Memphis, Tennessee (song)

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Not to be confused with Walking in Memphis.
"Memphis, Tennessee"
Memphis, Tennessee - Chuck Berry.jpg
Single by Chuck Berry
A-side"Back in the U.S.A."
ReleasedJune 1959 (U.S.)
GenreRhythm and blues, rock and roll
Length2:12
LabelChess 1729
Songwriter(s)Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry singles chronology
"Almost Grown"
(1959) 		"Memphis, Tennessee"
(1959) 		"Broken Arrow"
(1959)

"Memphis, Tennessee", sometimes shortened to "Memphis", is a song by Chuck Berry, first released in 1959. In the UK, the song charted at number 6 in 1963; at the same time Decca Records issued a cover version in the UK by Dave Berry and the Cruisers, which also became a UK Top 20 hit single. Johnny Rivers's version of the song was a number two US hit in 1964.

Background[]

In the song the narrator is speaking to a long-distance operator, trying to find out the number of a girl named Marie, who lives in Memphis, Tennessee, "on the southside, high upon a ridge, just a half a mile from the Mississippi bridge."[1] The narrator offers little information to the operator at first, only that he misses Marie and that they were separated by Marie's mother. The final verse reveals that Marie is, in fact, the narrator's six-year-old daughter; her mother, presumably the narrator's ex-wife, "tore apart our happy home" because she "did not agree", as it turned out, with their marriage, not his relationship with Marie, as the listener was misdirected to assume. This song was recorded in St. Louis at Chuck Berry's home, in July, 1958.

  • Chuck Berry – vocals, guitar, guitar overdubs, electric bass
  • Jasper Thomas – drums

The song was released as Chess single 1729.[2]

Chuck Berry later composed a sequel, "Little Marie", which appeared in 1964 as a single and on the album St. Louis to Liverpool.[3]

Beatles versions[]

The Beatles recorded five versions of "Memphis, Tennessee" for BBC Radio. One version that was recorded on 30 July 1963 for the Pop Go The Beatles radio show was included on Live at the BBC in 1994. Another version that was recorded a few months later on 5 October 1963 for the Saturday Club radio show was included on On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2 in 2013.

The group first performed it for their failed Decca audition on January 1, 1962, with Pete Best on drums.[4]

Personnel[]

Other popular versions[]

"Memphis"
Single by Lonnie Mack
from the album The Wham of that Memphis Man!
B-side"Down in the Dumps"
ReleasedSeptember 1963 (1963)
RecordedJune 1963
GenreInstrumental rock, blues rock
Length2:30
LabelFraternity
Songwriter(s)Chuck Berry

In 1963, guitarist Lonnie Mack recorded a fast-paced instrumental version, which he called "Memphis". It went to number 5 on Billboard's Pop chart and number 4 on Billboard's R&B chart.[5]

"Memphis"
Memphis - Johnny Rivers.jpg
Single by Johnny Rivers
from the album At the Whisky à Go Go
B-side"It Wouldn't Happen with Me"
ReleasedMay 1964 (1964)
RecordedJanuary 1964
VenueWhisky a Go Go, West Hollywood, California
GenreRock and roll, rhythm and blues
Length2:28
LabelImperial
Songwriter(s)Chuck Berry

In 1964 singer Johnny Rivers recorded another version of the tune (which he, following Mack, called "Memphis"), copying Mack's pacing and some of his instrumental improvisations, and reinstating the vocal line from Berry's original.[6] This version hit number 2 on Billboard's Pop chart (behind "I Get Around" by the Beach Boys).

"Memphis"
Single by Fred Knoblock
Released1981 (1981)
RecordedSeptember 1981
GenreCountry music
Length2:35
LabelScotti Brothers ZS5 02434
Songwriter(s)Chuck Berry
Producer(s)James Stroud

In 1981, country singer-songwriter Fred Knoblock recorded his rendition of "Memphis". It went to number 10 on Billboard's Country chart and number 28 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart.

Chart history[]

Weekly charts[]

Chuck Berry
Chart (1963) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[7] 3
UK[8] 6
Dave Berry & the Cruisers
Chart (1963) Peak
position
Ireland (IRMA)[7] 9
UK[9] 19
Lonnie Mack

Other covers[]

The song has been covered over 40 times by artists including Hasil Adkins, The Animals, Paul Anka, Count Basie, George Benson, John Cale, Riblja Čorba, Don Covay, the Dave Clark Five, Bo Diddley, Faces, Lester Flatt & Earl Scruggs, Wayne Fontana & the Mindbenders, Fotheringay, Danny Gatton, Al Green, the Hollies, Jan and Dean, Tom Jones, Sammy Kershaw, Jim Kweskin & the Jug Band, Jerry Lee Lewis, Led Zeppelin, Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions,[21] Eleanor McEvoy, Mrs. Miller, Roy Orbison, Buck Owens, Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, Del Shannon, Silicon Teens, Bernd Spier,[22] The Statler Brothers, Izzy Stradlin, Rod Stewart, Gene Summers, George Thorogood, Ernest Tubb, Conway Twitty, the Ventures, the Who, Hank Williams Jr., and Faron Young.

References[]

  1. ^ Cheseborough, Steve, Blues Traveling: The Holy Sites of Delta Blues, Fourth Edition. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p.40
  2. ^ Berry, Chuck, Chuck Berry: The Anthology, CD, 088 1120304-2, MCA Records, Chess, 2000, liner notes
  3. ^ "The Chuck Berry Database — Details For Song: Memphis, Tennessee — Chuck Berry Collector's Guide". Crlf.de. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Memphis, Tennessee | The Beatles Bible". www.beatlesbible.com. Retrieved 2016-08-28.
  5. ^ 25 Rockin' Instrumentals, Varese Vintage CD, 2003
  6. ^ Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 21 – Forty Miles of Bad Road: Some of the best from rock 'n' roll's dark ages. [Part 2]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. University of North Texas Libraries.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Irish Charts – Search Results – Memphis". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 15, 2019.
  8. ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 1963-10-16. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
  9. ^ "Official Charts Company". Officialcharts.com. 1963-10-16.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b "flavour of new zealand - search lever". Flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b c Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  12. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 7/20/63". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  13. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1964-07-06. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
  14. ^ "Cash Box Top 100 7/11/64". Tropicalglen.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  15. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. 1981-12-05. Retrieved 2019-07-11.
  16. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1963/Top 100 Songs of 1963". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  17. ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 28, 1963". Archived from the original on July 13, 2014. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  18. ^ "Sixties City - Pop Music Charts - Every Week Of The Sixties". Sixtiescity.net. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1964/Top 100 Songs of 1964". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 26, 1964". Archived from the original on June 1, 2015. Retrieved July 19, 2019.
  21. ^ "Grateful Dead Family Discography: Mother McCree's Uptown Jug Champions". Deaddisc.com. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  22. ^ "Bernd Spier". Hitparade.ch. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
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