Peak
42
Weeks
16
Score
1,015
Chart Year
1973
Scores & Rankings
Chart Performance
Peak Position42
Peak DateJul 28, 1973
Weeks at Peak1
Weeks Charted16
Weeks in Top 400
Weeks in Top 100
Weeks at #20
Weeks at #10
Scoring
Summary Calc59
Weekly Calc956
Total Score1,015
Rankings
Year Ranking#213
Decade Ranking#2,114
Billboard Year#221
Top 5000#13,086
Details
- Album
- ELO 2
- Label
- Harvest Records
- Genre
- Progressive Rock
- Composer(s)
- Chuck Berry;Ludwig van Beethoven
- Entered Chart
- Apr 28, 1973
- Peak Date
- Jul 28, 1973
- Released
- 12 January 1973 (UK) 27 January 1973 (US)
- Recorded
- September 8, 1972[22] Studio AIR, London
- Catalog #
- United Artists 173
- B-Side
- Queen of The Hours
- Original Artist
- Chuck Berry
Music Video
Notes
Electric Light Orchestra's (ELO) elaborate eight-minute reworking of "Roll Over Beethoven", on the album ELO 2 in 1973, included an opening musical quote from Beethoven's Fifth Symphony and interpolations of material from the symphony's first movement into Berry's song and Peter Gunn theme in the background. This became one of ELO's signature songs and has been used to close the majority of their concerts. It is also the most-performed song by the band.[25] "Roll Over Beethoven" was the second single released by the band, in January 1973, and became their second consecutive top ten hit in the UK. An edited version of the track from ELO 2 was a #42 hit in the United States.[citation needed] Chicago radio superstation WLS, which gave the song much airplay, ranked "Roll Over Beethoven" as the 89th most popular hit of 1973.[26] It reached as high as number 8 (for two weeks) on their surveys of September 1 and 8, 1973.[27] The song reached number six on the competing station WCFL.[28]
Gonna write a little letter, gonna mail it to my local DJ Well, it's a jumpin' little record I want my jockey to play Roll over Beethoven, gotta hear it again today You know, my temperature's risin', need a shot of rhythm and blues Well, my heart's beatin' a rhythm, shakin' out rhythm and blues Roll over Beethoven, rockin' in two by two Well, if you feel and like it Go get your lover and reel and rock it Roll it over and move on up now Go for cover and reel and rock it Roll it over Roll over Beethoven, tell Tchaikovsky the news Well, early in the mornin' I'm a-givin' you the warnin' Don't you step on my blue suede shoes Hey, diddle diddle, gonna play my fiddle I ain't got nothin' to lose Roll over Beethoven, tell Tchaikovsky the news Well, she wiggles like a glow-worm, she dances like a spinnin' top Yeah, she got a crazy partner, you should have seen her reel and rock Long as she got a dime, the music will never stop Well, if you feel and like it Go get your lover and reel and rock it Roll it over and move on up now Go for cover and reel and rock it Roll it over Roll over Beethoven, dig these rhythm and blues? Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven Roll over Beethoven, dig these rhythm and blues? Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven Roll over Beethoven, dig these rhythm and blues? Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven Roll over Beethoven, roll over Beethoven
Chart History (16 weeks)
| Week | Chart Date | Position | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Apr 28, 1973 | 90 | 36 |
| 2 | May 5, 1973 | 85 | 41 |
| 3 | May 12, 1973 | 78 | 48 |
| 4 | May 19, 1973 | 74 | 52 |
| 5 | May 26, 1973 | 66 | 60 |
| 6 | Jun 2, 1973 | 65 | 61 |
| 7 | Jun 9, 1973 | 100 | 26 |
| 8 | Jun 16, 1973 | 79 | 47 |
| 9 | Jun 23, 1973 | 59 | 67 |
| 10 | Jun 30, 1973 | 54 | 72 |
| 11 | Jul 7, 1973 | 52 | 74 |
| 12 | Jul 14, 1973 | 50 | 76 |
| 13 | Jul 21, 1973 | 44 | 82 |
| 14 | Jul 28, 1973 | 42 | 84 |
| 15 | Aug 4, 1973 | 57 | 69 |
| 16 | Aug 11, 1973 | 65 | 61 |