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.
Maybelline
Johnny Rivers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I saw Maybelline in a Coupe deVille
Cadillac rollin' on an open road
But nothin' out-run my V8 Ford
Cadillac doin' about ninety-five
Bumper to bumper rollin' side to side
Maybelline, why can't you be true
You've started back doin' the things you used to do
Well the Cadillac pulled up ahead of the Ford
The Ford got hot and wouldn't do no more
It done got cloudy and started to rain
I tooted my horn for the passing lane
The rain water poured up under my motor hood
I knew that were doin' my motor good
Maybelline, why can't you be true
Oh Maybelline, why can't you be true
You done started back doin' the things you used to do
------ harmonica ------
Well now, the heat went down and the motor cooled down
And that's when I heard that highway sound
Cadillac lookin' like a ton of lead
A hundred and ten a half-a-mile ahead
Cadillac lookin' like it's sittin' still
I caught Maybelline at the top of the hill
Maybelline, why can't you be true
Oh Maybelline, why can't you be true
You done started back doin' the things you used to do
The lyrics of "Maybelline" by Johnny Rivers tells the story of the singer who encounters Maybelline in a Cadillac Coupe deVille while driving his V8 Ford over a hill. He notes that the Cadillac, while going at ninety-five miles per hour, "bumper to bumper rollin' side to side," still couldn't outrun his Ford. The singer sings, "Maybelline, why can't you be true? You've started back doin' the things you used to do," which suggests that Maybelline had perhaps promised to be faithful but had gone back on her word.
When the Cadillac pulled ahead of the Ford, the Ford began to malfunction, and the singer ultimately ended up pulling over due to engine trouble resulting from rainwater pouring into the engine. At this point, the Cadillac was more than halfway ahead of the Ford, moving at an incredible velocity, looking like a ton of lead. Still, the singer somehow managed to catch up to Maybelline at the top of the hill, posing the question again, "Maybelline, why can't you be true? You done started back doin' the things you used to do."
Line by Line Meaning
As I was motivatin' over the hill
Johnny Rivers is driving his V8 Ford over a hill and he is revved up and ready to go on a drive.
I saw Maybelline in a Coupe deVille
Johnny sees a woman named Maybelline riding in a fancy Coupe deVille car.
Cadillac rollin' on an open road
Maybelline's Cadillac is driving on a clear and open road.
But nothin' out-run my V8 Ford
Johnny's Ford is faster and more powerful than Maybelline's Cadillac.
Cadillac doin' about ninety-five
Maybelline's Cadillac is speeding and going about 95 mph.
Bumper to bumper rollin' side to side
Maybelline's Cadillac is driving close and swaying from side to side in the lane.
Maybelline, why can't you be true
Johnny is disappointed and frustrated with Maybelline's behavior and actions.
Oh Maybelline, why can't you be true
Johnny is pleading for Maybelline to be honest and genuine.
You've started back doin' the things you used to do
Maybelline has reverted back to her old ways and habits that she had previously given up.
Well the Cadillac pulled up ahead of the Ford
Maybelline's Cadillac passed Johnny's Ford on the road.
The Ford got hot and wouldn't do no more
Johnny's Ford overheated and stopped working.
It done got cloudy and started to rain
The weather changed and it started to rain.
I tooted my horn for the passing lane
Johnny honked his horn so he could pass Maybelline's car.
The rain water poured up under my motor hood
Rainwater got into Johnny's car, but he wasn't too worried about it.
I knew that were doin' my motor good
Johnny was confident that driving in the rain was actually helping his car's engine.
Well now, the heat went down and the motor cooled down
After driving in the rain, Johnny's car engine cooled down.
And that's when I heard that highway sound
Johnny heard the sound of the highway while he was driving.
Cadillac lookin' like a ton of lead
Maybelline's Cadillac looked heavy and slow.
A hundred and ten a half-a-mile ahead
Maybelline's Cadillac was 110 miles ahead of Johnny.
Cadillac lookin' like it's sittin' still
Maybelline's Cadillac looked like it was barely moving.
I caught Maybelline at the top of the hill
Johnny finally caught up to Maybelline's Cadillac when they reached the top of a hill.
You done started back doin' the things you used to do
Maybelline has gone back to her old habits and behavior once again.
Contributed by Makayla W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
laroudoune
Maybellene
Chuck Berry
Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh, Maybellene, why can't you be true?
You done started doing the things you used to do
As I was motivatin' over the hill
I saw Maybellene in a Coupé de Ville
A Cadillac a-rollin on the open road
Nothin' will outrun my V-8 Ford
The Cadillac doin' 'bout 95
She bumper to bumper, rollin' side by side
Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh, Maybellene, why can't you be true?
You done started back doin' the things you used to do
The Cadillac pulled up at 104
The Ford got hot and wouldn't do no more
It done got cloudy and started to rain
I tooted my horn for the passin' lane
The rain water blowin' all under my hood
I knew that wasn't doin' my motor good
Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh, Maybellene, why can't you be true?
You done started back doin' the things you used to do
Oh, Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh, Maybellene, why can't you be true?
You done started back doin' the things you used to do
The motor cooled down, the heat went down
And that's when I heard that highway sound
Cadillac sittin' like toad on a lake
A 110, a half mile ahead
The Cadillac lookin' like it's sittin' still
And I caught Maybellene at the top of the hill
Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh, Maybellene, why can't you be true?
You done started back doin' the things you used to do
kay guerrero
Every song he did was awesome...his smooth southern voice was/is incomparable and add his guitar...pure magic! Has anyone heard his version of "When a Man Loves a Woman"? It is done with soul!
PC No
I love both versions; I wouldn't call them "equal", they are more like apples and oranges. If I hear one, I always want to hear the other.
Stephen Early
I love every songs because I’m a big fan of Johnny Rivers.
James Steele
My favorite version of this song.
Brian J. Carnevale
Such a cool old school name. They called her Mable but it was Mabeline. She was hottie in a fast car and had that edge to her
Let’s Race. Hot as all hell out, rainy season 95 in the shade.
DANG!
essiebl
Although I like Chuck Berry too, I always thought this was the best version of this particular song. Just love it. Is my favourite song for dancing to when I'm alone.
Lois Hill
essiebl Amen Any thing by OUR JOHNNY RIVERS!! WHO NEEDS the r & r hall of fame?? WE GIT OUR JR
Brian J. Carnevale
Ya.
Blaze
I've always liked foghats version too
strangersound
That's heavier than anything. Johnny Rivers f/n jams. One of the greats. People are sleeping on this, I know I was. He's on the Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry, Jerry Reed, JB, Tom Jones, Sinatra, and all that type level. He vibes the band into epic level's of groove. A bandleader extraordinaire. But this is probably the ultimate rock and roll song here. Chuck's writing and Johnny doing his thing is a beautiful thing. :)