Chuck Berry scored another hit with 1957’s ‘Rock & Roll Music,’ a song that reach #8 on Billboard’s Hot 100.
The track performed even better when covered by The Beach Boys, who took it to #5 in 1976. Their version is slower and, to my ears, vastly inferior to the original. And I say that as a general fan of The Beach Boys. This wouldn’t be the last time the band scored a hit on the shoulders of Chuck Berry (stay tuned).
A far better cover of ‘Rock & Roll Music’ was delivered by The Beatles on 1964’s Beatles For Sale. Those songs aren’t available on YouTube, but I did find this live version which makes up for poor sound through sweet nostalgia.
[Chorus]
Any old way you choose it
It’s got a back beat, you can’t lose it
Any old time you use it
It’s gotta be rock and roll music
If you wanna dance with me
If you wanna dance with me
I have no kick against modern jazz
Unless they try to play it too darn fast
And change the beauty of the melody
Until they sound just like a symphony
That’s why I go for that rock and roll music
[Chorus]
I took my loved one over across the tracks
So she can hear my man a-wail a sax
I must admit the have a rockin’ band
Man they were blowing like a hurricane
That’s why I go for that rock and roll music
[Chorus]
Way down South they gave a jubilee
The jokey folks they had a jamboree
They’re drinking home brew from a wooden cup
The folks dancing got all shook up
And started playing that rock and roll music
[Chorus]
Don’t care to hear ’em play a tango
Ain’t in the mood to take a mambo
It’s way too early for the congo
So keep a rockin’ that piano
So I can hear some of that rock and roll music
[Chorus]
Meet Me In Montauk 
I agree that the Beach Boys’ version is inferior. I grew up more familiar with the Beatles’ version than Berry’s original. That video of the Beatles live is very cool. Wonder who all the men in ties were. They look like Secret Service agents.😄