Today is the Fourth of July, Independence Day here in the United States of America, and today’s classic song of the day is the aptly chosen “Back in the U.S.A.” It was a hit first for founding rock ‘n’ roller Chuck Berry back in 1959 then, a few decades later, for singer Linda Ronstadt.
As legend has it, Chuck Berry wrote “Back in the U.S.A” after returning the States after a trip to Australia. He recorded the song in Chicago at the Chess Records studio with Johnnie Johnson on piano, Willie Dixon on bass, and Fred Below on drums. Chuck played electric guitar, of course, and Etta James and the Marquees (which included a very young Marvin Gaye) provided background vocals. Leonard Chess and his brother Phil produced.
“Back in the U.S.A. celebrated all that was American back then:
Did I miss the skyscrapers, did I miss the long freeway?
From the coast of California to the shores of Delaware Bay
You can bet your life I did, till I got back to the U.S.A.
Looking hard for a drive in, searching for a corner cafe
Where hamburgers sizzle on an open grill night and day
Yeah, and a jukebox jumping with records like in the U.S.A.
Chuck Berry’s recording of “Back in the U.S.A” was released as a Chess single in June of 1959. It peaked at just #37 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #16 on Billboard’s R&B. Despite that relatively modest chart performance, however, it’s become a true classic and a rock ‘n’ roll standard over the years. The song—propelled by Chuck Berry’s signature opening guitar lick—defines rock ‘n’ roll in its formative years.
Two decades later, Linda Ronstadt was driving around Los Angeles with Eagle Glenn Frey when “Back in the U.S.A.” came up on a mix tape Frey had recently assembled. In her own words, Ms. Ronstadt heard the tune and said “Boy that would be a great song to sing. I think I’ll do that one.”
Which she did. To back her up, producer Peter Asher assembled a talented group of studio musicians, including Waddy Wachtel and Dan Dugmore on electric guitars, Don Grolnick on piano, Kenny Edwards on bass, and the immortal Russ Kunkel on drums. Released as a single in August of 1978, Ms. Ronstadt’s version of “Back in the U.S.A.” went all the way to #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #11 on the Cash Box Top 100.
Which brings us to today’s daily bonus video of the day. This one comes to us from the 1986 all-star concert held in celebration of Chuck Berry’s 60th birthday, with Linda Ronstadt joining Mr. Berry in an energetic duet on “Back in the U.S.A.” The backing band included Keith Richards and Robert Cray on guitars, Johnnie Johnson on piano, Chuck Leavell on organ, Joey Stampinato on bass, and Steve Jordan on drums. Despite having rehearsed the song in the key of C, Mr. Berry inexplicably kicked it off a fifth higher, in the key of G. Everybody got in line quickly enough, but it really made Ms. Ronstadt strain for those high notes. Ms. Ronstadt was allegedly very, very pissed about it, although you can’t tell it from her performance (she is a pro, after all); when the song was done, however, she walked offstage, through the green room, and out the stage door to her waiting limo, skipping the scheduled second show. The entire concert was presented as the 1987 film, Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll, available on a streaming service near you.
And that’s your classic song of the day for those of you celebrating Independence Day here in the good ol’ United States of America. Happy birthday, U.S.A.!
