The lyrics of Chuck Berry have few rivals of their wit, creativeness and incisiveness. However even by his requirements, Chuck was on good kind as he entered two of Billboard’s R&B charts on October 6, 1956 with “Too Much Monkey Business.”
Berry’s quickfire writing and supply, primarily based on his apparent love of phrases, had him bemoaning his lot in an eloquent stock of all of the issues that had been despatched to attempt him. “Runnin’ to-and-fro, hard workin’ at the mill.” he started. “Never fail, in the mail, yeah, come a rotten bill.” Nevertheless it wasn’t simply his monetary state of affairs that was cramping his type.
The tune proceeds to explain his misfortune in love, at college, at work and even within the military, all described with such nice type that one of many lyrics (“Wipe the windows, check the tires, check the oil, dollar gas”) turned the near-title of the 1976 reside album by the Allman Brothers Band.
Not sufficient pop enterprise
Perplexingly, even because the follow-up to “Roll Over Beethoven,” “Too Much Monkey Business” did not make the pop chart in America. Nevertheless it debuted at No.5 on each Most Performed R&B In Juke Containers and Most Performed R&B By Jockeys. It peaked at No.4 and, two weeks into its run, was joined on the charts by its different aspect, the equally whip-smart “Brown Eyed Handsome Man,” quickly to be lined by Buddy Holly.
Billboard’s evaluate of Berry’s single praised the “potent two-sided disk,” describing “Brown Eyed Handsome Man” as “novelty blues” and “Monkey Business” as “a more traditional blues…with novelty lyrics.” It was additionally included on Chuck’s first LP, 1957’s nice After Faculty Session. Numerous different variations of the tune ensued, together with these for varied BBC radio reveals by The Beatles, together with this one for Pop Go The Beatles in 1963.
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