The Beatles performing "Rock and Roll Music" on June 30, 1966, at the Nippon Budokan in Japan.
1964, Beatles for Sale
The fourth song on Beatles for Sale, "Rock and Roll Music" is a welcome relief from the trio of brilliant but miserable songs that preceded it: "No Reply," "I'm a Loser," and "Baby's in Black" are all effortlessly hummable despite their world-weary sentiments. By late 1964, the Beatles' sunny veneer was beginning to crack from incessant touring, one madcap performance after another. "Rock and Roll Music" is a rollicking cover of the Chuck Berry classic with some furious piano playing, injecting the proceedings with a shot of rhythm 'n' blues. As John once said, "If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry."
The Original: Chuck Berry first recorded and released "Rock and Roll Music" in 1957, and the early rock classic became a smash hit single. Still the best song ever written about why rock and roll is so damn good.
Chuck Berry performing "Rock and Roll Music" with Tina Turner in 1983, at the Roxy Theatre in West Hollywood, California.
