The Rolling Stones Before Fame: ‘Johnny B. Goode’ by Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys (1961)

By Marcelo Sonaglioni on December 28, 2024

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Rolling Stones unreleased: Johnny B Goode (by Little Boy Blue and The Blue Boys, embryonic Rolling Stones)

Written by: Chuck Berry
Recorded: Bob Beckwith’s home, Bexleyheath, or Dick Taylor’s home, Dartford, England, late 1961
Guest musicians: Dick Taylor (guitar)

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More about Little Boy Blue and The Blue Boys and ‘Johnny B. Goode’

*By Marcelo Sonaglioni
Little Boy Blue and the Blue Boys was an early incarnation of what would later become The Rolling Stones. Formed in 1961, this group included Mick Jagger on vocals and harmonica, Keith Richards on guitar, and Dick Taylor on bass. This lineup played together before Brian Jones, Charlie Watts, and Bill Wyman joined to form the classic Rolling Stones lineup.

In their formative years, the group focused on covering blues and rock’n’roll classics, heavily influenced by American artists like Chuck Berry and Muddy Waters. One notable recording from this period is their rendition of Chuck Berry’s Johnny B Goode. This track, recorded in 1961, showcases the youthful energy and enthusiasm of the future Rolling Stones as they honed their skills and developed their musical identity.

The recording itself is raw and unpolished, reflecting the amateur status of the band at the time. However, it’s a fascinating historical artifact that provides a glimpse into the early chemistry between Jagger and Richards and their shared passion for the music that would later define their career. While Johnny B. Goode was never officially released, it remains a significant piece of Rolling Stones history, marking one of the earliest collaborations between two of rock’n’roll’s most iconic figures.

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