Let It Rock / Memphis Tennessee – Chuck Berry

This double A-side by Chuck Berry spent five weeks in the UK top 10 in 1963.

(If this video fails to load, or you would like to watch a different version, search for Let it rock by Chuck Berry on YouTube.)

(If this video fails to load, or you would like to watch a different version, search for Memphis Tennessee by Chuck Berry on YouTube.)

This week in 1963, Let it rock / Memphis Tennessee by Chuck Berry reached its highest position of number 6 in the UK singles chart. It had entered the top 40 five weeks previously at number 25 and broke into the top 10 two weeks later. After one week at its peak position, the song stayed in the top 10 for one more week, at number 10, and then spent the final three weeks of its chart life in the lower top 40.

Let it rock / Memphis Tennessee was released on the Pye International record label and was the first of three top 10 hits for Chuck Berry in the UK. Let it rock was taken from the 1960 album Rockin’ at the hops, which did not enter the UK album chart.

Both songs made other appearances in the top 40 as cover versions. Dave Berry and the Cruisers took a version of Memphis Tennessee to number 19 in 1963 and Let it rock was recorded by the Rolling Stones in 1971 when it peaked at number 2.

More music from Chuck Berry

 

UK singles chart for the week ending 16 November 1963

1. You’ll never walk alone – Gerry and the Pacemakers

2. Sugar and spice – Searchers

3. She loves you – Beatles

4. Blue bayou / Mean woman blues – Roy Orbison

5. Be my baby – Ronettes

6. Let it rock / Memphis Tennessee – Chuck Berry

7. Don’t talk to him – Cliff Richard and the Shadows

8. Do you love me? – Brian Poole and the Tremeloes

9. I (who have nothing) – Shirley Bassey

10. Then he kissed me – Crystals