Johnny Rivers Guitar Songs – His Greatest Hits You Can Learn

From the smooth groove of Summer Rain to the iconic riff of Secret Agent Man, these lessons will walk you through the chords, rhythm, and feel of each tune.

Whether you're jamming solo or performing for friends, Rivers' songs blend classic rock, blues, and pop — perfect for acoustic guitar players of all levels.

7th Son is not a song by Johnny Rivers. The song "The Seventh Son," is actually a blues song written by Willie Dixon and recorded by various artists. It was first released by Willie Mabon in 1955 and has since been covered by numerous musicians, including Johnny Rivers.

Johnny Rivers included a rendition of "The Seventh Son" on his album "Meanwhile Back at the Whisky à Go Go," released in 1965. However, it's important to note that the song did not chart as a single for Johnny Rivers.

"The Seventh Son" is a blues standard that revolves around the superstition of the seventh son of a seventh son possessing special powers and abilities.

500 Miles is featured on Johnny Rivers' album "Johnny Rivers Rocks The Folk," released in 1965. The album showcased Rivers' folk-influenced style and included covers of various popular folk songs.

The song "500 Miles" was written by Hedy West, an American folk singer-songwriter. Her original version of the song was recorded and released in 1961.

Johnny Rivers' rendition of "500 Miles" did not chart as a single. However, the song gained popularity among folk music enthusiasts and fans of Johnny Rivers' music

Baby I Need Your Lovin is a popular song written by Holland-Dozier-Holland, a renowned songwriting and production team. The song was originally recorded and released by The Four Tops in 1964. Johnny Rivers included his own version of the song on his album "In Action!" in 1964.

Johnny Rivers' rendition of "Baby I Need Your Lovin'" did not chart as a single. However, it showcased Rivers' talent for covering and interpreting songs with his distinctive style.

Memphis Tennessee was written by Chuck Berry, a legendary American rock and roll musician, and it was first released by Berry himself in 1959. Johnny Rivers included his own version of "Memphis" on his album "Johnny Rivers at the Whisky à Go Go," which was released in 1964.

Johnny Rivers' rendition of "Memphis" became a major hit for him. It reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1964 and solidified Rivers' popularity during that time.

The song showcases Rivers' energetic vocal delivery and his ability to infuse his own style into a classic rock and roll track.

Poor Side of Town was written by Johnny Rivers himself, along with producer Lou Adler. It was released as a single in 1966 and also included on Johnny Rivers' album of the same name, "Poor Side of Town."

The song achieved significant success on the charts, reaching the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. It became Johnny Rivers' biggest hit and is often regarded as one of his signature songs.

"Poor Side of Town" is a poignant ballad that tells the story of a person who finds themselves in a place of poverty and despair.

Secret Agent Man was written by P.F. Sloan and Steve Barri. It was recorded by Johnny Rivers and released as a single in 1966. The song was also included on his album "...And I Know You Wanna Dance."

"Secret Agent Man" achieved chart success, reaching number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1966. It became one of Johnny Rivers' biggest hits and has since become an iconic spy-themed song.

The song is about a fictional secret agent who undertakes dangerous missions while living a double life.

Slow Dancing was written by Johnny Rivers and Hal David. It was released as a single in 1977 and also included on Johnny Rivers' album "Outside Help."

While "Slow Dancing" did not reach the same chart success as some of Rivers' earlier hits, it still managed to make a modest impact, peaking at number 51 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977.

The song "Slow Dancing" is about the intimate and tender experience of slow dancing with a loved one.

Summer Rain was written by James Hendricks and performed by Johnny Rivers. It was released as a single in 1967 and later included on his album "Rewind" released the same year.

The song achieved significant chart success, peaking at number 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1968. It remains one of Johnny Rivers' notable hits.

"Summer Rain" tells a nostalgic story of a summer romance. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of a brief but intense love affair that takes place during a summer season.

The Tracks of My Tears was originally written by Smokey Robinson, Warren "Pete" Moore, and Marv Tarplin, and it was first recorded and released by The Miracles in 1965. Johnny Rivers covered the song for his album "Rewind," released in 1967.

While Johnny Rivers' version of "The Tracks of My Tears" is highly regarded, it did not achieve significant chart success as a single. However, the song has become a beloved classic and is recognized as one of Smokey Robinson's signature compositions.

"The Tracks of My Tears" is a soulful and introspective ballad that explores the theme of hidden sorrow behind a seemingly cheerful facade.