If you like this, please consider making a donation with PayPal. From as little as $5, your support helps to do what I do and pay for its maintenance costs. Thank you! *Donate here

Rolling Stones unreleased: Back in the USA

*Click for MORE STONES UNRELEASED TRACKS

Written by: Chuck Berry
Recorded: RCA Studios, Hollywood, USA, Aug-Sept. 1978
Guest musicians: Ian Stewart or Ian McLagan (piano)

From Martin Elliott’s book THE ROLLING STONES COMPLETE RECORDING SESSIONS 1962-2012:
A quick jog around the USA on this version of the Chuck Berry song previously unrecorded by the Stones. It’s likely that the piano player is Ian Stewart rather than Ian McLagan.

Some facts about ‘Back in the U.S.A.’ by Chuck Berry
(from Songfacts)

Musically, this is very similar to another Berry song, “Roll Over Beethoven” Lyrically, it finds him thrilled to be back home in America. The cities New York, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Chattanooga and Baton Rouge get a mention, but he’s happiest to see his “home back in old St. Louis.” Berry was on tour in Australia before he recorded the song. Paul McCartney got the inspiration for The Beatles “Back In The U.S.S.R.” from this. Linda Ronstadt covered this in 1978. Her version went to #16 in the US. The B-side of the single was Berry’s original version of “Memphis, Tennessee” which with the title shortened to “Memphis,” became a hit for Lonnie Mack in 1963 (#5 US) and for Johnny Rivers in 1964 (#2 US)