Carol by Chuck Berry

Album: Chuck Berry Is On Top (1958)

Charted: 18

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Songfacts®:

This song is about a boy who must learn to dance or risk losing Carol to other men. He insists he will learn, and tempts her with a trip to a jumping little joint he knows about.
Berry was in his 30s when he was writing songs like this one about teenagers. His assistant, Francine Gillium, helped him get in the right mindset by telling him about a high school she looked after. Berry stayed away from politics and topical references in his songs, knowing that stories about the tribulations of young love would be evergreen.
The Rolling Stones covered this on their first album in 1964. They were the first to bring this and many other R&B songs to a white audience.
Chuck Berry got the name Carol from the daughter of Clyde McPhatter's girlfriend's daughter. McPhatter was popular R&B singer who fronted The Drifters for a time. >>>
Suggestion credit:
Bertrand - Paris, France
The Beatles recorded this song for a BBC radio special in 1963. This recording was released in 1994 of on the Live At The BBC album.

Comments: 15

Hoyt E Toite from Long Island NyKeith goes ape s--t doin this Berry classic on Ya Ya’s
Jennifur SunNever knew the Beatles did a cover of this song. LOVE the video of Chuck and Keith doing this one.
Melody from Gainesville, FloridaIf you have not watched "Hail, Hail Rock and Roll", a documentary about Chuck Berry, you should. It was released in the 80's and has Keith Richards and other musicians getting together to play. I especially liked the part where they are practicing to play "Carol". Keith kept messing up the intro and Chuck was so mad.
Jennifur Sun from RamonaLoved the video of Chuck teaching Keith how to play this song, sadly it is no longer up but used to make me laugh.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 22nd 1977 Chuck Berry performed "Carol" on the NBC-TV program 'Saturday Night Live'...
Nineteen years earlier on August 19th, 1958 it entered Billboard's Top 100 chart; eventually it peaked at #18 and spent 10 weeks on the Top 100...
It reached #9 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart...
Charles Edward Anderson Berry celebrated his 87th birthday three months ago on October 18th (2013).
Ron from Los Angels, CaThe Stones version on Get Yer Yayas Out is pretty hard to beat
Isabelle from Phoenix, AzJohnny Hallyday, famous French singer, covered this song in French.
Barry from Sauquoit, NyTommy Roe; of "Sheila" fame; had a version of this song in 1964, it peaked at No. 61...
Reed from New Ulm, MnDana-------it's on "Get Yer Ya Ya's Out" ----a truly great redition by Mick and the boys of an old Berry classic!
Billy J from San Antonio, TxTom Petty did this song in the dvd for PBS's Sound stage,great cover and great dvd
Winn from Mcminnville, OrThe Beatles recorded Carol Also. It's very cool. You can hear it on there recorded B.B.C. Sessions. I'm a big fan of Chuck Berry and I love the sound of the guitar during the solo. :)
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScDonna I think the live album is Get Yer Yayas Out. I did hear it's on there too.
Stefanie from Rock Hill, ScI heard the studio version done by the Stones and it's great. I could tell that it's a Chuck Barry song because of the sounds of the guitars and the guitar riffs in the intro.
Alan from Grande Prairie, Alberta, CanadaHave a studio version of this tune on the Stones first album "England's Newest Hitmakers". They also covered Holly's "Not Fade Away" their first breakthrough hit in North America.
Dana from Biloxi, MsI love the stones version,from a live album,can't remeber the name but it had a donkey carrying drums down the road for the cover art.

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