Maybellene

For the brand of cosmetic makeup, see Maybelline.

"Maybellene"
Single by Chuck Berry
B-side"Wee Wee Hours"
ReleasedJuly 1955 (1955-07)
RecordedMay 21, 1955
StudioUniversal Recording (Chicago)[1]
Genre
Length2:19
LabelChess[4]
Songwriter(s)Chuck Berry[5]
Producer(s)Leonard Chess, Phil Chess
Chuck Berry singles chronology
"I Hope These Words Will Find You Well"
(1954) 		"Maybellene"
(1955) 		"Thirty Days"
(1955)
Audio sample
30-second sample of Chuck Berry's "Maybellene"

"Maybellene" is a rock and roll song by American artist Chuck Berry, adapted in part from the western swing fiddle tune "Ida Red". Released in 1955, Berry’s song tells the story of a hot rod race and a broken romance, the lyrics describing a man driving a V8 Ford and chasing his unfaithful girlfriend in her Cadillac Coupe DeVille. It was released in July 1955 as a single by Chess Records, of Chicago, Illinois.[6] Berry's first hit, "Maybellene" is considered a pioneering rock and roll song. Rolling Stone magazine wrote of it, "Rock & roll guitar starts here."[7] The record was an early instance of the complete rock and roll package: youthful subject matter; a small, guitar-driven combo; clear diction; and an atmosphere of unrelenting excitement.

The song was a major hit with both black and white audiences, reaching number 1 on Billboard's Rhythm and Blues chart and number 5 on the Popular Records chart.[8] It has received numerous honors and awards. Soon after its initial release, cover versions were recorded by several other artists. The title is misspelled "Maybelline" on several releases.

  1. ^ "The Chuck Berry Database: Details For Recording Session: 21. 5. 1955". A Collector's Guide to the Music of Chuck Berry. Dietmar Rudolph. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  2. ^ Billy Poore (1998). Rockabilly: A Forty-year Journey. Hal Leonard. p. 80. ISBN 978-0-7935-9142-8.
  3. ^ Stanley, Bob (September 13, 2013). Yeah Yeah Yeah: The Story of Modern Pop. Faber & Faber. p. 56. ISBN 978-0-571-28198-5.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference pc5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Arc Music
  6. ^ Rudolph, Dietmar. "A Collector's Guide to the Music of Chuck Berry: The Chess Era (1955–1966)". Retrieved March 1, 2007.
  7. ^ "Maybellene". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 28, 2006. Retrieved March 1, 2007.
  8. ^ "Timeline of Musical Styles & Guitar History". Acousticmusic.org. Retrieved April 29, 2021.