SONG & HIT DETAILS
Artist Name: LINDA RONSTADT
Top Position (Australia): 29
Song Author: Chuck Berry
Year Recorded: 1978
Record Label: Asylum
Label Number: E 45519
SONG PROFILE
Back in the U.S.A.
Back in the U.S.A.
Single by Chuck Berry
B-side “Memphis, Tennessee”
Released 1959
Format 7″ single
“Back in the U.S.A.” is a song by Chuck Berry, which was first issued in 1959 as a single a-side and on Berry’s 1962 album More Chuck Berry, (both Chess Records).
The song’s lyrics were supposedly written based upon Berry returning to the USA following a trip to Australia and witnessing the living standards of Australian Aborigines.
The song has been recorded by many artists. MC5 covered the song in 1970 on their second album, also titled Back in the USA.
In 1972, a live version of the song appeared on the album Roadwork by Edgar Winter’s White Trash. The song was covered by Jonathan Richman and the Modern Lovers in 1976 on their self-titled second album.
The song received its biggest commercial success when Linda Ronstadt included it in her 1978 double platinum album Living in the USA.
The single reached #16 on the Billboard 100 Pop singles chart.
Ronstadt performed the song with Berry and Keith Richards in the feature film, Hail! Hail! Rock ‘n’ Roll.
Gene Summers included “Back In The USA” on his 1983 album ‘Live’ In Scandinavia, and he has also used the song as his opening number on numerous occasions.[citation needed] (see references)
Back in the USA was famously parodied by The Beatles with their song Back in the U.S.S.R. from their self-titled 1968 album The Beatles (aka the White Album).