Maybellene

Chuck Berry, 1955, from Chuck Berry Is on Top. Solo by Chuck Berry.

Berry's first single carries a raw, overdriven country-blues solo that sounded like nothing else on 1955 radio.

Maybellene, Chuck Berry's first single, carries a raw, overdriven country-blues solo that sounded unlike anything else on 1955 radio. Adapted from the country tune Ida Red, the song blends hillbilly rhythms with rhythm and blues, and Berry's guitar sits at the centre of that fusion. His solo is fast and aggressive, with double-stops and sharp bends that drive the song's story of a car chase. Listen for the gritty, slightly distorted tone and the rapid-fire phrases that seem to race along with the lyrics, and for how the solo captures the excitement of speed and rebellion that would define rock and roll.

Maybellene by Chuck Berry is featured in our Rock & Roll (#16) list. The solo is played by Chuck Berry and the song was released in 1955.

In our lists

• The 25 Greatest Rock and Roll Guitar Solos — #16
• The Best Chuck Berry Guitar Solos — #4

Sources