtower" and "Johnny B. Goode", writing that Hendrix's performance of the latter song is "the definitive version of the definitive guitar anthem". Paul Evans gave it three-and-a-half stars in The Rolling Stone Album Guide (1992).

The Remains

The Remains (often referred to, incorrectly, as "Barry and the Remains") were a mid-1960s rock group from Boston, Massachusetts, led by Barry Tashian, who was later a vocalist and guitarist for Gram Parsons, the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Emmylou Harris, and part of the duo Barry and Holly Tashian. Although the Remains never achieved national success, they were very popular in New England, and were one of the opening acts on The Beatles' final US tour in 1966.

The Remains broke up in 1966, but their music eventually attracted a strong international cult following. They began performing and recording again in the late 1990s, and have continued to play regularly since then.

Career, 1960s

The Remains formed in 1964 at Boston University, where all four members were first-year students living in the same dorm in Kenmore Square. Singer-guitarist Barry Tashian and keyboardist Bill Briggs were from Westport, Connecticut, drummer Chip Damiani from Wolcott, Connecticut, and bassist Vern Miller from Livingston, New Jersey. They began playing r&b and rock'n'roll covers, as well as some Tashian originals, at The Rathskeller, a tavern across the square from their dorm. Soon, fans were lining up from Kenmore Square to Fenway Park to see them, and management had to clear out a disused basement to accommodate the crowds.

The Remains (album)

The Remains is the debut album by the American garage rock band the Remains, and was released on Epic Records in September 26, 1966 (see 1966 in music). Though the album was largely overlooked at the time of its original release, The Remains has since received recognition as one of the more cohesive efforts of the era.

Background

The Remains formed in 1964, quickly establishing themselves as a popular attraction across New England, and performing in sold-out venues to a loyal fanbase. By 1965, the group's popularity reached an appex, with the Remains earning four regional hits on Epic Records, and appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show. Prior to recording their debut album the band's manager John Kurland arranged an audition with Capitol Records on May 26, 1966. According to guitarist Barry Tashian, the group was interested in switching record labels because "At Epic, our unhappiness stemmed from the fact that, promotion-wise, we felt like we were the poor cousins to Bobby Vinton, Ed Ames, and the Yardbirds, Epic's biggest selling artists at the time". Though the session did not result in a recording contract, the recordings, which except for "Why Do I Cry?" were cover versions, later manifested themselves on the Sundazed Records release, A Session with the Remains.