Brown Eyed Handsome Man
Encyclopedia
"Brown Eyed Handsome Man" is a rock and roll
song by Chuck Berry
, which was originally released by Chess Records
in September 1956 as the B-side
to "Too Much Monkey Business
". It was also included on Berry's 1957 debut album After School Session
. The song title was also used as the title of a biography of Berry.
and Hispanic
areas in California
. During his time there, Chuck saw an Hispanic being arrested by a policeman when "some woman came up shouting for the policeman to let him go."
"Brown Eyed Handsome Man" was recorded on April 16, 1956 in Chicago
, Illinois
. The session was produced
by the Chess Brothers – Leonard
and Phil
– and backing Chuck Berry was Johnnie Johnson
on piano
, L. C. Davis on tenor saxophone
, Willie Dixon
on bass
, and Fred Below
on drum
s.
The song was released in September 1956, and sometime after reached #5 on Billboard
magazine's R&B Singles
later in the year.
, who posthumously had a top-five hit with the song in the United Kingdom in 1963 and was released on Reminiscing
. Johnny Rivers
also covered the song on his first album At the Whisky à Go Go in 1964, as did Nina Simone
on her 1967 album, High Priestess of Soul
and Waylon Jennings
on a single from his 1970 album, Waylon
. It was also covered by Robert Cray
on the 1987 live tribute album to Berry, Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll, and by Paul McCartney
on his 1999 album Run Devil Run
and also released as a double A side single with "No Other Baby
". Johnny Cash covered it with Carl Perkins on his posthumous 2003 album Unearthed. The so-called "Million Dollar Quartet
", a December 4, 1956 jam-session which consisted of Carl Perkins
, Jerry Lee Lewis
and Elvis Presley
, also performed the song.
"Brown Eyed Handsome Man" was included in the Broadway
musical entitled Million Dollar Quartet
, which opened in New York in April 2010, and on the Million Dollar Quartet original Broadway cast recording. The song was covered by the company of the production, which included Lance Guest
as Johnny Cash
; Robert Britton Lyons as Carl Perkins
; Levi Kreis
as Jerry Lee Lewis
, and Eddie Clendening as Elvis Presley
.
used the line "A-roundin’ third, and headed for home, it’s a brown-eyed handsome man" in his 1985 song "Centerfield" from the album of the same name.
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
song by Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry
Charles Edward Anderson "Chuck" Berry is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter, and one of the pioneers of rock and roll music. With songs such as "Maybellene" , "Roll Over Beethoven" , "Rock and Roll Music" and "Johnny B...
, which was originally released by Chess Records
Chess Records
Chess Records was an American record label based in Chicago, Illinois. It specialized in blues, R&B, soul, gospel music, early rock and roll, and occasional jazz releases....
in September 1956 as the B-side
A-side and B-side
A-side and B-side originally referred to the two sides of gramophone records on which singles were released beginning in the 1950s. The terms have come to refer to the types of song conventionally placed on each side of the record, with the A-side being the featured song , while the B-side, or...
to "Too Much Monkey Business
Too Much Monkey Business
"Too Much Monkey Business" is a song written and performed by rock and roll pioneer Chuck Berry. It was released as Chuck's fifth single in September 1956 for Chess Records, and appeared as the third track on Chuck's first solo LP, After School Session in May 1957, as well as the EP of the same name...
". It was also included on Berry's 1957 debut album After School Session
After School Session
After School Session is Chuck Berry's first studio album, released in 1957 by Chess Records. The album was released in May 1957 as LP 1426, making it the second LP record released by Chess.- Releases :...
. The song title was also used as the title of a biography of Berry.
Background and recording
"Brown Eyed Handsome Man" was written following a visit that Chuck made in several African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
and Hispanic
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
areas in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. During his time there, Chuck saw an Hispanic being arrested by a policeman when "some woman came up shouting for the policeman to let him go."
"Brown Eyed Handsome Man" was recorded on April 16, 1956 in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
. The session was produced
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
by the Chess Brothers – Leonard
Leonard Chess
Leonard Chess was a record company executive and the founder of Chess Records. He was influential in the development of electric blues.- Early life :...
and Phil
Phil Chess
Philip Chess is an American record producer and company executive, the co-founder of Chess Records.He was born Fiszel Czyż in a Jewish community in Częstochowa, Poland. He and his brother Lejzor, sister Malka and mother followed their father to Chicago in 1928...
– and backing Chuck Berry was Johnnie Johnson
Johnnie Johnson (musician)
Johnnie Johnson was an American pianist and blues musician. His work with Chuck Berry led to his induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.-Career:...
on piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, L. C. Davis on tenor saxophone
Tenor saxophone
The tenor saxophone is a medium-sized member of the saxophone family, a group of instruments invented by Adolphe Sax in the 1840s. The tenor, with the alto, are the two most common types of saxophones. The tenor is pitched in the key of B, and written as a transposing instrument in the treble...
, Willie Dixon
Willie Dixon
William James "Willie" Dixon was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. A Grammy Award winner who was proficient on both the Upright bass and the guitar, as well as his own singing voice, Dixon is arguably best known as one of the most prolific songwriters...
on bass
Double bass
The double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
, and Fred Below
Fred Below
Fred Below was a leading blues drummer, best known for his innovative work with Little Walter and Chess Records in the 1950s. Nobody laid more of the Chicago blues rhythmic foundations, particularly its archetypal backbeat, than Fred Below.-Career:He was born in Chicago, and started playing drums...
on drum
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
s.
The song was released in September 1956, and sometime after reached #5 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
magazine's R&B Singles
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
later in the year.
Relevance in race relations
Glenn C. Altschuler explains that the lyrics of this song "played slyly with racial attitudes and even fears." Martha Bayles elaborates, noting that "Berry's penchant for bragging about his "Brown Eyed Handsome Man"’s appeal for white females outraged a lot of people."Cover versions
The song has been covered by many artists, including Buddy HollyBuddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
, who posthumously had a top-five hit with the song in the United Kingdom in 1963 and was released on Reminiscing
Reminiscing (Buddy Holly album)
Reminiscing is a compilation album by American rock and roll icon Buddy Holly. The album was released as an LP record in both mono and stereo formats in February 1963 ....
. Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers
Johnny Rivers is an American rock and roll singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. His styles include folk songs, blues, and revivals of old-time rock 'n' roll songs and some original material...
also covered the song on his first album At the Whisky à Go Go in 1964, as did Nina Simone
Nina Simone
Eunice Kathleen Waymon , better known by her stage name Nina Simone , was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and civil rights activist widely associated with jazz music...
on her 1967 album, High Priestess of Soul
High Priestess Of Soul
High Priestess of Soul is a studio album by singer/pianist/songwriter Nina Simone . The songs are accompanied by a large band directed by Hal Mooney. The album contains popular songs and Church-African-Folk-related songs...
and Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
on a single from his 1970 album, Waylon
Waylon
Waylon is a 1970 album by Waylon Jennings released on RCA Victor. Aside from "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man", none of the other songs on this LP were released as singles. The version of "Yes, Virginia" presented here is different than the one originally issued on The One and Only in 1967...
. It was also covered by Robert Cray
Robert Cray
Robert Cray is an American blues guitarist and singer. A five-time Grammy Award winner, he has led his own band, as well as an acclaimed solo career.-Career:...
on the 1987 live tribute album to Berry, Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll, and by Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
on his 1999 album Run Devil Run
Run Devil Run
Run Devil Run is the eleventh solo studio album by Paul McCartney, released in 1999. It features covers of both familiar and obscure 1950s rock and roll songs, along with three new McCartney songs written in the same style...
and also released as a double A side single with "No Other Baby
No Other Baby
"No Other Baby" is a song written by Dickie Bishop and Bob Watson, originally recorded in 1957 by Dickie Bishop and The Sidekicks. Early cover versions were recorded by The Vipers and Bobby Helms ....
". Johnny Cash covered it with Carl Perkins on his posthumous 2003 album Unearthed. The so-called "Million Dollar Quartet
Million Dollar Quartet
"Million Dollar Quartet" is the name given to recordings made on Tuesday December 4, 1956 in the Sun Record Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. The recordings were of an impromptu jam session among Elvis Presley, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, and Johnny Cash. It was arguably the first...
", a December 4, 1956 jam-session which consisted of Carl Perkins
Carl Perkins
Carl Lee Perkins was an American rockabilly musician who recorded most notably at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning during 1954...
, Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
and Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, also performed the song.
"Brown Eyed Handsome Man" was included in the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical entitled Million Dollar Quartet
Million Dollar Quartet (musical)
Million Dollar Quartet is a jukebox musical written by Floyd Mutrux and Colin Escott. It dramatizes the Million Dollar Quartet recording session of December 4, 1956, among early Rock and roll stars Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins, and newcomer Jerry Lee Lewis...
, which opened in New York in April 2010, and on the Million Dollar Quartet original Broadway cast recording. The song was covered by the company of the production, which included Lance Guest
Lance Guest
Lance R. Guest is an American film and television actor.-Biography:Guest developed a serious interest in acting in the ninth grade, and he majored in theater while attending UCLA. He has starred in many theatrical films including his role as Jimmy alongside actress Jamie Lee Curtis in Halloween...
as Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
; Robert Britton Lyons as Carl Perkins
Carl Perkins
Carl Lee Perkins was an American rockabilly musician who recorded most notably at Sun Records Studio in Memphis, Tennessee, beginning during 1954...
; Levi Kreis
Levi Kreis
Levi Kreis is an American recording artist and actor from Oliver Springs, Tennessee.-Music career:His debut album was released on November 17, 2005, accompanied by an appearance on a special XM radio edition of NBC's The Apprentice. Four hopefuls were chosen from thousands of submissions...
as Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis is an American rock and roll and country music singer-songwriter and pianist. An early pioneer of rock and roll music, Lewis's career faltered after he married his young cousin, and he afterwards made a career extension to country and western music. He is known by the nickname 'The...
, and Eddie Clendening as Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
.
Influences in other songs
John FogertyJohn Fogerty
John Cameron Fogerty is an American rock singer, songwriter, and guitarist, best known for his time with the swamp rock/roots rock band Creedence Clearwater Revival and as a #1 solo recording artist. Fogerty has a rare distinction of being named on Rolling Stone magazine's list of 100 Greatest...
used the line "A-roundin’ third, and headed for home, it’s a brown-eyed handsome man" in his 1985 song "Centerfield" from the album of the same name.