Almost Grown (song) explained

Almost Grown
Cover:	1 chuck almost grown.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Chuck Berry
Album:	Berry Is on Top
B-Side:	Little Queenie
Released:	1959
Recorded:	February 17, 1959
Studio:	Chess (Chicago)^[1]
Genre:	Rock and roll, rhythm & blues
Length:	2:21
Label:	Chess
Producer:	Leonard Chess, Phil Chess

"Almost Grown" is a song written and recorded by Chuck Berry. It was released as a double A-side with "Little Queenie".

Background

The song was released as Chess single 1722,^[2] and was later notable when featured in the 1973 film American Graffiti, and on its soundtrack album.

Recording

The song was recorded on February 17, 1959, at Chess Studios in Chicago, Illinois.

• Chuck Berry, vocals and guitar
• Johnnie Johnson on piano
• Willie Dixon on bass
• Fred Below on drums
• The background vocals on Berry's recording are by Etta James and The Marquees^[3] aka Harvey & the New Moonglows, featuring the young Marvin Gaye.

Chart performance

The song reached number thirty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number three on the Billboard R&B chart.

Chart (1959)	Peak position
US Billboard Hot 100^[4]	32
US Billboard Hot R&B Sides^[5]	3

Covers

• The song was covered by The Animals on their 1963 album of the same name.^[6]
• Australian band Ol' 55 covered the song on their album Take It Greasy (1976).^[7]
• French version by Eddy Mitchell called "C'est la vie, mon chéri" on his album Rocking in Nashville (1974)
• The song has also been covered by The Ivy League and David Bowie

Notes and References

1. Web site: The Chuck Berry Database: Details For Recording Session: 17. 2. 1959. A Collector's Guide to the Music of Chuck Berry . Dietmar Rudolph . 28 September 2021.
2. Berry, Chuck, Chuck Berry: The Anthology, CD, 088 1120304-2, MCA Records, Chess, 2000, liner notes
3. Berry, Chuck, Chuck Berry: The Anthology, CD, 088 1120304-2, MCA Records, Chess, © 2000, liner notes
4. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

   . Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012 . Joel Whitburn . 2013 . Record Research . 77.

5. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004. Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 55.
6. Web site: Almost Grown - The Animals | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic. 26 April 2021. AllMusic.
7. Web site: www.allmusic.com. allmusic.com. December 4, 2022.