Which Chuck Berry song is included on the Voyager Golden Record?

Which Chuck Berry song is included on the Voyager Golden Record? The answer is “Johnny B. Goode.” Chuck Berry’s 1958 rock-and-roll hit was selected for the music compilation carried by both Voyager spacecraft.

The Voyager Golden Record was assembled in 1977 under the direction of a committee chaired by Carl Sagan. Its contents were intended as a time capsule of Earth, combining spoken greetings, natural sounds, music, photographs, and diagrams for any discoverer who might encounter the spacecraft.

“Johnny B. Goode” represents early American rock and roll and its electric-guitar tradition. The record also includes music from many other cultures and eras, including classical works, folk traditions, Indian ragas, and East Asian pieces. A common mix-up is assuming the record contains only classical or orchestral music; Berry’s song is its best-known popular-music selection.

Both Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 carry identical golden records. They were launched in 1977 and are now traveling far beyond the outer planets, making the song part of one of humanity’s most distant cultural messages.