A-side "Johnny B. Goode" Genre Rock and roll, blues Label Chess 1691 | Released March 31, 1958 Length 2:20 Writer(s) Chuck Berry | |
"Around and Around" is a 1958 rock song written and first recorded by Chuck Berry. It originally appeared under the name "Around & Around" as the B-side to the single "Johnny B. Goode".
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The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones covered the song on their EP, Five by Five and second US album 12 X 5 in 1964. In October 1964, they performed the song as part of their first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. In 1964 the Stones opened their famed TAMI Show with the song. It was also included on the 1977 live album Love You Live, as part of the El Mocambo club gig in Toronto.
Other artists
The Swinging Blue Jeans included a version on their 1964 album Blue Jeans a'Swinging, on their label His Master's Voice HMV 1802.
The Animals covered it on both their US debut album The Animals, MGM Records – SE 4264, and their UK debut album also called The Animals, Columbia (EMI) 33SX 1669, in 1964. Eric Burdon had it also included on some of his live sets.
The song was a staple of the Grateful Dead, who played it in concert over 400 times between 1970 and 1995. It appears on 19 Grateful Dead albums, and nine more by related acts from the Grateful Dead family.
David Bowie recorded the song in 1971, produced by Ken Scott, under the title "Round and Round". It was released as the B-side of the single "Drive-In Saturday" in April 1973. This is one of David Bowie's rarer recordings. It was also found on the compilations Rare (1983) and the Sound + Vision box set. Picture disc versions was released in both the RCA Life Time picture disc set and the Fashion Picture Disc Set. In 2002 it was released on the Ziggy Stardust - 30th Anniversary Reissue bonus disc.
Meat Loaf placed the song in his "Rock 'n Roll Medley" during his 1989 tour for a short time.
38 Special covered the song on their 1977 self titled debut album.
Maureen Tucker of The Velvet Underground also recorded the song for her 1981 debut solo album Playin' Possum. It was released as a single as a double a-side with "Will You Love Me Tomorrow?".
American punk rock band, Germs released their version of the song which is included on the posthumous What We Do Is Secret EP released in 1981, as well as (MIA): The Complete Anthology released in 1993. Although originally a Chuck Berry song, their version is much closer to David Bowie's version. Lead singer, Darby Crash was heavily influenced by Bowie, as well as other members of the band.
Dayton, Ohio based indie rock band Guided By Voices has regularly included the song in their live sets since their 1996 Mag Earwig tour.
It was also covered by Waysted in their 1985 album The Good The Bad and The Waysted. The song is a staple of their live set since.
Japanese band The Joint, recorded a version with changed lyrics (mostly in Japanese about being constantly drunk) on their CD Hoochie Coochie Men.
The song was also a staple at Argentine band Los Piojos's live shows, and a medley featuring "Around & Around" and "Blue Suede Shoes" (renamed in Spanish as Zapatos de Gamuza Azul) was released on their 1999 live album Ritual.