‘Johnny B. Goode’ is possibly the one rock anthem to stand above all others, almost single-handedly spawning an entire genre of music and going down as one of the all-time classics. Its creator, too, has gone down as a rock immortal, and while Chuck Berry has sadly left us, his new album Chuck is on its way, along with a string of new singles.
It seems that Chuck was, above all else, eager to pay tribute to his wife of 68 years on the record, as earlier single ‘Wonderful Woman’ has been followed by a rework of his most famous hit, written from the perspective of the woman behind the man, Johnny B. Goode.
While he doesn’t name his wife Thelmetta by name in the song, ‘Lady B. Goode’ feels as autobiographical as the original, and it’s lovely to know that Berry’s son Charles Jr. and grandson Charles Berry III are also joining in on guitar duties.
Reworking your career-defining hit in your wife’s honour? That’s a classy move, Chuck.
