He was versatile enough to do folk songs, blues, covers of old-time Rock n' roll songs, and some original material, all of them in his own unique style. Rivers's greatest success came in the mid and late 1960s with a string of hit songs (including "Seventh Son," "Poor Side of Town" and "Secret Agent Man") but he has continued to record and perform to the present.
In 1960, Rivers met fellow Louisianan, James Burton, the guitar player for Ricky Nelson. Burton later recommended one of Rivers's songs to Nelson, who went on to record it. In 1961, Rivers went to Los Angeles to meet Nelson, and ended up relocating there, working as a song writer and studio musician. In 1963, Rivers's big break came when he temporarily filled in for a jazz combo at Bill Gazzari's night club; the temporary gig became long-term due to positive customer response.
In 1964, Elmer Valentine then gave Rivers a one-year contract to open his new club, Whisky a Go Go, on Sunset Strip in West Hollywood. The Whisky opened three days before The Beatles released "I Want To Hold Your Hand" and the British Invasion knocked almost every American artist off the top of the charts. But Rivers was so popular, producer Lou Adler decided to issue Johnny Rivers Live At The Whiskey A Go Go. The live album reached #12 on the charts and the single "Memphis" (a Chuck Berry cover) reached #2. Rivers made the successful transition from nightclub entertainer to chart-busting pop singer and had created the Go Go sound, part of a scene which included Go-Go dancers.
Into 1965, Rivers continued to record mostly live, Go Go style records including "Maybellene" (another Berry cover), which he followed "Mountain of Love", "Midnight Special", "Seventh Son" (written by Willie Dixon) e "Where Have All The Flowers Gone" (with Pete Seeger's), all of which were hits.
Rivers wanted to try something different and adopted a more idiosyncratic approach as from 1966. Characterized by his smooth, soulful voice, he produced hit portrayals as "Poor Side Of Town", which would be his biggest hit ever and his only number one record. Into another hit was "Secret Agent Man", the theme from Secret Agent television series (written by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri). He also started own record company, Soul City Records, where he won a Grammy Award as the producer of the 5th Dimension, which eventually recorded "Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In" and "Wedding Bell Blues", two number one hits on Rivers' label. Johnny is also credited with giving songwriter Jimmy Webb a major break when they recorded Webb's song "Up, Up, and Away". James Hendricks, one of the artists of that signed with Soul City, wrote "Summer Rain", a song that Rivers recorded and turned a hit.
Johnny Rivers continued to record more hits, including "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" and "The Tracks of My Tears" (cover of The Miracles), both top 10 in 1967. In 1968, Rivers released what many fans consider his best album, Realization, a number five album on the LP charts. The album was evocative of the psychedelic influences of the time and marked a subtle change in his musical direction, with more thoughtful types of songs, included such ballads as "Going Back to Big Sur".
In the 1970s, Rivers continued to record more songs and albums which were a success with music critics, but did not sell as well as some of his earlier hits. One of these albums, "L.A. Reggae" in 1972, reached the LP charts as a result of the top 10 "Rockin' Pneumonia and the Boogie Woogie Flu" (a cover of Huey Smith & the Clowns). Anothers hits that time were "Blue Suede Shoes" (a cover of Carl Perkins), in 1973, which would reach the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100, and "Help Me Rhonda", in 1975 - a cover of The Beach Boys on which Brian Wilson helped with backup vocals. His last entry on the charts was "Swayin' to the Music (Slow Dancing)", a top ten hit in 1977.
1980's until nowadays
Rivers continued recording into the '80's, although his recording career wound down somewhat. In spite of his music hasn't reached the best seller charts for quite a while, Rivers is still touring, doing 50 to 60 shows a year, increasingly returning to the blues that inspired him initially.
In 1998], Rivers reactivated his Soul City imprint and released Last Train to Memphis, his first new studio album in 15 years.
In early 2000, Johnny recorded with Eric Clapton, Tom Petty, and Paul McCartney on a tribute album dedicated to Buddy Holly's backup band, "The Crickets".
In all, Rivers had 9 top ten hits on the Billboard Hot 100 and 17 in the top 40 from 1964 to 1977. In total, he has sold well over 25 million records.
Can't Buy Me Love
Johnny Rivers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't buy me love
I'll buy you a diamond ring my friend if it makes you feel alright
I'll get you anything my friend if it makes you feel alright
'Cause I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love
I'll give you all I got to give if you say you love me too
I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love
Can't buy me love, everybody tells me so
Can't buy me love, no no no, no
Say you don't need no diamond ring and I'll be satisfied
Tell me that you want the kind of thing that money just can't buy
I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love
Johnny Rivers's song, "Can't Buy Me Love," is a declaration of love that transcends material possessions. The lyrics state that love cannot be bought or measured by material possessions such as diamond rings or lavish gifts. Rivers emphasizes multiple times that money cannot buy his love or the love of anyone else. He is willing to give everything he has, even his entire fortune, as long as he receives love in return.
In the first verse, Rivers sings about his willingness to buy his friend a diamond ring and anything else that will make them happy. However, he clarifies that money doesn't matter to him and that he can't be bought with these material possessions. In the second verse, he again reinforces the idea that he doesn't care for money and that love is more important. He declares that he will give everything he has if the person he loves returns his feelings.
The chorus repeats the statement that love cannot be bought, as everybody tells Rivers so. He then reaffirms this by saying that there is no way anyone can buy his love. In the third verse, he suggests that saying you don't need a diamond ring but love is enough will make him happy. He asks the person he loves to desire the kind of love that money cannot buy.
Line by Line Meaning
Can't buy me love, love
Love cannot be purchased with money
Can't buy me love
Love cannot be bought
I'll buy you a diamond ring my friend if it makes you feel alright
I'll purchase a diamond ring if that gift will make you happy
I'll get you anything my friend if it makes you feel alright
I'll obtain any item if that gift will make you happy
'Cause I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love
Money isn't important to me since it cannot buy love
I'll give you all I got to give if you say you love me too
I'll give you everything I have if you also express your love for me
I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you
I may not possess many things, but I'll give you everything I have
Can't buy me love, everybody tells me so
Everyone informs me that love is priceless
Can't buy me love, no no no, no
Love cannot be purchased, no matter what
Say you don't need no diamond ring and I'll be satisfied
If you tell me that you don't need any material possessions, I'll be happy
Tell me that you want the kind of thing that money just can't buy
If you tell me that you desire something that money can't purchase, I'd be interested
I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love
Money is unimportant to me as it cannot buy love
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Vandotavares Tavares
Johnny Rivers ,voz inconfundível , interpretação única ,para essa canção ficou maravilhoso
Monica Cubberly-Early
So much pleasure you have given to so many listeners for so long a Time. Your Musical talents are not to be topped. Thank you so much Johnny. You're the best from Patrick
Bernardo .Richter
olhem só essa versão do Johnny Rivers ficou da hora !!!
Silvio Paimel
É o cara!!!!
Tunnel NY Lite
First time I've heard this, different because of the live audience. Wonder if the Beatles ever recorded a live version of this song?
Juarez Jose Da Silva
Sou fã dece cantor 😅
Shirley Dunbar
Johnny Rivers could sing anything and I would love it, thank you for sharing
Carol Garabedian
Great song and he sings it well.
raffa ojeda
fresco, alegre, ritmico con el toque de Jonny rivers
Jose Alves
Será época da Essa época da música dos anos dourados músicas lindas porque as de hoje principalmente aqui no Brasil não existe mais música e quem tem música boa como eu tenho jamais vou chegar reconhecer elas