Piano Lessons

Why do some songs reach the pinnacle of rock greatness and soar into the stratosphere to become classics? In the case of this week’s selection, China Grove by the Doobie Brothers, it is the opening riff, an explosion of energy that hooks the listener from the first bar to the last.
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Released in March of 1973 on the double platinum album, The Captain and Me, China Grove reached 15 on the charts, while the album climbed to 7 and included the Doobie Brothers staples, Long Train Runnin and Without You. Produced by Ted Templeman who also produced the guitar heavy favorites, Van Halen, China Grove features three guitars (Tom Johnston, Patrick Simmons, and Jeffrey "Skunk" Baxter), two drummers (John Hartman and Michael Hossack), Tiran Porter on bass, Ted Templeman on Percussion and Bill Payne on piano. Bill Payne came up with the famous riff on piano and Tommy Johntson added the lyrics after Templeman suggested an oriental twist to match the vibe of the song. China Grove is actually a small roadside town near San Antonio Texas, Johnston says he made the words up and only discovered the town actually existed later. Johnston states he probably had previously seen a road sign for the town and had forgotten. The lyrics themselves are a diversion from reality, they depict a Texas town defended by a samurai sword wielding sheriff and his posse, but it is pure fantasy.. The lyrics, however, are not why this song rocks, this song rocks because the riff flies out of your speakers at mach 5, the chords are electric bliss, a train thundering down the tracks, crackling the airwaves with instant urgency and unbridled energy. No wonder this song is featured on video games like; Guitar Hero, Rock Band 3, Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City and Karaoke Revolution Vol. 3 and in television shows such as, The Simpsons, House and Entourage. China Grove has become part of American mainstream culture and a rock and roll classic. As for the Doobie Brothers, they recently released their new album, World Gone Crazy, celebrating 40 years of heavy rock, funk, blues, and country-boogie flavored musical magic.

This song is a four-to-the-floor rocker. Get your left hand working smoothly so you can rock out with the right hand. And master the lick in the intro. Your friends will know this song after you play the first two notes.

Written by Tom Johnston
Administered by Warner Chappell
All Rights Reserved   Used by Permission

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