Home | Songs By Year | Songs from 1959
Memphis, Tennessee (song)
Buy Memphis, Tennessee (song) now from AmazonFirst, read the Wikipedia article. Then, scroll down to see what other TopShelfReviews readers thought about the song. And once you've experienced the song, tell everyone what you thought about it.
Wikipedia article
"'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."Cheseborough, Steve, 'Blues Traveling: The Holy Sites of Delta Blues, Fourth Edition'. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p.40 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.Berry, Chuck, 'Chuck Berry: The Anthology', CD, 088 1120304-2, MCA Records, Chess, 2000, liner notes
Chuck Berry later composed a sequel, "Little Marie", which appeared in 1964 as a single and on the album 'St. Louis to Liverpool'.
Beatles versions
The Beatles recorded five versions of "Memphis, Tennessee", for BBC Radio. One version that was recorded on July 30, 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 October 5, 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.
Personnel
* John Lennon vocals, rhythm guitar* Paul McCartney bass guitar
* George Harrison lead guitar
* Ringo Starr drums
Other popular versions
In 1963, guitarist Lonnie Mack recorded a fast-paced instrumental version, which he called "Memphis". It went to number 5 on 'Billboard' Pop chart and number 4 on 'Billboard' R&B chart.'25 Rockin' Instrumentals', Varese Vintage CD, 2003
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. This version hit number 2 on 'Billboard' Pop chart.
In 1981, country singer-songwriter Fred Knoblock recorded his rendition of "Memphis". It went to number 10 on 'Billboard' Country chart and number 28 on 'Billboard' Adult Contemporary chart.
Chart history
Weekly charts
;Chuck Berry;Dave Berry & the Cruisers
;Lonnie Mack
;Johnny Rivers
;Fred Knoblock
Year-end charts
Notable covers
The song has been covered over 200 times by musical artists. The most notable examples include Bernd Spier who hit number 1 in 1964 in Germany.
References
Category:Chuck Berry songs
Category:1959 singles
Category:The Beatles songs
Category:Jan and Dean songs
Category:1963 singles
Category:1964 singles
Category:American songs
Category:Chess Records singles
Category:Elvis Presley songs
Category:Imperial Records singles
Category:Johnny Rivers songs
Category:Gene Summers songs
Category:The Animals songs
Category:Paul Anka songs
Category:Conway Twitty songs
Category:The Dave Clark Five songs
Category:Dave Berry (musician) songs
Category:Bo Diddley songs
Category:Tom Jones (singer) songs
Category:Jerry Lee Lewis songs
Category:Roy Orbison songs
Category:The Rolling Stones songs
Category:Fred Knoblock songs
Category:Number-one singles in Germany
Category:Songs about Memphis, Tennessee
Category:Songs about telephone calls
Category:Songs written by Chuck Berry
Category:Song recordings produced by George Martin
Category:RPM Top Singles number-one singles
Category:1959 songs
Buy Memphis, Tennessee (song) now from Amazon
<-- Return to songs from 1959