Best Chuck Berry Songs – Top 10 All-Time
Last Updated: May 26, 2022 | Written by Matthew Campbell
Chuck Berry is an American (Missouri) pioneer of rock and roll music. Berry brought rhythm and blues overtones into the rock style. He was known for his guitar riffs and showmanship – particularly his one-legged hop routine. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in 1986 and Berry was one of its opening inductees. Rolling Stone has always ranked Berry near the top of all the greatest rock artists of all time.
Chuck Berry first showed the world his music on the album After School Session. The song Nadine became Chuck Berry’s first popular hit and peaked at #23 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Best Chuck Berry Songs
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#1 Johnny B. Goode
Released in 1958
On Album Chuck Berry Is on Top
The song is about a poor country boy who plays guitar and who might one day have his name in the lights.
The people passing by they would stop and say
“Oh my what that little country boy could play”
Go go
Go Johnny go go
#2 Rock and Roll Music
Released in 1957
On Album One Dozen Berrys
The song is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll list.
It’s got a back beat, you can’t lose it
Any old time you use it
It’s gotta be rock ‘n’ roll music
If you wanna dance with me
#3 Roll Over Beethoven
Released in 1956
On Album After School Session
It is assumed that Berry wrote the song in response to his sister Lucy always using the family piano to play classical music when he wanted to play popular music.
Reel and rock with one another
Roll over Beethoven
And dig these rhythm and blues
#4 Maybellene
Released in 1955
On Album Chuck Berry Is On Top
The song tells a story of a hot rod race and a broken romance.
Maybellene, why can’t you be true?
Oh, Maybellene, why can’t you be true?
You’ve started back doing the things you used to do
#5 Run Rudolph Run
Released in 1958
The song was released as a Christmas single and has been featured in several Christmas themes moves such as Home Alone.
Run, run Rudolph, Santa has to make it to town
Santa make him hurry, tell him he can take the freeway down
#6 You Never Can Tell
Released in 1964
On Album St. Louis to Liverpool
The song tells the story of a fictional wedding between a young couple and their life as a married couple.
It was there that Pierre was married to the lovely Mademoiselle
“C’est la vie”, say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell
#7 My Ding-A-Ling
Released in 1972
On Album The London Chuck Berry Sessions
A novelty song telling a story of a singer receiving a toy consisting of “silver bells hanging on a string”. Interesting to note that the song is Berry’s highest-charting single.
I slipped and had a terrible fall
I fell so hard I heard bells ring
But held on to my ding a ling
#8 Sweet Little Sixteen
Released in 1958
On Album One Dozen Berrys
The song is Berry’s second-highest charting song by reaching number two.
All over St. Louis
Way down in New Orleans
All the Cats wanna dance with
Sweet Little Sixteen
#9 School Day (Ring Ring Goes the Bell)
Released in 1957
On Album After School Session
As the song states “Hail, hail rock and roll”, the song became a rock and roll anthem.
All day long you been wantin’ to dance,
Feeling the music from head to toe
Round and round and round we go
#10 No Particular Place to Go
Released in 1964
On Album St. Louis to Liverpool
The song reached number ten on the Billboard Hot 100.
And she leaned and whispered in my ear
Cuddlin’ more and drivin’ slow
With no particular place to go
If you don’t agree with our Best Chuck Berry Songs, be sure to comment below.
Chuck Berry Highest-Charting Songs – U.S. R&B
- #1 Maybellene, 1955
- #1 School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell), 1957
- #1 Sweet Little Sixteen, 1958
- #2 Thirty Days (To Come Back Home), 1955
- #2 Roll Over Beethoven, 1956
- #2 Johnny B. Goode, 1958
- #3 Almost Grown, 1959
- #6 Rock and Roll Music, 1957
- #4 oo Much Monkey Business, 1956
- #8 No Money Down, 1956
- #9 Carol, 1958
- #10 Wee Wee Hours, 1955
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