Post Description

Johnny Rivers - 1966 - And I Know You Wanna Dance




Johnny Rivers at the Whisky a Go-Go, released in May of 1964, was a hit from day one, its sales boosted by the accompanying single, a powerful version of Chuck Berry's "Memphis," which got to number two on the charts. The magnitude of Rivers' accomplishment shouldn't be underestimated -- since early 1964, the American charts had been dominated almost exclusively by British rock acts, with American artists picking up the scraps that were leftover, and then along came this new white kid from Baton Rouge, playing '50s-style rock & roll and R&B like he means it (and he did). The sales of the debut album were stunning for their time, rising to number 12in a 45-week chart run on the strength of the single. In response, another live performance was released as Here We a Go-Go Again in late August of 1964. In the interim, his debut single was followed by Rivers' version of "Maybelline," which got to number 12. 

 Ironically, at around this same time, previously established performers like Dion were being ignored doing their own singles of Chuck Berry's music and even Berry himself was having trouble reaching the charts with any regularity. Part of the secret of Rivers' success was his stripped-down sound, guitar, bass, and drums, to which he and Adler only added piano a little later and which didn't get much more elaborate for two years. Dion, possibly because of all of his success prior to the British Invasion, and Berry, perhaps for the same reason and also his legal troubles (and resulting two-year absence from music ending in 1964), had trouble finding acceptance during this period, while Rivers was embraced by radio stations and listeners alike. Listening to his work, it seems almost a mid-'60s descendant of rockabilly music, with more flexibility in his range and singing.




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                       Tracklisting
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   1. (00:03:02) Johnny Rivers - The Snake
   2. (00:03:02) Johnny Rivers - I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)
   3. (00:03:18) Johnny Rivers - You Must Believe
   4. (00:03:04) Johnny Rivers - Uptight (Everything's Alright)
   5. (00:01:44) Johnny Rivers - Respect
   6. (00:02:30) Johnny Rivers - In The Midnight Hour
   7. (00:03:04) Johnny Rivers - Secret Agent Man
   8. (00:02:41) JohnnyRivers - Every Day I Have To Cry
   9. (00:05:57) Johnny Rivers - You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'
  10. (00:03:21) Johnny Rivers - Foolkiller
  11. (00:02:27) Johnny Rivers - Run For Your Life
  12. (00:06:25) Johnny Rivers - You Dig

Playing Time.........: 00:40:35
Total Size...........: 95,18 MB