Quality K1703 (original Canadian release) Canada, February 1958
Words & Music by: Side A – Chuck Berry; Side B – Chuck Berry
Musicians: Chuck Berry (vocals and
guitar), Johnnie Johnson (piano), Willie Dixon (bass), Jasper Thomas (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by
Leonard and Phil Chess at Sheldon Recording Studio (Chess Studios), Chicago,
IL, 29. & 30. December 1957
Highest chart positions: US #2, US R&B #1, UK #16. The single didn’t
hit the charts in Canada.
“They're really rockin' in Boston, Pittsburgh, PA. Deep in the heart of Texas and round the Frisco Bay …”. This is the opening of one of the true classics of the genre.
This was Berry’s second single to chart on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean (“School Days” was the first one to do so).
Jerry Lee Lewis covered “Sweet Little Sixteen” in 1962 (US #95, UK #38). Many, many other artists and groups have covered it, too. The covers include the Beach Boys’ “Surfin’ U.S.A.” in 1963 (US #3, Canada #2, UK #34, Japan #9).
The most successful cover of “Reelin’ and Rocking” was recorded by the Dave Clark Five in 1965 (US #23, UK #24). In Finland the song was covered in Finnish (“Fiilaten ja höyläten”) by Rauli “Badding” Somerjoki in 1973. It topped the Finnish charts for three months (July to September).
Side A was done in fourteen takes and the flip needed ten.
List price: Canadian releases are not listed in the catalog. Few copies are for sale in eBay for 16-27 euros. Those are asking prices. 45cat price guide shows this at 5 euros.
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