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.
Memphis
Johnny Rivers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Help me find a party that tried to get in touch with me
She did not leave a number but I know who placed the call
'Cause my uncle took a message and he wrote it on the wall
Help me, information, get in touch with my Marie
She's the only one who'd call me here from Memphis Tennessee
Her home is on the south side, high upon a ridge
Last time I saw Marie she was wavin' me goodbye
With "hurry-home" drops on her cheek that trickled from her eye
We were pulled apart because her mom did not agree
She tore apart our happy home in Memphis Tennessee
Help me, information, more than that I cannot add
Only that I miss her and all the fun we had
Marie is only six years old, information please
You got to put me through to her in Memphis Tennessee
The song Memphis, by Johnny Rivers, tells a story of a man trying to find his lost love in Memphis, Tennessee. The lyrics are emotional and vivid, painting a picture of the singer's desperation to connect with his lover again. The opening line, "Long distance information, give me Memphis, Tennessee," sets the tone for the entire song, as the singer is seeking help to find his way back to the woman he loves.
The song is filled with details of the singer's search, including descriptions of his lover's home on the south side of Memphis, just a short distance from the Mississippi bridge. The lyrics also reveal that the couple was separated by the girl's mother, who tore apart their happy home in Memphis Tennessee.
Despite the heartbreak and the distance, there is a glimmer of hope in the song's final lines. The singer reveals that his lover, Marie, is only six years old, suggesting that they will be reunited someday.
Overall, Johnny Rivers's Memphis is a powerful song about love, loss, and the lengths we will go to in order to find those we care about.
Line by Line Meaning
Long distance information, give me Memphis Tennessee
As the singer is far away from the city, he seeks help from the operator to connect him to somebody he knows in Memphis Tennessee.
Help me find a party that tried to get in touch with me
The singer received a call from someone in Memphis, but they did not leave a number. Therefore, he asks the operator to help him find the person.
'Cause my uncle took a message and he wrote it on the wall
Although the caller did not leave a number, the singer's uncle took a message and wrote it on the wall so that the singer could retrieve it later.
Help me, information, get in touch with my Marie
The singer is asking the operator for help in finding Marie, the woman who calls him from Memphis Tennessee.
She's the only one who'd call me here from Memphis Tennessee
Marie is the only person who would call the singer from Memphis Tennessee.
Her home is on the south side, high upon a ridge
Marie's house is situated on a southern hillside with a high elevation.
Just a half a mile from the Mississippi bridge
Marie's home is located just a half a mile from the Mississippi bridge.
Last time I saw Marie she was wavin' me goodbye
The singer and Marie parted ways when she waved goodbye to him.
With 'hurry-home' drops on her cheek that trickled from her eye
Marie cried when saying goodbye to the singer, wishing he could hurry home to be with her again.
We were pulled apart because her mom did not agree
The singer and Marie were separated because her mother did not approve of their relationship and ultimately destroyed their home.
She tore apart our happy home in Memphis Tennessee
Marie's mother was responsible for tearing apart the couple's happy home in Memphis Tennessee.
Help me, information, more than that I cannot add
The singer has given all the information he knows about Marie's whereabouts but does not have any more to add.
Only that I miss her and all the fun we had
The singer only wants to convey that he misses Marie and the fun times they shared together.
Marie is only six years old, information please
The age of Marie is only six years old and the singer is requesting the operator for any information she can find to help him connect with her.
You got to put me through to her in Memphis Tennessee
The singer is requesting the operator to connect him to Marie in Memphis Tennessee.
Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP
Written by: Chuck Berry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@AdrianoPedrasPreciosas
Adoro som de guitarra antigo a música é eterna
@AdrianoPedrasPreciosas
Eu adoro estas músicas 🎶 antigas anos de ouro
@franktucker5
the best
@joswisher2353
I am with you I believe Johnny River should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame amen
@rnhealer6044
I agree that Johnny Rivers was underrated and he should have been inducted into the Hall of Fame. This is only one of his many great hits. I wore out his records back then.
@charlottejohnson9878
Johnny Rivers needs to be put in the ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME
@Jss316
Hello Charlotte, how are things going with you?
@jefftarvin187
He's amazing
@Kathy-bk6cg
I'm still waiting for that to happen 😕 I don't understand why he's not
@raywhite4146
This song was Elvis Presley's. Elvis Presley and Johnny Rivers were friends. Johnny Rivers stole the song from Elvis. Elvis Presley brought Johnny Rivers to his home. And could not wait but play Memphis Tennessee. For his friend Johnny Rivers. Call Johnny Rivers could do is rant and rave how great it. Elvis was kicking ass with this on. Elvis told Donnie everything's all worked out I'm getting ready to record the song. 1964 it would have been a number one hit for Elvis. And he would have made 50% on the royalties of the. That's how Colonel Parker had everything set up when I was dead recordings. But anyways the next thing you know I was heard the song on the radio Johnny River singing Memphis Tennessee. No it was disappointed because he stole the song. Alice did not make any fuss over it. Ella said if he needs the song that bad let him have. Thing was Elvis could have use that song in 1964 he continues to hit. Because ours was doing nothing but movies. Elvis lived in Memphis Tennessee so that's why it would have been a great trademark for Elvis. Chuck Berry and I wish her friends. And it was all arranged for Elvis to do the song. I do not know how Johnny Rivers got away by doing that. If all the publishers and everybody knew that I was going to cut it. I heard the story today, because of Memphis Mafia wrote it in their book. Johnny Rivers try to deny it say that's not how it went down. But all the guys around Elvis said bullshit. I guess those big thing I guess it was a big thing. I was never told nobody I was never told the press or nothing. I'm going to check more into it. But go listen to Elvis Presley's version of Memphis Tennessee. The way Johnny Rivers is doing his exact way Elvis was recording it so Donnie river is copied everything from Elvis arrangement.