How Chuck Berry Reacted to The Beatles’ Cover of ‘Roll Over Beethoven’

The Beatles covered many songs by rock ‘n’ rock artists, including Chuck Berry’s “Roll Over Beethoven.” Subsequently, Berry revealed his opinion on the cover. Berry also discussed what the Fab Four did when they “copied other artists.”

How John Lennon thought Little Richard compared to Chuck Berry

According to a 1970 interview transcribed in the book Lennon Remembers, John Lennon was a huge fan of Berry. “Chuck Berry is one of the all-time great poets,” John said. “A rock poet you could call him. He was well advanced of his time lyric-wise. We all owe a lot to him, including [Bob] Dylan.”

John compared Berry to other performers. “I’ve loved everything he’s done, ever,” the former Beatle revealed. “He was in a different class from the other performers, he was in the tradition of the great blues artists but he really wrote his own stuff.” John noted Little Richard also wrote his own music, but John felt Berry was the superior lyricist. Despite this, John said he often had difficulty understanding what Berry was singing.

Chuck Berry enjoyed what The Beatles did when they ‘copied other artists’

According to the book A Walk Down Abbey Road, Berry said The Beatles were “geniuses.” “One thing that The Beatles did when they copied other artists, they laid with not only the feeling but the music which was great because you can recognize it right off that it’s the original artist’s number,” he said. “It’s like The Beatles playing from the written scroll which is great because everybody recognizes it.”

Berry revealed he enjoyed The Beatles’ version of “Rock and Roll Music” because of how similar it was to his version. Immediately after, Berry was asked what he thought of The Beatles’ “Roll Over Beethoven.” “Same difference,” he said. “They followed the progression. They followed the melody and even most of the licks. You know John was playing the guitar.”

The way listeners in the United States reacted to the original ‘Roll Over Beethoven’ and The Beatles’ cover

The original “Roll Over Beethoven” became a hit. It reached No. 7 on Billboard‘s R&B chart. Subsequently, Berry released the song on the compilation album Chuck Berry’s Greatest Hits. Chuck Berry’s Greatest Hits hit No. 34 on the Billboard 200, staying on the chart for 21 weeks.

The Beatles never released their recording of “Roll Over Beethoven” as a single, so it didn’t chart on the Billboard Hot 100. The cover appeared on the Fab Four’s British album With the Beatles. With the Beatles barely made an impact in the United States, hitting No. 179 on the Billboard 200 for one week.

The Beatles’ “Roll Over Beethoven” wasn’t a hit but it remains an interesting connection between Berry and the Fab Four.