Today’s classic song of the day is a bona fide classic from the guy who pretty much invented rock ‘n’ roll. The tune is “No Particular Place to Go” and it was a huge hit (and an instant classic) from the Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Mr. Chuck Berry.
Chuck wrote this one after he was released from a year or so in prison, doing time for transporting a minor across state lines. He recorded it at Chess Studios in Chicago on March 25, 1964, with Leonard and Phil Chess producing. Paul Williams played piano, Louis Satterfield played bass, and Odie Payne was behind the drum kit. Released as a single in May of 1964, “No Particular Place to Go” went all the way to #10 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard’s R&B Singles charts. It hit #6 in Canada and #3 in the UK.
“No Particular Place to Go” tells a simple story in four verses. It’s all about the protagonist riding along in his automobile, his girlfriend at the wheel, the two of them just “cruisin’ and playin’ the radio.” They start to kiss and cuddle and drive slow, then they park the car to take a stroll. Unfortunately, the young lady can’t release her safety belt, and they have to drive home, with Chuck holding a “grudge for the safety belt that wouldn’t budge.”
This is a great tune. “No Particular Place to Go” follows the template that defined rock ‘n’ roll as we know it. It’s got Chuck Berry’s distinctive guitars, a rollicking, rolling beat with dramatic stops and starts, and a story with which every teenager could identify. It just doesn’t get much better than this.
And here’s today’s daily bonus video the day, Chuck Berry—backed by an all-star band—performing “No Particular Place to Go” live in the 1987 Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll concert documentary. Yeah, that’s Keith Richards on rhythm guitar, along with Steve Jordan on drums. It must’ve been one hell of an evening.
