"Rock and Roll Music" was met with instant success, reaching the top 10 in the United States.

[3] Backing Berry were Lafayette Leake (piano), Willie Dixon (bass), and Fred Below (drums).

[4] In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked Berry's version number 128 on its list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".

In contrast to Berry's even-toned rendition, Lennon sang it as loudly and dynamically as his voice would permit.

The original Beatles for Sale liner notes, by Derek Taylor, state that "George Martin joins John and Paul on one piano", implying an overdub by all three that was added after the basic take.

[9] In some countries, "Rock and Roll Music" was released as a single, with "I'm a Loser" as the B-side, in early 1965.