Wiki Page, History of Rock-n-Roll: HOW TO STUDY ROCK AND ROLL

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2022-06-03T17:14:49-06:00

Let's examine Handout 1: Listening Template.

In the last week of May 1958, “Johnny B. Goode” was at No. 8 on the charts, with Sheb Wooley’s “The Purple People Eater” taking the No. 1 slot. Dean Martin, the Four Preps, and Nat King Cole also had songs in the Top 10.

Rock and Roll was not in a position of pure and simple dominance.

Let's do an instructive comparison and contrast “Johnny B. Goode” with, for instance, either Dean Martin’s “Return to Me” or the Four Preps’ “Big Man.”

Q. What did you think about what was then considered pop music?

CLASS ACTIVITY

1. As a class, listen to the Temptations perform “My Girl” in 1965 (originally recorded and released in 1964).

Follow along with the Listening Template to see how different elements of a song can be analyzed.

JOHNNY B. GOODE GROUP ACTIVITY:

Now listen to Chuck Berry performing “Johnny B. Goode” in 1965 (originally recorded and released in 1958)

With a partner or in small groups, use the Listening Template to structure a basic musical analysis of “Johnny B. Goode.”

2. Use the following notes as a guide:

“Johnny B. Goode”

Instrumentation (in order of entrance): lead/rhythm guitar >drums >bass >second guitar >piano > lead vocal

Mood: energetic, bright, slightly frenetic

Tempo: fast, uptempo

Lyrics: There is a strong sense of character and narrative, sung with crisp articulation — you can understand every word, it’s a story about a kid who comes from a poor background and uses his guitar playing skill to make a name for himself

Sounds Like: The piano sounds like Boogie-Woogie, the guitar exudes classic Rock and Roll energy, and Blues riffs come in in places but the feel of the song is not Blues in the traditional sense