Rockin' at the Hops

Rockin' at the Hops is the fourth studio album by rock and roll pioneer Chuck Berry, released in July 1960 on Chess Records, catalogue LP 1448. With the exception of four tracks, "Down the Road a Piece," "Confessin' the Blues," "Betty Jean," and "Driftin' Blues," all selections had been previously released on 45 rpm singles.^[1]

Rockin' at the Hops
Studio album by Chuck Berry
Released	July 1960 (1960-07)[1]
Recorded	July 27, 1959 – February 15, March 29, or April 12, 1960, Chicago, Illinois[2]
Genre	Rock and roll
Length	26:36[3]
Label	Chess
Producer	Leonard Chess, Phil Chess[2]
Chuck Berry chronology
Berry Is on Top (1959) Rockin' at the Hops (1960) New Juke-Box Hits (1961)
Singles from Rockin' at the Hops
"Childhood Sweetheart" Released: September 11, 1959[4] "Let It Rock" Released: January 1960[5] "Bye Bye Johnny" Released: May 1960[6] "I Got to Find My Baby" Released: August 1960[7]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[8]

Songs

The first 7" 45-RPM single from Rockin' at the Hops was "Childhood Sweetheart" backed with "Broken Arrow", released in September 1959.^[4] The second single was "Let It Rock" backed with "Too Pooped to Pop", released in January 1960;^[5] the A-side reached number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the B-side reached number 42 on the Hot 100 and number 18 on the R&B Singles chart.^[9] The last two singles—"Bye Bye Johnny" backed with "Worried Life Blues" (released in May)^[6] and "I Got to Find My Baby" backed with "Mad Lad" (released in August)^[7]—did not chart.

Track listing

Side A

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Bye Bye Johnny"		2:02
2.	"Worried Life Blues"	Big Maceo Merriweather	2:07
3.	"Down the Road a Piece"	Don Raye	2:10
4.	"Confessin' The Blues"	Jay McShann, Walter Brown	2:06
5.	"Too Pooped To Pop"	Billy Davis	2:31
6.	"Mad Lad"		2:06

All tracks are written by Chuck Berry except where noted

Side B

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I Got to Find My Baby"	Peter Joe Clayton	2:12
2.	"Betty Jean"		2:25
3.	"Childhood Sweetheart"		2:40
4.	"Broken Arrow"		2:19
5.	"Driftin' Blues"		2:16
6.	"Let It Rock"		1:42
Total length:			26:36

Personnel

• Chuck Berry – vocals, guitars^[10]
• Matt "Guitar" Murphy – electric guitar (tracks: A1 to A4, A6, B1, B5)
• Johnnie Johnson – piano (tracks: A3 to A6, B2 to B5)
• Willie Dixon – bass
• Fred Below – drums (tracks: A5, B1, B5)
• Eddie Hardy – drums (tracks: A1 to A4, A6, B1, B5)
• The Ecuadors – backing vocals
• L. C. Davis – tenor saxophone (tracks: A5, B1, B4, B5)

References

1. Rudolph, Dietmar. "A Collector's Guide to the Music of Chuck Berry: The Chess Era (1955-1966)". Retrieved December 24, 2010.
2. Chuck Berry (2005). Gold (CD liner notes). United States: Geffen Records/Chess Records. pp. 23, 24, 27. 0602498805589.
3. Eder, Bruce. "Overview: Rockin' at the Hops by Chuck Berry". Allmusic. United States: Rovi. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
4. "Reviews of This Week's Singles". Billboard. September 14, 1959. p. 55. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
5. "Reviews of This Week's Singles". Billboard. January 11, 1960. p. 45. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
6. "Reviews of This Week's Singles". Billboard. May 9, 1960. p. 93. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
7. "Reviews of This Week's Singles". Billboard. August 8, 1960. p. 35. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
8. Allmusic review.
9. "Chuck Berry: Billboard Singles". Allmusic. United States: Rovi. Retrieved December 24, 2010.
10. Personnel from liner notes of Chess LP – CH-9259, 1987 Edition

External links

• Rockin' at the Hops at Discogs (list of releases)