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.
Muddy Water
Johnny Rivers Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
They kept my Daddy in the Macon jail
He said, "Son, if you keep your hands clean, uh huh
You won't hear those bloodhounds on your trail"
I fell in with bad companions
I robbed a man up in Tennessee
And I got caught way up in Nashville, uh huh now
I washed my hands in muddy water
I washed my hands, but they didn't come clean
I tried to do like my daddy told me, now
I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream
I asked the jailer, said "When's my time up?"
He said "Son, you know we won't forget
And if you try and just keep your hands clean, uh huh
Why we may just make a good man of you yet"
But I didn't wait to get my time in
I broke down, broke out the Nashville jail
I just crossed Atlanta, Georgia, oh now
And I can hear those bloodhounds on my trail
I washed my hands in muddy water
I washed my hands, but they didn't come clean
I tried to do like my daddy told me, now
I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream
The song "Muddy Water" by Johnny Rivers tells the story of a man who gets caught up in a life of crime despite his father's warning to keep his hands clean. The song is about the consequences of one's actions, and the struggle to try to redeem oneself. The singer grew up in Macon, Georgia, where his father was jailed. His father advised him to stay out of trouble and keep his hands clean. But he fell in with a bad crowd and ended up robbing someone in Tennessee. He was caught and sent to jail in Nashville.
The chorus of the song talks about washing hands in muddy water. The singer washed his hands, but they didn't come clean. He tried to follow his father's advice, but it seems fate had already intervened. The muddy water represents the singer's past mistakes and regrets. His father's advice is represented by the clear water that he was supposed to wash his hands in. The line "I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream" suggests that the singer cannot escape his past mistakes, and he will always be haunted by them.
Line by Line Meaning
I was born in Macon, Georgia
I was born in the city of Macon located in the state of Georgia
They kept my Daddy in the Macon jail
My father was imprisoned in the jail located in Macon
He said, "Son, if you keep your hands clean, uh huh
You won't hear those bloodhounds on your trail"
My father advised me to stay out of trouble to avoid getting caught by law enforcement
I fell in with bad companions
I robbed a man up in Tennessee
And I got caught way up in Nashville, uh huh now
And they locked me up and threw away the key
I associated with bad influences and committed a crime in Tennessee, resulting in getting caught and imprisoned in Nashville with no possibility of release
I washed my hands in muddy water
I washed my hands, but they didn't come clean
I tried to do like my daddy told me, now
I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream
I attempted to wash away my guilt, but it remained, indicating that I may have committed more crimes and gone against my father's advice
I asked the jailer, said "When's my time up?"
He said "Son, you know we won't forget
And if you try and just keep your hands clean, uh huh
Why we may just make a good man of you yet"
I inquired about my release date from the jailer who reminded me that I will not be easily forgiven for my crime, yet there is still a chance for me to turn my life around
But I didn't wait to get my time in
I broke down, broke out the Nashville jail
I just crossed Atlanta, Georgia, oh now
And I can hear those bloodhounds on my trail
I couldn't wait to serve my sentence, resulting in me breaking out of the Nashville jail and fleeing to Atlanta, but the authorities are still pursuing me
I washed my hands in muddy water
I washed my hands, but they didn't come clean
I tried to do like my daddy told me, now
I must have washed my hands in a muddy stream
Once again, I tried to absolve myself of my wrongdoings, but my guilt persisted, suggesting that I am still making poor decisions and going against my father's advice
Writer(s): Phil Rosenthal
Contributed by Nicholas K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Shirley Dunbar
I could listen to this man sing all day and never get tried of him just love the man
Randall Kennedy
Johnny Rivers.The coolest cat of them all.
José Carlos Forastieri
Não se fazem mais músicos dessa qualidade, com esse brilho, tocando ao vivo.
79tazman
I love this guy I have a bunch of his albums and he rocks
Susan Ouimette
This song came on the radio as I pulled into a parking lot. It came back to me instantly. I cranked the volume and unashamedly rocked out to it as people passed; most smiling! (You get older, you don't give a f***!!). WHY oh why not on iTunes?!
jacquie clinton
why can one not buy his amazing music on itunes? What's that about? I have tried and was so disappointed when it didn't appear to be possible.
rick raber
Susan - isn't that one of the great things about getting older - great music, and don't give a hoot!
Joseph Taverna
All I can say is true greatness Johnny Rivers incredible quality
PlAiN JaNe
I remember listening to his greatest hits cd when I was in middle school!
Abra Sanjani
Frank Sinatra wrote an endorsement on one of Johnny's albums -- "Young man Rivers just keeps rolling along." True then, true now. Used to be really something to drive by the Whiskey and see all those fans waiting to get in -- darned near every night. I hope he lives and performs to a hundred.