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 Find My Way Home
Johnny Rivers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Somebody must change
You are the reason I've been waiting so long
Somebody holds the key
Well, I'm near the end and I just ain't got the time
And I'm wasted and I can't find my way home
Come down on your own and leave your body alone
You are the reason I've been waiting all these years
Somebody holds the key
Well, I'm near the end and I just ain't got the time
And I'm wasted and I can't find my way home
"Can't Find My Way Home" by Johnny Rivers is a song that is heavy with symbolism and meaning. The lyrics of the song describe a feeling that many people can relate to, a feeling of being lost and disconnected from the world around them. The song is all about finding your way back to the things that matter most in life, even when it feels like everything is falling apart.
The first line of the song, "Come down off your throne and leave your body alone," suggests a separation between the self and the physical world. The "throne" could represent an ego or sense of entitlement that needs to be released in order to reconnect with life. The idea that "somebody must change" implies that something needs to give in order for this to happen.
The following line, "You are the reason I've been waiting so long," suggests that the singer is searching for something, or someone, to bring them back to themselves. This is further emphasized when they say "somebody holds the key," indicating that there is a specific solution that the singer is looking for. The final line of each verse, "And I'm wasted and I can't find my way home," poignantly conveys the profound sense of loss and desperation that the singer is feeling.
Overall, "Can't Find My Way Home" is a song that speaks to the human condition in a way that is both relatable and moving. It reminds us that even when we feel lost and disconnected, there is always a way back to ourselves, if only we are willing to seek it out.
Line by Line Meaning
Come down off your throne and leave your body alone
Stop acting superior and detach yourself from your physical desires
Somebody must change
Someone needs to alter their behavior or attitude in order to resolve the situation
You are the reason I've been waiting so long
The singer has been patiently waiting for the other person to take action or make a decision
Somebody holds the key
Another individual possesses the solution or the means to unlock the situation
Well, I'm near the end and I just ain't got the time
The artist is running out of patience or resources, and does not have the luxury of waiting any longer
And I'm wasted and I can't find my way home
The singer feels lost, confused, and unable to find their path or their place in the world
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Steve Winwood
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Shirley Dunbar
Johnny Rivers is amazing, thank you for sharing
Márcio João de Bartolo Bartolo
hello😎👉Johnny Rivers o fenômeno na música internacional 🎸 👌 👏 🎶🎵🎤🎺🎷📯🎸... ✍️
Anita Nickel
Muito obrigada pelo seu comentário com o qual eu concordo plenamente Márcio.
Márcio João de Bartolo Bartolo
+Anita Nickel abraços amiga e tenha uma ótima noite 🙅🌷🍃🎶🎵🌠... ✍️
Anita Nickel
Obrigada Márcio. Uma ótima noite para você também. Abraços...
Roger Dale
what happened to you my friend miss you on my page.
Márcio João de Bartolo Bartolo
@Roger Dale Olá meu amigo... Estou de volta... Um grande abraço🎵🎶
Duff Gordon
TAKE THAT STEVIE WINWOOD!! And he did it solo, not with Eric Clapton, and other big name vocalists. BECAUSE HE CAN!! 1400 views/no justice
Jose Domingo Stadelman
ohhhh mi god!!!!!!
Roger Dale
Anita just when i thought I've heard everything recorded by Johnny you came up with this Classic song written by Steve Winwood recorded by Blind Faith
very nice Cover by him thank you for posting this Video my good friend... Roger