Blog Archives
Chuck Berry – Blues
It’s really easy to think of Chuck Berry’s hits and leave it at that. There were so many of them!
But he was on Chess Records, and what were they known for? Blues. This 1983 compilation shows off his incredible skills as a guitarist and vocalist playing the songs of others (and 6 of his own).
Essential!
Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode
My copy’s cover is cleaner than the one from this Discogs image!
This 1972 compilation LP is redundant in my collection. All of the songs here are found on The Great Twenty-Eight.
Oh darn, I had to hear them all again. Oh, the humanity…
So, do I need it? No.
Will I keep it? Yes.
Why? Because Chuck Berry. Because LP. Because awesome.
Glory!
Tracks:
Side A: Johnny B. Goode / Memphis, Tennessee / Roll Over Beethoven / Swet Little Sixteen / School Days
Side B: Maybelline / Reelin’ & Rocking / Rock And Roll Music / Back In The U.S.A.
Chuck Berry – The Great Twenty-Eight
Bedrock.
Immutable, solid, part of the landscape and just always there.
Same goes for this album.
28 of the most important, fundamental rock and roll tunes ever written, a template.
You feel it, in your bones: this is one of the gateways.
Rest here, weary traveller, and find all you need to restore, repair, and rock.
It lives and breathes, still. Always.
Full album:
Chuck Berry – The Great Twenty-Eight
Incendiary.
Indelible.
Incredible.
Inimitable.
Classic.
Look:
Maybellene / Thirty Days / You Can’t Catch Me / Too Much Monkey Business / Brown-Eyed Handsome Man / Roll Over Beethoven / Havana Moon / School Days / Rock And Roll Music / Oh Baby Doll / Reelin’ & Rockin’ / Sweet Little Sixteen / Johnny B. Goode / Around And Around / Carol / Beautiful Delilah / Memphis / Sweet Little Rock And Roller / Little Queenie / Almost Grown / Back In The USA / Let It Rock / Bye Bye Johnny / I’m Talking About You / Come On / Nadine / No Particular Place To Go / I Want To Be Your Driver
We know these songs so well, maybe even take them for granted. We shouldn’t. Put yourself back in the timeframe, back when this was fresh, and realize how much this matters. Every note. Every strut. Every song.
If you have any further questions, I cannot help you. Seriously. This is the real thing.
