Chuck Berry  - Betty Jean

First performance: 23/03/1988


Coverinfo

Bruce played the song 2 times ( soundcheck included ) : 
 
 
1992-02-02 Maple Leaf Bar, New Orleans, LA
With The Iguanas*. Bruce (and Patti) drop in to the New Orleans bar while in town filming the "Human Touch" music video. Iguana's saxophonist Derek Huston tells that Springsteen asked Huston not to introduce him by name. So Bruce instead entered the stage to "Louie". They sing Fats Domino's "Ain't That A Shame", "Save The Last Dance For Me" and Chuck Berry's "Betty Jean" .
*The Iguanas :

The Iguanas, hailing from New Orleans, where Latin and Caribbean music have a long and glorious history of interaction with R&B, blues and jazz, The Iguanas was formed in 1989 by guitarist/accordionist Rod Hodges and Joe Cabral, who alternates between saxophone and a traditional Mexican stringed instrument known as the bajo sexto. The two also share lead vocal duties. Within a few years, the current longtime lineup that includes bassist Rene Coman and drummer Doug Garrison, along with saxophonist Derek Huston, was assembled. The Iguanas emerged as one of the most popular bands in one of the world's most musical cities. Their sound has been described as combining Chicano rock, R&B, Conjunto and various Latin styles into a deep groove.
 
 
1988-03-23 Omni (The), Atlanta, GA

Songinfo

"Betty Jean" is a song by Chuck Berry and appears on the album Rockin' At The Hops (1960) and on the album The Chess Years (1991).
 
 
 

Other cover versions

Bruce on the artist

When Chuck Berry died Bruce tweeted :

"Chuck Berry was rock's greatest practitioner, guitarist, and the greatest pure rock 'n' roll writer who ever lived. This is a tremendous loss of a giant for the ages."

Springsteen and Berry played together on at least two occasions. As back up at the University of Maryland in 1973. Springsteen asked what songs they were going to do. Berry said : " we're going to do some Chuck Berry songs." More than 20 years later, Springsteen again played backup for Berry, at a concert at Cleveland Municipal Stadium, celebrating the opening of the Rock and Roll Music Hall of Fame.
 
Bruce had 3 performances together with Chuck Berry:

1995-09-02 Cleveland Municipal Stadium, Cleveland, OH
The Rock And Roll Hall of Fame inauguration concert
 
 
 
1987-01-21 Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City, NY
The second annual Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony. 

1973-04-28 Cole Field House, University Of Maryland, College Park, MD
One show, triple bill, with Chuck Berry headlining, [Lee Lewis]] second billed and Bruce and the boys opening. A show now steeped in legend. Berry's contract stipulated that it was the promoter's responsibility to supply him with a backing band for this concert. Apparently Bruce learned about a week before the show that the promoter was seeking a group to support Berry and immediately volunteered his band's services for free, which the promoter gladly accepted. There was no rehearsal or soundcheck with Berry, so Bruce and the boys improvised as best they could. The show was Bruce's first known appearance in Maryland. Bruce and the boys opened their part of the show with a 50-minute set, followed by a 60-minute set by Jerry Lee Lewis and his band. Chuck Berry (with Springsteen's entire band backing him, including Bruce and Southside Johnny) closed the evening's festivities with a 70-minute performance. Springsteen recounts some hilarious details in the 1987 Chuck Berry documentary Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll, but does not mention Southside Johnny’s appearance. Fearing that Berry might not want a harp player Bruce positioned Southside in the shadows at the extreme end of the stage. However Berry enjoyed the harp playing and near the end of the show he actually acknowledged Southside to the crowd saying "that white boy can blow, can’t he!" This almost sold out gig in the 15,000 seat Cole Field House was not without some controversy. Such was the demand to see the show that the school newspaper reported that twenty people were arrested when police spotted individuals sneaking into the concert via an open female lavatory window at the back of the building. Apparently 200-300 people made it in before the police caught wind of what was going on. 
 
Watch Bruce tells the story here  
 
List of songs co-credited to Bruce Springsteen and Chuck Berry:
 
   

Lyrics

I love the way you talk (oh yeah Betty Jean)
Speaking little, saying a lot (oh yeah Betty Jean)
I love the way you walk (oh yeah Betty Jean)
Looks like you're dancing but you're not (oh yeah Betty Jean)
I love the way you love (oh yeah Betty Jean)
You give it everything you've got (oh yeah Betty Jean)

Ooh ah oh baby (sing the song Chuckie Boy)
I'm in love with you, whoa! Whoa! (oh yeah Betty Jean)
Whoa oh oh baby (keep it singing Chuckie Boy)
I'm in love with you (oh yeah Betty Jean)
Woah oh baby (keep it singing Chuckie Boy)
Could you love me too? (Oh yeah Betty Jean)

Every time I knock, knock, knock (oh yeah Betty Jean)
I hear you say, "Come in" (oh yeah Betty Jean)
My heart goes a boomp-boomp (oh yeah Betty Jean)
Just to hold you again (oh yeah Betty Jean)
I hear bells ding-a-ling (oh yeah Betty Jean)
'Cause you're the living end (oh yeah Betty Jean)

Ooh ah ooh baby (sing the song Chuckie Boy)
I'm in love with you, whoa! Ha! (Oh yeah Betty Jean)
Ah oh baby (keep it singing Chuckie Boy)
I'm in love with you (oh yeah Betty Jean)
Oh baby (keep it singing Chuckie Boy)
Could you love me too? (Oh yeah Betty Jean)

(Sing the song Chuckie Boy)
(Sing the song Chuckie Boy)

I bet you wouldn't think a dance (oh yeah Betty Jean)
Could start a real romance (oh yeah Betty Jean)
I bet you wouldn't think a kiss (oh yeah Betty Jean)
Could turn me on like this (oh yeah Betty Jean)
Well let me tell you like it was (oh yeah Betty Jean)
Yes it did, yes it does, whoa! (Oh yeah Betty Jean)

Oh Baby (sing the song Chuckie Boy)
I'm in love with you, whoa! (Oh yeah Betty Jean)
Ohhh baby (keep it singing Chuckie Boy)
I'm in love with you (oh yeah Betty Jean)
Oh oh oh baby (keep it singing Chuckie Boy)
Could you love me too? (Oh yeah Betty Jean)

Whoa! Whoa! Baby I'm in love
Whoa! Baby I'm in love in with you
Whoaaa! I'm in love with you
Whoa! Come on baby [fades]