Carol

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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