Memphis, Tennessee (song)
Chuck Berry song about a father seeking his daughter.
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Chuck Berry originally released "Memphis, Tennessee" in 1959. The song, also known simply as "Memphis," reached number six on UK charts in 1963. That same year, a cover by Dave Berry and the Cruisers also became a UK Top 20 hit. Johnny Rivers later took his version to number two in the US during 1964.
Background
A man calls a long-distance operator, asking for the phone number of a girl named Marie in Memphis, Tennessee. He describes her location as being on the south side, high on a ridge, half a mile from the Mississippi bridge. At first, he gives few details, only saying he misses her and that Marie’s mother separated them. In the final verse, it becomes clear that Marie is his six-year-old daughter.
Her mother, presumably his ex-wife, broke up their home because she disagreed with their marriage. The song was cut in July 1958 at Chuck Berry’s home in St. Louis. Chess Records put it out in June 1959 as catalog number 1729. Berry later wrote a follow-up, “Little Marie,” which came out as a single in 1964.
Beatles versions
The Beatles cut five BBC Radio versions of "Memphis, Tennessee." One take, taped for the Pop Go the Beatles show on July 30, 1963, landed on 1994's Live at the BBC. Another, from the Saturday Club program on October 5, 1963, appeared on 2013's On Air – Live at the BBC Volume 2. Their first stab at the song came during their unsuccessful Decca audition on January 1, 1962, with Pete Best on drums. John Lennon and Yoko Ono later joined Chuck Berry on The Mike Douglas Show (aired February 16, 1972).
Ono's avant-garde wailing visibly spooked Berry, and technicians cut her mic for the rest of the set. Comedian Bill Burr later turned this infamous performance into a skit. The lineup: John Lennon on vocals and rhythm guitar, Paul McCartney on bass, George Harrison on lead guitar, and Ringo Starr on drums.
Other versions
The British rock group Faces recorded a version for their 1971 album A Nod Is as Good as a Wink... to a Blind Horse, featuring Rod Stewart on vocals. The album reached number 2 in the UK and number 6 in the US. The song has been covered over 200 times.
Bernd Spier hit number 1 in Germany in 1964 with his version. Dave Berry and the Cruisers also released a cover. In 1964 Johnny Rivers recorded a version called "Memphis", copying Mack's pacing and instrumental improvisations and reinstating Berry's vocal line; it hit number 2 on the Billboard Pop chart.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Memphis, Tennessee (song) (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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