Live from Tokyo: Johnny B. Goode

“Johnny B. Goode” [wiki] is a song by Chuck Berry. Berry wrote the piece in 1955 and released it in 1958. It is a rock and roll telling of the American dream – a poor country boy becoming a star by hard work and his skill at playing the guitar. Although partly autobiographical, the inspiration for the song is said to have been Johnnie Johnson who played the piano and composed several songs with Berry, and is considered a major contributor to the unmistakable Berry sound. On earlier unreleased takes Chuck sang “colored boy” instead of “country boy”, but the Chess brothers decided that that would not sell. In reference to the boy’s name, Berry was also born on Goode Avenue in St. Louis.

This 1981 live audio recording will give you chills.

Click play or go to Link [YouTube].