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Too Much Monkey Business
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Wikipedia article
"'Too Much Monkey Business'" is a song written and recorded by Chuck Berry, released by Chess Records in September 1956 as his fifth single. It was also released as the third track on his first solo LP, 'After School Session', in May 1957; and as an EP. The single reached number four on 'Billboard' magazine's Most Played In Juke Boxes chart, number 11 on the Most Played by Jockeys chart and number seven on the Top Sellers in Stores chart in 1956.Whitburn, Joel (2006). 'The Billboard Book of Top 40 R&B and Hip-Hop Hits'. New York: Billboard Books.
Recording
"Too Much Monkey Business" was recorded at Universal Recording Corporation in Chicago, Illinois on April 16, 1956. The session was produced by Leonard Chess and Phil Chess. Backing Berry were Johnnie Johnson (piano), Willie Dixon (double bass), and Fred Below (drums).
Cover versions
Elvis Presley recorded a cover of the song during a warm-up at the sessions for 'Stay Away, Joe'Jorgensen, Ernst. 'Elvis Presley A Life in Music: The Complete Recording Sessions'. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1998 and later released the song on 'Elvis Sings Flaming Star' in 1969.
Several British invasion bands recorded cover versions of "Too Much Monkey Business". The Beatles recorded their version on September 3, 1963, with John Lennon on vocals; it aired on the BBC Light Programme 'Pop Go the Beatles' on September 10. This recording was released on the album 'Live at the BBC' in 1994. The Hollies recorded the song for their second album, 'In The Hollies Style', in November 1964. The Yardbirds with Eric Clapton used the song to open up their performance at the Marquee Club, which was released on 'Five Live Yardbirds'. The Kinks recorded their version for their self-titled debut album in 1964; it was one of two songs by Berry on the album, the other being "Beautiful Delilah". The Youngbloods released a version of the song on their 1967 album, 'Earth Music'.[http://www.allmusic.com/album/earth-music-mw0000074392 The Youngbloods, 'Earth Music'] Retrieved May 20, 2015 Swedish rock group Shakers managed to reach number 4 on 'Tio i Topp' and number 10 on Kvllstoppen in mid-1965.
Influences on other songs
"Too Much Monkey Business" was an influence on Bob Dylan's "Subterranean Homesick Blues". The glam rocker Johnny Thunders paid tribute to Berry's song in "Too Much Junkie Business," a mix of "Pills", by Bo Diddley, and "Too Much Monkey Business." Berry's song was the basis for "Too Much", by KMFDM, released on their compilation album '8486'. The song influenced Michael Jackson's "Monkey Business", from his album 'Ultimate Collection' (2004), which contains the lyric "too much monkey business".
See also
* Monkey Business (1952 film)
References
Category:1956 songs
Category:1956 singles
Category:Songs written by Chuck Berry
Category:Chuck Berry songs
Category:Elvis Presley songs
Category:The Yardbirds songs
Category:The Kinks songs
Category:The Youngbloods songs
Category:The Beatles songs
Category:The Hollies songs
Category:Chess Records singles
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