Tuesday, January 31. 2023
Lonely School Days - the variants explained
Sometimes a second recording was made for commercial reasons, e.g. when a new record company tried to generate additional income from old songs. A typical example is Roll Over Beethoven, initially recorded in 1956 in Chicago for Chess Records, re-recorded 1966 in Clayton for Mercury Records.
Sometimes a second recording was made for artistic reasons when Berry tried to make a song sound better or at least different. See for instance Havana Moon, initially recorded in 1956, then in 1979, and finally in the late 1990s.
In addition, songs evolve over time during the recording process itself until a final version pleases both artist and company. See for instance the song recorded as 21 (Twenty-One) of which some studio tapes survived. There are fairly different variants until a final result was reached and published under the title Vacation Time.
Lonely School Days is another song which evolved over time. One surviving variant has been recorded in late 1964 and released on the back of Chess single 1926, Dear Dad, published in March 1965. This variant is a slow, emotional song. It can be easily identified by the prominent use of a sax, probably played by Bill Hamilton. This variant is almost three minutes long and commonly referred to as the "Slow Version".
B side of CHESS single 1926 (DJ Copy)
Somebody really liked this song. Just one and a half years later it made it again to the song list of a recording session. In the spring of 1966, a second variant of Lonely School Days was cut. This time it had no sax, but more guitars. Most importantly it was much more rocking, played much faster. Singing the same song at much higher speed reduces the run length to a little over 2:30 minutes.
Surprisingly, this "Fast Version" immediately was used again as the B side of a Chess single. Chess 1963 having Ramona, Say Yes on the plug side was released in June 1966. So we have two Chess singles, released not far apart, having the same song in two different versions.
B side of CHESS single 1963 (DJ Copy)
Soon after the release of the second single, Chuck Berry left Chess Records to work for Mercury. The "Slow Version" never made it to a contemporary album. Only in the late eighties and nineties it was found on some rare LP albums.
However, the "Fast Version" was included on an official Chess album: San Francisco Dues (Chess 50008) was published in 1971, five years after the song's initial release. Berry had returned to Chess and to fill his second new album a few recordings were added which had not made it to LPs before. Interestingly the LP contained a Stereo mix of the "Fast Version" while both singles had been in Mono - as were all Chess singles in the 1960s.
This is the track listing from the back of San Francisco Dues (Chess 50008) containing the Stereo mix of the shorter, fast version.
Remember: San Francisco Dues contained the Stereo mix of the "Fast Version". Simple, isn't it?
However, who listens to Vinyl albums any more? If you listen to San Francisco Dues from one of the streaming services, Lonely School Days isn't fast at all. Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube all play the "Slow Version" as part of San Francisco Dues. Due to this a reader recently emailed and wanted us to correct our database of all Chuck Berry recordings. We are happy for every hint or correction, but here we refused to do any changes, as our listing is correct!
How can it happen that online services play the wrong song - all of them alike? This is due to how they get their playing lists. Record labels such as Universal provide the streaming platforms with the files to play. If the record company is in error, so are all their customers.
We assume that this specific error was introduced as early as 2013. That year Universal in the U.S. published a CD re-release of San Francisco Dues (Geffen GET-54058-CD). And on this re-release they included the wrong variant of Lonely School Days. Morten Reff noticed this and complained about it in his review on this blog soon thereafter. It was not the only thing to complain about: Over and over on label, box, and booklet the company managed to spell "San Fransisco" with an s! One really has to wonder about quality control at Universal.
This is the track listing from the back of Geffen's CD re-issue of San Francisco Dues (Geffen GET-54058-CD) containing the wrong version. Note the mis-spelling of San Francisco and the missing run lengths.
Universal in Japan did a much better job with their re-release of San Francisco Dues (Geffen UICY-94635). They not only included the correct "Fast Version" where it belonged, they also added three bonus tracks: the "Slow Version" in Mono and two different mixes of Ramona, Say Yes.
Moral of the story: In today's digital world errors reproduce fast and are hard to correct. Always double-check with a reliable source.
Many thanks to reader Andy for pointing us to the error in the streaming services - though not for complaining about our database
[Addition by reader Andy: "I should mention that my initial email was actually a failed attempt at correction rather than a complaint. Why would I ever complain about so meticulous and thorough a database regarding one of my favorite artists? Keep up the good work."]
Sunday, January 29. 2023
An Interview with Johnnie Johnson - 1987
This site's contributor Morten Reff and the Berry fans Johan Hasselberg and Thomas Einarsson had the opportunity to talk to Johnnie Johnson, long-time partner and pianist for Chuck Berry. Thanks to Morten and Johan we can reprint the questions and answers.
Left to right: Morten Reff, Johnnie Johnson, Thomas Einarsson, Johan Hasselberg, and Herman Jackson at the Park Hotel in Båstad, Sweden, July 5, 1987. Herman was Chuck Berry's drummer during the summer 1987 tour. Thomas had done a painting by Chuck Berry that he handed over to Johnnie Johnson.
Photo: Carl Hasselberg
The interview is made over a cup of coffee at the hotel's outdoor seating. Johnnie takes a big chunk of coffee and starts telling about himself:
I was born in West Virginia on July 8, 1924. When I went to school I played piano, drums, and bass. But piano was my main instrument. I was in a High School band until 1943, when I started my military service at the navy. When I pulled out in 1946, I started my first own band. In 1949 I moved to Chicago, and then on to St. Louis.
DID YOU PLAY MOSTLY RHYTHM & BLUES?
Well, most of the time there were nothing but standard songs, such as "Stardust", "Body and Soul", Sunny Side of the Street", or whatever. It was before this rhythm & blues breakthrough.
WHAT PIANISTS DID YOU LISTEN TO AT THIS TIME?
I'm a Oscar Peterson-fantast. Yeah! Oscar Peterson, Errol Garner, and Pete Johnson. Pete Johnson was my first favorite. It was late 1930's and 1940's. I used to play a Pete Johnson song, called "627 Stomp". That was my signature then.
HOW DID YOU TO GET IN CONTACT WITH CHUCK BERRY?
I heard him at a club in East St. Louis called Hoff's Garden. I liked the way he played the guitar. One evening when I was playing, my saxophonist became ill. I called Chuck and asked if he could have the possibility to play the guitar. And he said, "sure, I can play". He came home to me and we played through the songs and then we drove to the show.
Chuck Berry in concert, Norrvikens Trädgårdar, Båstad, Sweden, July 5, 1987
Photo: Johan Hasselberg
WHO PLAYED THE SAXOPHONE IN THE JOHNNIE JOHNSON TRIO?
His name was Alvin Bennett. But it was only until 1954. Now he is paralyzed. He can't even... yes, you know.
WAS IT A BASS PLAYER IN THE BAND?
No, it was drums, piano, and saxophone, and then guitar when Chuck came along. We played most at Club Cosmopolitan in East St. Louis. Ebbie Hardy, who played drums, suffered a heart attack and died a few years ago (1983).
CHANGED THE BAND NAME WHEN CHUCK CAME?
No, it was still called The Johnnie Johnson Trio. It was only when Chuck went to Chicago and met Leonard Chess we renamed the band. We recorded the single "Maybellene" and Chuck said, "Johnnie, is it okay that I call it The Chuck Berry Combo?". I said, "Of course, you paid the gas to Chicago", and then it became The Chuck Berry Combo.
Left to right: Chuck Berry, George French, Johnnie Johnson in concert, Norrvikens Trädgårdar, Båstad, Sweden, July 5, 1987
Photo: Bo Berglind
YOU PLAY A MELODY ON THE PIANO ON MANY OF CHUCK BERRY'S SONGS.
That's what Chuck Berry wanted me to play. I play as I feel so everything rolls smoothly, just like ice cream on a cream cake!
IT WORKS AS A SOLO INSTRUMENT.
That's right and that's what Chuck Berry likes with my pianoplaying. That's why he doesn't like someone else's pianoplaying than mine! Let me give a good example. Chuck and I have recorded some songs that have not been released. For example, Frog's "Good Times Boogie" and "Honky Tonk Train". It was in the 1950's. It was my music style, but Chuck and I could play together and it sounded like Chuck Berry's music. Chuck is still playing some jazz, as for example, "Jazz at the Philharmonic". He plays all kinds of music!
DO YOU STILL PLAY IN THE CLUBS IN ST. LOUIS?
Yes, three nights a week.
DO YOU PLAY ALONE OR DO YOU HAVE A BAND?
I have a band called Johnnie Johnson & The Magnificent Four, and when Chuck comes to town he plays with us.
WHAT REPERTOIRE DO YOU HAVE?
There are blues, jazz, rhythm & blues, and usually rock when Chuck visit us.
DO YOU EVEN SING?
No, no, I can always talk, but do not sing!
YOU HAVE BEEN AWARDED A DISTINCTION AT ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME.
Yes, I was chosen as the fourth biggest rock'n'roll pianist throughout the ages. It was Fats Domino, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, and myself. I didn't know about it, but they sent me a magazine afterwards.
THANK YOU, JOHNNIE !!
Thank you, I hope to see you again!
And, Johan tells, they met again: "Johnnie gave me his address and two years later I greeted him in St. Louis, and listened to Johnnie Johnson & The Magnificent Four."
Many thanks to Morten and Johan for sharing these memories with us!
Thursday, January 12. 2023
Chuck Berry: An American Life - by RJ Smith
“What we have is more interesting. A choice of threading through the details of his life or working around them completely – your call! - and simply hearing him. To pull the joy and poetry out of the music he created and have it take us where it wants to go – not where he went. To live our lives with it, and not live his life. That’s a lot.”
As the creators of this website we have made our choice a long time ago. These pages here are about the music of Chuck Berry and only about his music. We do not discuss any other aspects of Berry‘s life in this blog or on the main page. For us there were at least two very good reasons for this decision. For one, we are deeply convinced that Berry‘s music is much more entertaining than his criminal, sexual and business affairs. And secondly we think that with recordings and records we have at least a small factual base to build our research upon. RJ Smith in his new „Chuck Berry: An American Life“ decided to concentrate on all the other stuff instead.
Chuck Berry was a control freak, a sex maniac and business-wise everything but a nice person. His criminal records included armed robbery, tax evasion, and what we would call today child abuse, plus many more. All this is no new news. We have read about these in newspapers and books as well as all over the Internet.
RJ Smith quotes Berry saying he wants the people to tell the truth about him. But there are many truths. There is the truth about a strange man with a weird character and perverse habits. But there also is the truth about the musical artist whose output had a huge impact on what became popular music during the last 70 years.
It might have been interesting to discuss Berry’s personality from a psychological perspective. Or it might have been interesting to analyze how this pathological mindset affected Berry‘s music or lyrics.
None of this you will find in this book, though. Instead RJ Smith has taken a huge effort to document Berry‘s failings. Most has been known before and is documented in detail e.g. in Bruce Pegg‘s excellent biography. Smith dug even deeper into court documents and he tried to get quotes from witnesses not published before. However, most of the contents is a simple repetition from old sources such as Berry’s own autobiography – even repeating errors included.
Where Smith’s book enhances the previously published biographies is the coverage of Berry’s last years. That’s the advantage of a biographer who waits until his subject has deceased. So here we get a few additional pages about his latest tours, the release of his last record, and we learn how his family declared Berry incompetent.
Smith in many aspects tries to write a different biography and succeeds in doing so. He completely concentrates on Berry’s personal and business matters, almost ignoring his musical work. Only for one song Smith reserves a complete chapter: My Ding-A-Ling. And again the author accomplishes something different as this song was left out of any serious discussion about Berry’s œuvre so far.
One peculiarity of this text is a bit confusing for European readers: All over the book RJ Smith tries to find arguments to justify Berry’s behavior as a result of black versus white America. As being no part of the American society, we are not qualified to judge on RJ’s findings. From a musical point-of-view I think it is a bit far fetched to locate racially related hints in the lyrics of e.g. Promised Land.
Is this a book you want to read? If you love Chuck Berry, don’t do it. If you are interested in Chuck Berry’s music, there’s nothing to gain from reading it. But if you want to learn about Berry’s porn collection or any other aspect of his life, there’s almost too much information in “Chuck Berry: An American Life”. But in the end it definitely is “your call”: a choice of threading through the details of his life or working around them completely.
“Chuck Berry: An American Life” by RJ Smith (Hachette Books, ISBN 978-0-306-92163-6) is available in every better book store near you.
Wednesday, January 11. 2023
CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 8
CBID is never complete as new records and CDs appear and some old rarities are discovered. This section presents interesting additions and corrections to CBID.
Today: The more you browse the Internet, the more cover versions you find. Here's another list of artists and band playing Chuck Berry's music. This time all new entries start with the letter M [continued]
MADHOUSE (Sweden)
Early ‘80s rock band produced by a.o. Dr. John and Willy DeVille. Members: Anders Kraft, Bengt Kirschon, Björn Gideonsson, Christian Falk and Gabbe Gabrielsson.
Nadine (4:10) 1982
12” EP: Private Hell 36 [Sound Of Scandinavia SOSM-1136] ● Sweden, 1982
MARCE & CHEMA (Spain)
Latino pop duo with a little rock in them. They usually sing in Spanish but I haven’t heard the Berry medley so I can’t verify.
Rockmania medley: Johnny B. Goode / Carol / Memphis, Tennessee / Nadine / Roll Over Beethoven / Rock And Roll Music (8:30) 1979
LP: Ganador [Reflejo 10C 062-062.888] ● Spain, 1979 (promo)
MC: Ganador [Reflejo 10C 262 062 888] ● Spain, 1979
LASSE MÅRTENSON (Finland)
Lars Anders Fredrik Mårtenson, popsinger, songwriter, musician and actor, born 1934 in Helsinki. His first single came out in 1962, and many more followed. Several albums since 1966. He died in 2016.
Memphis, Tennessee [as “Saanko Turkuun, Naapuriin”] ( : ) 1966
LP: Lasse [RCA Victor LPM-10071] ● Finland, 1966
MARTÒ & THE JUDAS (Italy)
Giancarlo Martelli, pop/rock singer. Seems like he had a great hit in Italy with “Hey Joe” in 1967. Performed in Italian.
Bye Bye Johnny [as “Bie Bie Johnny!!!”] (1:40) 1966
LP: Lost And Found [Discoverix DSX-33001] Italy, 1991
Limited edition 500 copies. Previously unissued. I am always skeptical to such short versions. It’s almost over before it starts.
MAYBERRIES (UK)
Rock sextet based in Mayfield, East Sussex fronted by lead singer John Murray. They play rock’n’roll, blues and soul and are gigging in Mayfield and the surrounding area. They recorded some demo tracks back in July 2018.
Little Queenie (3:22) 2022
70th Jubilee Edition for streaming on all platforms and a special You Tube video
Yes I know, this is not the way this list usually goes. But this was recorded to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. The video was produced incorporating classic photographs and clips from the queen’s reign and artwork by local primary school children. And best of all, 100 per cent of the proceeds from the song will go to help seriously ill children from across the UK treated at Great Osmond Street Hospital.
PETE MacDONALD & THE COUNTRY GENTLEMEN (Canada)
Country music singer, songwriter and guitarist from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Leader of The Country Gentlemen.
Memphis, Tennessee [as “Memphis”] (2.17) 1968
LP: Pete MacDonald And The Country Gentlemen [Banff SBS-5330] ● Canada, 1967
LP: Pete MacDonald And The Country Gentlemen [Rodeo Int. SRLP-7112] ● Canada, 1968
Recorded at Stereo Sound Studios, Montreal, P.Q. One side is instrumental and one side vocals (“Memphis”).
ALI McGREGOR (Australia)
Born 1974 in Melbourne, Victoria. Soprano opera singer, actress and cabaret performer.
Run Rudolph Run (3:22) 2015
CD: A Very Jazzamatazz Christmas [ABC Music (Universal) 4729008 ] ● Australia, 2015
Can’t say it sounded so very jazzy (unfortunately) despite featuring a horn section. More like a “soul” version except her voice is not.
MEDECIN’E (France)
Rock’n’roll quartet.
Beautiful Delilah (2:06) 2004
I’m Talking About You [as “Talkin’ Bout You”] (2:21) 2004
Nadine (3:55) 2004
CD: Rock Therapy [Caducée Records CD-004] ● France, 2004
They also do “Route 66” credited to Chuck Berry(!), sorry Bobby.
MEFISTO (Czechoslovakia)
See Volume 3, page 1359 (Mefistos) for biographical info. Also this blog for correct info regarding the band name.
Rock And Roll Music (2:19) 2003
Sweet Little Sixteen (3:16) 2003
CD: Mefisto Rock’n’Roll Vol. 2 [Areca Multimedia AM 80215-2] ● Czech Replublic, 2004
Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 1989 (live)
Little Queenie ( : ) 1989 (live)
Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 1989 (live)
Sweet Little Sixteen ( : ) 1989 (live)
2 CD: Mefisto Stoy 1964-1992 [Saturn KK-0353-2] ● Czech Replublic, 2011
Recorded live at KD Eden, Praha 26 October 1989. Here they also do a live version of the instrumental tribute “I Like Chuck Berry” between Johnny B. and Queenie.
Reelin’ And Rockin’ ( : ) 1992 (live)
2 CD: Mefisto Stoy 1964-1992 [Saturn KK-0353-2] ● Czech Replublic, 2011
Recorded live at Letni Kino, Praha 3 May 1992.
MEK & THE X-MAX PEKS (Denmark)
Ole Ballund aka Mek Pek (vocals), Mika Vandborg (guitar), Kim Nekroman (bass), Jens Daugaard (drums).
Run Rudolph Run (2:36) 2000
CD: Mek & The X.Mas Peks [Kick Music KICKCD-118] ● Denmark, 2000
A little heavy rockabilly rendition of this classic.
EDDIE MESA With THE HI-JACKS (Philippines)
Eduardo de Mesa Eigenmann was born in 1940. As Eddie Mesa he’s known as a Filipino singer and actor. He was at a time famous as “the Elvis Presley of the Philippines” because of his impersonation of the man. Later on he moved to the USA and eventually saw the light...
Roll Over Beethoven (2:21) 1970
45: Scoop Records SP-116 ● Philippines, 1970
RAPHAEL MEYNER & The Sleep Workers (West Germany)
Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 1971
45: Life Records St 71 310 ● West Germany, 1971
It’s not easy when you find absolutely nothing about this artist on the net.
MIKO (Japan)
Mieko Hirota, female singer who was born in Tokyo 1947, died in 2020. She was very popular and regarded as a dynamic and great singer. Her first album came in 1961 and she’s had a lot of them throughout the years.
Rock And Roll Music ( : ) 1971
2-LP: Rock Rock [Columbia JPW-37-38] ● Japan, 1971
Not sure if she sings in English or Japanese on this one.
MIRABELLO 3 (Italy)
Pop trio, one girl, two boys. But they have additional musicians on board.
Rock And Roll Music [Italian lyrics] (2:28) 1977
LP: Chi Porta Giù Questo Cane? [Intingo ITLM-14501] ● Italy, 1977
MIRROR IMAGE ( USA)
Back In The USA (2:54) 1980
LP: Performs The Songs Of Linda Ronstadt [Pickwick SPC-3745] ● USA, 1980
The more correct title here would have been Performs The Hits Of … Anyway, if you look at the entry by Platinum Players on this blog performing Back In The USA, released on a Pickwick LP in ’79, it wouldn’t surprise me if it is actually the same version. Although I don’t know for sure as I haven’t heard either one. Do I really have to?
MISSING MOONLIGHTERS (USA)
Actually called The Moonlighters, who had an album out in 1977 and another in 1983. Country-rock group, led by vocalist and guitarist Bill Kirchen (page 1292).
Let It Rock (3:36) mid 1980s (live)
Oh What A Thrill (4:05) mid 1980s (live)
2-CD: Live / Studio Closet Tapes [Globe Records GLO-037] ● USA, 2008
All tracks are previously unissued. The studio ones were recorded at various places in California. And the live ones? Well it was recorded at various night clubs in the San Francisco Bay area, but nothing is mentioned when it happened? Irritating. However, “Let It Rock” is a good country-rock version with solid bass and beat and after 2 minutes with an interesting interlude. “Oh What A Thrill” works just as good. You can listen to the entire album on You Tube.
MISSING SOULS (France)
Beat/soul band from Lyon. Ian Kapoudjian (guitar, vocals), Ricky Bilbao (organ, bass), Zaza Sharps (vocals, bass, tambourine), Lester Mizzi (drums).
I’m Talking About You (2:02) 2015
LP/CD: The Missing Souls [Dangerhouse Skylab DSL-009] ● France, 2016
ELIZABETH MITCHELL (USA)
Multi-instrumentalist, it seems she plays any kind of everything with a sound to it. Looking at the amount of musicians who participated on the album below, it would probably take a page. The whole album is aimed at children.
School Day (3:43) 2006-2009
CD: Sunny Day [Smithsonian Folkways SFW CD-45064] ● USA, 2010
Recorded 2006–2009 at On-Me Sound, Mount Tremper, New York. The vocals on the Berry track is by Charlotte Constan. She’s also singing on “Mystery Train”, the other only rock’n’roll song included on the album. Good education for children nevertheless.
MOHAIR SWEETS (Canada)
Colin Bryce, singer, songwriter, keyboardist, guitarist. Russ Kroeker ( bass) and Greg Gardner (drums). Bryce is regarded as being punk-rocker from the late ‘70s and from 1997-2007 the man behind Mohair Sweets print and webzine. As far as I can tell they have five CD EPs out from 2014-2018.
You Never Can Tell ( : ) 2017
CD EP: The Ronnie Lane Tribute EP [Mohair Sweets Mohair #03] ● Canada, 2017
Well, Ronnie Lane himself did perform this song on almost all of his concerts, so people connected to his music think it is a proper choice to include this Berry classic. (See Ronnie Lane on page 1305)
MONTE CARLOS (USA)
Country-rock quintet, Billy Cioffi (vocals, guitars), Michael Clark (vocals, keyboards), Philip Krawzak (saxophone), Will MacGregor (bass), Kirk Arthur Trachsel (drums).
You Can’t Catch Me (3:24) 1994
CD: Monte Carlos [B.T. Puppy Records BTP-055222-2] ● USA, 1994
MONTROSE (USA)
1970s hard rock band from California led by founding member Ronnie Montrose. They had four albums out on Warner Bros. from 1973 to 1976.
Roll Over Beethoven (3:39) 1974
2-CD: Paper Money [Warner Brothers R2 557788] ● USA, 2017 (DeLuxe Edition)
CD 1 is the original “Paper Money” LP from 1974. CD 2 contains a previously unissued (incl. R.O.B.) KSAN Radio Session, Record Plant, Sausalito, California, 26 December 1974.
MOODY BROTHERS (USA)
We already have this group on the blog, however, I have added this new cover.
Run Rudolph Run (2:43) 1987
CD: Home For The Holidays [Intersound Digital CHD-1502] ● Canada, 1991
Recorded at Lamon Sound Studios, Charlotte, North Carolina in October 1987.
GARY MOORE (UK)
See Volume 3, page 1373 for biographical info.
Thirty Days (3:15) 2007 (live)
CD: Live At Bush Hall 2007 [Eagle Records ER-203672] ● USA, 2014
This album was released all over EU, Australia and Japan. Later re-issued in EU on a 2-LP set in 2019. I like this live version better than the studio one.
R. STEVIE MOORE (USA)
Robert Steven Moore, born 1952 in Nashville. Son of Bob Moore, the famous studio bass player. Stevie is sometimes called the Godfather of Home Recording and one of the most recognized of the cassette underground. Rumor has it that he has
recorded around 400 (yes four hundred) self-released albums, but also several albums released on various labels (mostly compilations).
Havana Moon (3:03) 2016
CD: Lids & Blankets: A Covers Collection Vol.1 [Stevie Moore self-released] ● USA, 2016
Ok, but a little predictable and boring.
MOTIFS (UK)
Obscure Liverpool beat group active on Merseyside during the 1960s. A trio formed by former members of The Del Renas.
All Aboard ( : ) 1963
Various CD: Beat Waves ‘Cross The Mersey Vol. 2 [Merseyside Records Me-1002] ● UK, 2012
Previously unissued. Recorded 1963, so this will have to be the very first cover of this rather obscure Berry song, first available on the “Chuck Berry On Stage” album that came out in England October 1963.
Tuesday, January 10. 2023
CBID - Sounding like Chuck Berry
CBID is never complete as new records and CDs appear and some old rarities are discovered. This section presents interesting additions and corrections to CBID.
Today: Here is a little info about newly discovered Soundalikes which are not mentioned in Volume 4:
AC/DC (Australia)
See Volume 3, page 1032 for biographical info.
Rocker [Angus Young, Malcolm Young, Bon Scott] (2:54) 1975
CD: Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap [Atlantic K-50323] ● UK, 1976
Well this is done in rapid speed, too rapid for my taste. Anyway, Berry guitar in both the rhythm section and solos, I am a rocker, I’m a roller… The original Australian LP didn’t include this track.
MARC BRISTOL & The Shack Shakers (USA)
Multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter and editor of fab-mag Blue Suede News, from Seattle. Regarding the soundalike below he says that he checked Vol.4 of CBID to see if this particular song was included, and said that he will have to wait for Vol.5 (it’ll never happen!) But to compensate a little it’s finally here on this blog in four versions. Sorry for the delay Marc.
Sucker For A Cheap Guitar (Marc Bristol) (3:29) 1989
MC: Fresh Rockabilly [Moon Record Company no cat. #] ● USA, 1989
Record company out of Cleveland, Ohio.
Sucker For A Cheap Guitar (Marc Bristol) (3:38) 1995 (live)
CD: Rockabilly Rhythm & Blues [King Noodle KN-1015CD] ● USA, 2003
Recorded live at the Tractor Tavern, Seattle, “Rockabilly Hell Night”, 27 October ‘95. Both versions above has a very good rockabilly sound, maybe not so much Berry riffs but still very Berry in the verses.
FILÉ GUMBO featuring MARC BRISTOL (USA)
Sucker For A Cheap Guitar (Marc Bristol) (3:29) 1994
CD: Big Big Love [King Noodle KN-1012CD] ● USA, 1994
Here it is zydeco music with washboard (by Marc Bristol) and accordion.
Also recorded by Ronnie Dawson (see Vol. 4 page 1794) on the album “Just Rockin’ and Rollin’” Upstart Records CD-032 (USA) and No Hit Records NOHIT-019 (UK) 1996. A solid rockin’ version.
GARY CLARK Jr. (USA)
Vocalist, guitarist and actor, born 1984 in Austin, Texas.
Travis Country [Gary Clark Jr.] (3:38) 2012
CD: Blak And Blu [Warner Records 531981-2] ● USA, 2012
This is a direct influence of listening to Berry’s music. Berry rhythm and especially the guitar solo played by Clark himself.
MOTT THE HOOPLE (UK)
Glam rock band who was active from 1969. Original line-up: Ian Hunter (vocals), Mick Ralphs (guitar), Pete Watts (bass) and Dale Griffin (drums).
Walkin’ With a Mountain [Ian Hunter] (3:52) 1970
CD: Mad Shadows [Island Records ILPS-9119] ● UK, 1970
Berry guitar and beat, sounds a bit like The Rolling Stones’ Jumpin’ Jack Flash, but more noise(!) They have also done this several times live.
Monday, January 9. 2023
CBID - A Tribute to a Tribute to Chuck Berry
CBID is never complete as new records and CDs appear and some old rarities are discovered. This section presents interesting additions and corrections to CBID.
Today: Chapter 14 lists musical tributes to Chuck Berry. This includes tribute albums on which his music represents a large part, and it includes tribute songs in which title, lyrics or story refer to the man's life or music. One of the tribute albums reported recently now got a tribute on its own. And a new album is full of Berry covers, though only for download.
MIKE ZITO (USA)
Mike Zito received two awards from The Blues Foundation in Memphis during Blues Music Awards 2021 for the album:
CD: Rock’n’Roll – A Tribute To Chuck Berry [Ruf Records RUF-1269] 2019
First in the category Blues Rock Artist of the Year and then Blues Rock Album of the Year.
That’s also another Tribute to Chuck Berry if you ask me. The album is well documented on this blog.
AT THE HOP (Australia)
Rock n Roll tribute quintet from New South Wales, formed in 2003.
Johnny B. Goode / Roll Over Beethoven / Sweet Little Sixteen / Route 66 * / Maybellene / Rock And Roll Music / You Never Can Tell / Nadine / Run Rudolph Run / School Day / No Particular Place To Go / My Ding-A-Ling
Johnny B. Goode –A Tribute To Chuck Berry (Talking Clive - OMP [One Media Publishing]) ● 2012
They follow the Berry original arrangements as close as you could get, which is good but since you’ve heard all the songs before by Berry himself it’s somewhat a disappointment. And they could have skipped “Ding-A-Ling”. The only really interesting cover is “Route 66” which is very similar to Berry’s and not Stones. You don’t hear that too often.
Wednesday, November 9. 2022
CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 7
CBID is never complete as new records and CDs appear and some old rarities are discovered. This section presents interesting additions and corrections to CBID.
Today: The more you browse the Internet, the more cover versions you find. Here's another list of artists and band playing Chuck Berry's music. This time I include a few special items. [continued]
ERICA DiCEGLIE (USA)
Singer, songwriter, musical director, actor. Performing regularly in Tampa, Florida. She’s released four CDs so far, the first one in 2003.
You Never Can Tell (3:31) 2021
TV performance ● USA, 2021
Not on album. Recorded live at Center for The Arts at River Ridge, New Port Richey, (Tampa) Florida, with Stan Collins at the piano. (Check it out on You Tube.) She’s used the slow arrangement that Elise LeGrow did in 2017, although this is not so good and souldful, but ok.
Note: This is a new way to approach Berry covers, but it’s not going to be a habit.
DIRE STRAITS (UK)
Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler is not in here, however, I have seen so many unofficial live albums by them and very often they are including “Nadine”. Just wanted you to know.
DIRECT HITS (UK)
Rock trio from South London, formed in 1980. First single in 1982 and first album in ‘83. The band folded in 1987 but reformed a few times, 1988, 2004 and 2017.
Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 2017 (live)
CD: Lost And Found [Blaamm! Records BLAAMM-514] UK, 2020
Previously unissued.
DR. BOP & THE HEADLINERS (USA)
Rock’n’roll quintet from Wisconsin. Active from 1971 – 1978.
School Day ( : ) 1976 (live)
Rock And Roll Music ( : ) 1976 (live)
LP: Dr. Bop & The Headliners – Live ! [Chicken Records 1001] ● USA, 1976
Recorded live November 1976 at Lucifer in Boston, featuring The White Raven (!) You’ll actually find various clips on You Tube by the band.
GO-GETTERS (Sweden)
Rockabilly trio from Västerås. Founded in January 1988 by Peter Sandberg. See also Volume 3, page 1215 for another Berry cover.
Run Rudolph Run ( : ) 2004
45: Goofin’ Records XMAS-210 ● Finland, 2004 (PS)
On red vinyl.
GO KATZ (UK)
Psychobilly band from Loughborough, Leicestershire, formed in 1986.
Let It Rock [as “Let It Roll”] ( : ) 1990
EP: Blues-A-Billy [Scary Thoughts 41090] ● UK, 1990
Yellow vinyl.
TOM GREED & The Snowflakes (Germany)
Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist who in the mid to late ‘80s played bass in various garage and punkrock bands and in the early ‘90s played drums in a rockabilly quartet called Pyromanix which later became the Ray Collins’ Hot Club.
Run Rudolph Run ( : ) 2001
45: Three Kings Records TKR-730701 ● Germany, 2001
I haven’t heard this but the A-side, “Christmas Love”, is pure modern rockabilly.
HOT ROD LINCOLN (USA)
See Volume 3, page 1256 for biographical info.
However, the reason for the Berry cover below is the fact that it was also on the same album as “Maybellene”.
Let It Rock ( : ) 1996
CD: The Boulevard [Dionysus DCD-123332] ● USA, 1996
They also have a private press 12” colored vinyl five tracks EP (released 2018) including “You Never Can Tell”. Not counted for.
JEREMY & THE HARLEQUINS (USA)
Jeremy Lublin (Jeremy Fury). He’s released 17 MP3 and FLAC singles for downloading. He also has 3 ordinary albums out as Jeremy & The Harlequins. On one album from 2018 the band has 5 guys pictured on the cover.
Jeremy was the lead singer of the glam rock band We Are The Fury from Toledo, Ohio, who had an album “Venus” out in 2007.
You Can’t Catch Me (3:34) 2020
Havana Moon (3:43) 2020
2 x File, Flac single: Play Chuck Berry [Yep Roc Records no cat no] ● USA, 2020 (PS)
Yeah, I know. But since this is a special Tribute to Berry I thought it was necessary and interesting to include. It was even displayed online with a picture sleeve(!) The band has recreated Berry’s 1956 Chess single.
They have 3 albums out and many singles, with no Berry connection as far as I can tell. The company Yep Roc Records has had several albums, singles and Flac files available during the last twenty some years. Nick Lowe (a.o.) is well represented with various releases.
JOHNNY A. (USA)
Johnny Antonopoulos. Now here’s another one of those guitar pickers extraordinaire that I haven’t heard about although I found 4 albums by him, 1999-2014. On the album below he’s accompanied by Jesse Bastos (bass) and Chris Farr (drums).
Memphis, Tennessee ( : ) 2007 (live) (instr)
(DVD)/CD: One November Night [Aglaophone Records AR-110107] ● USA, 2009
This is a DVD/CD combined, but “Memphis” is not included on the DVD. The show recorded live at Scullers Jazz Club In Boston, and according to the cat no I would assume 1 November 2007.
JUAN De La CRUZ BAND (Philippines)
Rock group, formed 1968 in Manila. Guitarist Wally Gonzales was the founding member. In 1971 the band released their first album, “Up In Arms”, as a quintet.
Around And Around [as “Round And Round”] (5:24) 1973
LP: Himig Natin [Sunshine TSP-5104] ● Philippines, 1973
JUNIOR CADILLAC (USA)
See Volume 3, page 1282 for biographical info, also pages 2079-80 for more covers.
The first entry below is a correction to the entry on page 2080. The record mentioned from 2010 was a reissue of the LP below. The second entry is new.
No Money Down (5:03) 1971 (live)
Reelin’ And Rockin’ (3:45) 1971 (live)
LP: Jr. Cadillac Is Back [Great Northwest Record Company GNWRC-1000001] ● USA, 1971
Recorded live at the Grapevine Tavern in Seattle, July 1971.
No Money Down (4:15) 1981
LP: In For Life [Great Northwest Record Company GNWR-006] ● USA, 1981
JUSSI & THE BOYS (Finland)
See Volume 3, page 1282 for biographical info.
Brown Eyed Handsome Man [as “Harmaa Herrasmies”] (2:07) 2014
LP/CD: Kerran Vielä, Pojat! [Turenki Records 14200-21] ● Finland, 2014
Unfortunately it is a copy of the Buddy Holly version.
Johnny B. Goode [as “Tommie B. Goode”] (4:26) 2018
Too Much Monkey Business [as “S’on Lyttypäähommaa”] (2:54) 2018
LP/CD: Unioninkatu 45 [Turenki Records 14200-71] ● Finland, 2018
I understand that the Finnish people prefer their own language, however, the language doesn’t flow like English do when it comes to singing.
K-MAN & THE 45s (Canada)
Reggae quartet. Kristin Daniel (vocals, guitar), Josua Michaud (Trombone, vocals), Mathieu Forget (saxophone, vocals), François-Charles Poirier (bass, vocals), Paulo Max Riccardo (drums). With a little help from pianist Julien-Carl St. Pierre.
You never Can Tell (3:13) 2019
CD: Stand With The Youth [Stomp Records STMP-154] ● Canada, 2019
Now this is interesting. As far as I know it’s the first reggae version of this Berry classic. And well done!
KARTUFFELSTAMPERS (West-Germany)
Jazz-dixieland band. Don’t know anything except that they also cover Erroll Garner and Duke Ellington a.o.
Memphis, Tennessee (3:01) 1984 (instr)
LP: Kartuffelstampers [Kartuffel-Record KR-5707] ● West-Germany, 1984
Should have loved to hear this version, hopefully in a dixieland style. However, they could have used the Count Basie arrangement from 1967?
JOHN PAUL KEITH & The One Four Fives (USA)
A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, singer, songwriter, guitarist. He’s been a veteran of the Memphis music scene for 17 years. Has six solo albums to his credit. He seems like being very popular in later years. John Paul Keith took on a huge European tour in April and May 2022 (see clip on You Tube from 28. April). He sounds a bit like Buddy Holly but with a more modern rockin’ style.
John Paul Keith (vocals, guitar), Kevin Cubbins (guitar, vocals), Al Gamble (keyboards, vocals), Mark E. Stuart (bass, vocals), John Argroves (drums), are the ones playing on the album below.
Back In The USA (2:58) 2009 (live)
Memphis, Tennessee [as “Memphis”] (3:36) 2009 (live)
CD: Live At The Hi-Tone [Big Legal Mess Records 0251] ● USA, 2009
Recorded live on the fourth of July 2009 in Memphis, Tennessee.
MIKE KENNEDY (West Germany)
Michael Volker Kogel, born 1944 in Berlin. He was the singer in the Spanish rock band Los Bravos, famous for “Black Is Black” (1966).
Roll Over Beethoven (3:03) 1971
LP: Mike Is Mike [Explosión 85.049-SL] ● Spain, 1971
Album also released 1972 in both Venezuela and Brazil.
SPEEDY KING AND HIS FEETWARMERS (Belgium)
Rock sextet. Members: Dirk van der Jonckheid, Dirk Versmissen, Frans Gommeren, Guy Versmissen, Jonas Ceelen, Jules Daems.
Nadine (3:15) 1979
Oh Yeah (2:41) 1979
LP: Breaking Up The House [Racoon Records RR-116 L] ● Belgium, 1979
And now ladies and gentlemen another Berry song to be covered, or is it? Muddy Waters also had a song titled “Oh Yeah” which has been covered before, so…? Anyway, “Oh Yeah” on the LP above is credited to Berry. I haven’t been able to find any info on the net, except discogs says it’s written by Berry.
KIT KATS (USA)
Rock and roll band from the Philadelphia area. Original members: John Bradley (vocals, guitar), Karl Hausman (piano), Ron Cichonski [aka Ronnie Shane] (bass) and Kit Stewart (drums). They had their first single out in 1963. A couple of singles in 1966 and ’67 on Jamie were minor hits. In 1970 they changed their name to The New Hope and hit the charts with “Won’t Find Better Than Me”. By 1974 they had disbanded. Kit Stewart died in 2001.
Sweet Little Rock And Roller (2:15) 1965
LP: The Very Best Of The Kit Kats [Virtue V-102067] ● USA, 1967
This seems to be a collection of out-takes from 1964-65, and therefore far from a Best Of compilation. There’s a song called “Hey Hey Hey” (1:55) credited to C. Berry (Arc Music) but that’s actually an original by the group.
KNACK (UK)
Garage band from Ilford, later based in London. Also known as The Londoners. The Knack was: Paul Gurvitz (vocals, guitar), Brian Morris (vocals, guitar), Gery Kenworthy (bass), Mick Palmer (bass on the Berry number), Topper Clay (drums). They had six singles released during the ‘60s.
Back In The USA ( : ) 1965
CD: Time Time Time (The Complete UK Singles And More 1965-67) [Rev-Ola CR REV-199]● UK, 2007
Previously unissued.
HERVÉ KRIEF BLUES TRIO (France)
Guitarist, songwriter, arranger from Paris. Has played with both Miles Davis and Ray Charles.
Roll Over Beethoven (3:24) 1994
CD: Paris-Bruxelles [BSM Records BSM-04] ● France, 1994
KRZYSZTOF KRAWCZYK (Poland)
Pop-rock singer, songwriter, guitarist, born 1946 in Katowice. He must have been very popular in Poland because he released plenty of albums since 1974 and a whole lotta singles! Died in 2021.
Memphis, Tennessee (3:03) 1980
EP: Oh Pretty Woman [Tonpress N-58] ● Poland, 1980
LP: Good Ol’ Rock ‘N’ Roll – Dobry Stary Rock [Wifon LP-012] ● Poland, 1980
KRAYOLAS (USA)
San Antonio, Texas garage-rock band. Hector Saldana (vocals), Van Baines (guitar), David Saldana (drums).
Run Rudolph Run (3:18) 2011
CD: Tipsy Topsy Turvy [Box Records B-63052-2] ● USA, 2011
A good rockin’ version, and this is not a Christmas album.
LA ROCKORQUESTA SPORT CLUB (Spain)
Don’t know but I will think they are studio musicians.
Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 1990
Maybellene ( : ) 1990
Memphis, Tennessee ( : ) 1990
Rock And Roll Music ( : ) 1990
Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 1990
LP: It’s Only Rock And Roll [Libélula Records L-027] ● Spain, 1990
Here we have 12 tracks on each side, and 5 Berry songs are covered.
LAHARYHMÄ (Finland)
According to discogs they are a punk/hard rock/metal band. Their first CD (an EP) came in 1998. Later they released 3 albums from 2000 to 2005 and several CD singles. On the record below they are Richard Rape (vocals), Fast Eddie Beast (guitar), Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (bass), Hermann The German (drums).
Reelin’ And Rockin’ [as “Fiilaten Ja Höyläten”] (2:45) 2000
CD: Kotimaan Katsaus [Kråklund Records KråCD-78] ● Finland, 2000
Album recorded at Old Bang Studio, Lapua, 18-24 September, 2000. 15 tracks with humorous versions of Finnish classics. Several Finnish bands/artists have covered this version of the Berry classic, originally done by Rauli “Badding” Somerjoki in 1973, which was a big hit for him (see Somerjoki on page 1521).
ROLF LEBEDA (West Germany)
Musician Rolf Lebeda was very much into the rock’n’roll, R&B and blues genres. He was born 1952 and died in 2007.
Memphis, Tennessee ( : ) 1981
LP: Boogie [B-Flat Records MD 15120080] ● Germany, 1981
Here he also do versions of both “Route 66” and “Down The Road A Piece”. This is a bigger production than the trio below. Lebeda (vocals, keyboards, harmonica), John Marshall (guitar), Cliff Wren (ac.bass), Willo Lindfors (drums), plus Michael Runkel (saxophone), Edwin Wren (trumpet).
& HIS ROCK’n’ROLF BAND:
Bye Bye Johnny (2:31) 1987 (live)
Carol (3:58) 1987 (live)
Johnny B. Goode (3:24) 1987 (live)
Too Much Monkey Business (1:54) 1987 (live)
LP: Live In Düsseldorf [B-Flat Records RL-0787018] ● Germany, 1987
Recorded live on 18 and 23 July ’87 in the Party Tent during the Düsseldorf Shooting match. Rolf Lebeda (vocals, piano), Jürgen Frenzel (guitar), Waldo Karpenkiel (drums). They also do a version of “Route 66” which I am sure is in the Berry/Stones way.
LED ZEPPELIN (UK)
Jimmy Page (guitars), Robert Plant (vocals, harmonica), John Paul Jones (Bass, organ), John Bonham (drums). Again it goes to show that everybody does Chuck Berry. According to discogs there’s been several unofficial (bootlegs) albums with Led Zeppelin during the years where they do Berry covers. Here are two examples, both soundboard recordings. The bootlegs listed first contain excerpts, the ones listed second are more complete.
School Day ( : ) 1973
Nadine ( : ) 1973
Around And Around ( : ) 1973
Reelin’ And Rockin’ / Surrender ( : ) 1973
LP: Sound Check 5th July 1973 [Timpani SLZ 30] ● Europe, 1990
CD: Chicago 1973 Soundcheck [no label] ● Japan, 2012
Recorded during soundcheck at Chicago Stadium, July 1973.
School Day (Hail Hail Rock’n’Roll) ( : ) 1975
Nadine ( : ) 1975
Around And Around ( : ) 1975
Reelin' And Rockin' ( : ) 1975
CD: Round + Round [Ghost Records CD 53-48] ● New Zealand, 1991
CD: A Tribute To Johnny Kidd And The Pirates [Scorpio no cat #] ● Italy, 1989
Recorded during soundcheck at Met Center, Bloomington, Minneapolis 1975.
ALBERT LEE (UK)
See Volume 3, page 1310 for biographical info.
On the album below Albert Lee (vocals, guitar, piano) is backed by Philip Mann (bass) and Ollie Sears (drums), featuring Wayne Lee on keyboards.
Back In The USA (4:09) 2018 (live)
CD: Live in Concert 2018 [Mann Brothers Media Ltd. 0602573654385] ● UK, 2018
Recorded live at The Clarets Bar, Chelmsford City FC, Essex.
LES MALADES (France)
New wave, rock trio: Thierry Cailliez (Guitar, vocals), Bruno Cheynier (vocals, trombone), Jean François Declercq (bass).
Well trio? I have seen a 45 by the group and there they are five people, so (?)
Carol (3:20) 1986
LP: Chaud Devant [Editions De La Péniche EDP-861] ● France, 1986
Thierry Cailliez sings on this one.
LES SOUNDS GUITARS (France)
Probably studio musicians.
Bye Bye Johnny (2:08) 1966
You Never Can Tell (2:28) 1966
LP: Les Plus Grands Succès Du Rock [Adria 655 036] ● France, 1968
16 tracks. Not sure about 1966 as there is no year printed anywhere on the album sleeve or label. Don’t know either if it’s plain instrumentals, vocals or whatever.
MIKE LIDDELL & GLI ATOMI (Italy)
Beat quintet from Rome led by singer Mike Liddell.
Bye Bye Johnny (3:07) 1966 (live)
LP: Una Serata Al Piper [Arc SA-9] ● Italy, 1966
Piper Club Series.
CD: Una Serata Al Piper [On Sale Music 64 SOM-104] ● Italy, 2015
CHRISTINA LINDBERGS (Sweden)
Christina Agnes Maria Lindberg Wigardt born in 1968, Helsingfors. Recorded a couple of albums in 1985-86. Then had a time as singer in the dance-band Lasse Stefanz (see page 1308) in the late ‘80s. Had her own orchestra in the ‘90s, but nowadays touring as a solo artist. Her latest album came in 2018. She sings everything in Swedish.
You Never Can Tell [as “Vi Får Hoppas Att Allting Går Bra”] (2:46) 1992
LP & CD: Gyllene År [Frituna 0270-1 / -2] ● Sweden, 1992
Recorded at NCS Studio, Norrköping in September ’92. She uses the full backing here, even including the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Actually it’s a cover of the version by Vikingarna (page 1588) from 1979/1980.
LOS MISTERIOSOS (Spain)
Beat-rock sextet.
Memphis, Tennessee (2:40) 1968
EP: Los Misteriosos [Tam Tam -17] ● Spain, 1968
LOS PUMAS (Spain)
See Volume 3, page 1332. However, in addition to the two EPs from 1964 and 1965 (the latter which actually included the Berry cover) they also had a single out in Ecuador (including the Berry track as the A-side) in 1965, which tells us that the song was not from ‘67. And by the way, songs by Los Pumas have also been included on a couple of compilation albums from Spain.
Carol (2:25) 1965
EP: Pegueña Honda [Hispavox HH-17.320] ● Spain, 1965
45: Hispavox 45-83067 ● Ecuador, 1965
Various LP: Los Pumas Y Mangas Verdes [El Crocodilo JLA-00.0081] ● Spain 1989
Various CD: Los Pumas, Los Tiburones, Los Nivram - Discografia Completa [EMI 724354163623] ● Spain, 2002
LOS REBELDES (Spain)
See Volume 3, page 1333 for biographical info.
No Particular Place To Go (2:47) 1987 (live)
2-LP: Preferiblemente Vivos [Epic EPC 450385 1] ● Spain, 1987
See also Tributes.
I would also like to make your attention to the song “Rock & Roll” (4:30) (Epic SAMP-2093) (1993). It’s a tribute to all the greats in rock and roll with a video on You Tube showing them all in short snippets. However, the song itself is a typical Berry soundalike with all the Berry riffs and the beat. You’ll also find it on the album “La Rosa Y La Cruz” (Epic EPC 473837).
LOS ROLLS (Spain)
Known as The Spanish Beatles Tribute Band. A quartet.
Rock And Roll Music (2:30) 1987
Roll Over Beethoven (2:36) 1987
LP: Los Rolls [Alligator Records 56.0371] ● Spain, 1987
Since they are a tribute band to The Beatles, I can understand (a little bit) that they included these two Chuck Berry classics because they were hits for the group. However, they also included “Boys”, “Dizzy Miss Lizzy”, “Twist And Shout” and “Money” amongst the 12 tracks on the album above. My oh my.
LOS SALT LAKE CITY (USA/Spain)
According to discogs this was a US folk rock quintet created in Spain in the early ‘70s. One single (1972) and two albums (1972 / 1973).
Rock And Roll Music (2:00) 1973 (live)
LP: Los Salt Lake City [Diábolo N-27.009] ● Spain, 1973
LOS SPEAKERS (Colombia)
A pioneering Colombian rock band led by guitarist Rodrigo Garcia from Spain. Formed 1960 in Bogotá.
Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 1965
LP: La Casa Del Sol Naciente [Bambuco DBS-4017] ● Spain, 1965
The album was reissued in 2009 in a cardboard sleeve, same label and cat number.
DONNA LYNN (Canada)
Camille Donna Albano, born 1950. Popular teen pop singer who had some 9 singles out on Capitol from 1963-1965.
Roll Over Beethoven (2:31) 1964
LP: Java Jones/My Boyfriend Got a Beatle Haircut [Capitol Records ST-2085] ● USA, 1964
We can all assume what this sounds like.
JACKIE LYNTON (UK)
See Volume 3, pages 1337-1338 for biographical info.
Let It Rock ( : ) 1996 (live)
Sweet Little Sixteen ( : ) 1996 (live)
Chuck Berry Medley: Johnny B. Goode-Nadine-Rock And Roll Music ( : ) 1996 (live)
2-CD: Alive! At The Bleak House, August ’96 [A New Day Records ANDCD-12] ● UK, 1996
Recorded on 19 August ‘96 at The Bleak House in Ottershaw (or Horsell).
JACKIE LYNTON’S H. D. BAND:
Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 1978 (live)
LP: Till We’re Blue In The Face [Thumb Records TR-002] ● UK, 1979
Recorded live at The Golden Lion, London, 18 November 1978. The album came with a single, “The Hedgehog Song/Farting With The Famous” (Thumb Records TR-003).
Thursday, October 20. 2022
Andy McKaie RIP
Following the publication of my Berry book, Long Distance Information, Andy contacted me to help compile and produce a comprehensive release of Chuck Berry’s Chess recordings issued under the collective title ‘His Complete Chess Recordings’ (which wasn’t exactly correct but near enough for rock ‘n’ roll). Three, four CD box-sets were released spanning Chuck’s work from 1955 to 1974 which included a number of previously unissued recordings. Andy would call up Berry’s tapes from the huge MCA/Universal vaults, copy them onto CDRs and mail them to me to review and sort out. The raw Chess tapes were a complete jumble, mixing old and new, stereo and mono together on individual tapes, some cuts only partial, some with false overdubs. From my point of view this was manna from heaven and I waited eagerly for the next batch to drop through my letter box. It is a sobering thought that the original tapes may well have been lost when fire swept across the backlot of Universal Studios Hollywood in June 2008 and perhaps significant that Richard Weize used my CDRs when producing the Bear Family ‘Rock And Roll Music’ 16 CD box-set in 2014 rather than seek them from Universal.
Andy was undoubtedly one of the good guys and it is terribly sad that we have lost a dedicated advocate of the music we all love.
Monday, October 10. 2022
CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 6
CBID is never complete as new records and CDs appear and some old rarities are discovered. This section presents interesting additions and corrections to CBID.
Today: The more you browse the Internet, the more cover versions you find. Here's another list of artists and band playing Chuck Berry's music. This segment starts with Run Rudolph Run and it ends with it. [continued]
PSYCHIC ILLS (USA)
Tres Warren (vocals, guitar, organ, piano), Elizabeth Hart (bass), Chris Millstein (drums).
Run Rudolph Run (4:02) 2013
Various CD: Psych-Out Christmas [Cleopatra CLP-1069] ● USA, 2013
This has to be one of the worst ever, the singer sounds like he just woke up and the guitar is out of tune. And four minutes!!! You could kill for less. Sorry guys.
PUSH (USA)
Rock quintet from California.
Roll Over Beethoven (3:15) 2011
CD: American Too [Push 86559] ● USA, 2011
SUZIE QUATRO (USA)
Susan Kay Quatro, born 1950 in Detroit, Michigan. Singer, songwriter, bassist. Very popular rock performer since the early ‘70s. First album “Suzi Quatro” or “Can The Can” in 1973. She was actually much more popular in the UK and Europe than in the USA. In the UK she had 5 Top Ten albums (2 at #1). And I must say that it is about time she’s finally in this survey. She rocks!
Sweet Little Rock And Roller (2:53) 1978
Box set: The Rock Box 1973-1979 The Complete Recordings [Chrysalis CRB-1438] ● EU, 2022
Previously unreleased. She’s often done this live and you’ll find several, both early and later clips, on You Tube.
This is a 7 CD/1 DVD box set of all her recordings for the Chrysalis label (RAK Records), 132 tracks.
QUEEN DIVAS OF THE UNIVERSE (USA)
Formed in 2009. Roni Lee (vocals, guitar), Laurie Beebe Lewis (piano), Shaaron Hancock-Schuemaker (bass), Chuck Lewis (drum programming) !!! The three ladies are music vets who separately have been involved with other bands back in the ‘70s and up. The Xmas album below was their first as a group.
Run Rudolph Run (3:56) 2011
CD: All Wrapped Up In Christmas [Remnant Studios 111711] ● USA, 2011
It’s a rockin’ version in the traditional way with a few new lyric interchanges here and there.
CASSIE RAMONE (USA)
Real name Cassie Grzymkowski. Born 1986 and raised in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Moved to Brooklyn in 2004. Singer, songwriter, guitarist. She released her debut album in August 2014 titled “The Time Has Come”. She’s been involved in several bands since 2008, like Vivian Girls, Bossy, The Babies, OCDPP, and all have released records.
Run Rudolph Run ( : ) 2015
CD: Christmas In Reno [Burger Records BRGR-960] ● USA, 2015
Don’t know why the title is as it is, because the album was recorded in New Jersey and Los Angeles during February 2014 – August 2015, and there are no titles with Reno in them. Maybe her grandparents lived there?
BO RAMSEY And The Sliders (USA)
Robert Franklin Ramsey. Singer, songwriter, guitarist. Born 1951 in Burlington, Iowa. Has released several albums since 1982.
Memphis, Tennessee ( : ) 1983
LP: Feelin’s Getting’ Stronger [3rd Street Records RR-001] ● USA, 1983
LARRY RASPBERRY & THE HIGHSTEPPERS (USA)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist. Blues/rock group from Memphis, Tennessee.
Back In The USA [as “Livin’ In The USA”] (3:32) 1975
CD: Highsteppin’ And Fancy Dancin’, Jukin’ And Jivin’ [Intense/Backroom Records BR-1000] ● USA, 1996
This album is a compilation of previously released and unreleased tracks. The Berry cover previously unissued.
DAVID REA (USA)
David Ernest Rea. Born near Akron, Ohio in 1946, died in 2011. Singer, songwriter, musician. Session work with Ian & Sylvia and Gordon Lightfoot.
Nadine (2:45) 1973
LP: Slewfoot [Columbia KC-32485] ● USA, 1973
I haven’t heard this version but I would reckon it sounds a little folky.
REBEL CATS (Mexico)
Rockabilly trio.
Run Rudolph Run [as “Corre Rodolfo Corre”] (2:29) 2009
CD: Navidad Rock-A-Billy [Grabaxiones Alicia 0045] ● Mexico. 2009
RED HOT ROCKIN’ SANTAS (Australia)
Rock’n’roll trio, Brian Dean, Mick Hamilton, Leon Isaacson.
Run Rudolph Run ( : ) 1987
45: Festival Records K-471 ● Australia, 1987
I haven’t heard this, as it is the A-side “Another Rock’n’Roll Christmas” that turns up.
RED TOPS (Spain)
Rockabilly band.
Thirty Days (3:30) 2012
CD: …Are Back In Town [Vaso Music VM-473] ● Spain, 2012
A rock swingin' version, with a guitar solo and sax solo.
BUDDY REED & THE ROCKET 88s (USA)
Blues-rock quartet. Buddy Reed (vocals, guitar), Bill Tarsha (harmonica), Jerry Smith (bass) and Roger Rotoli (drums, vocals).
Sweet Little Rock And Roller (3:41) 1983
LP: Short Dress Woman [Trash Records TLP-1002] ● USA, 1983
CHRIS ROBERTS (West Germany)
Real name: Christian Klusáček, pop singer and actor, born 1946 in Munich-Schwabing, died in 2017. He was very popular and had A LOT of record releases, both singles and albums.
Rock And Roll Music (3:03) 1972
LP: Love Me [Polydor 2371 314] ● West Germany, 1972
Well, this is awful to say the least. The backing is by Orchester Hans Bertram and production by Bertram. It goes too fast and the happy sound by the tanzorchester is too much to swallow.
R.O.C.K. FLAMINGOS (Japan)
Rockabilly band from Nagoya, formed in 1997.
Thirty Days (2:16) 2013
CD: Play With Mr. Pan [Get Hip Records GC-042] ● Japan, 2013
The problem is their English pronunciation, but they should have for trying, and for playing the guitar solo the same way Berry did. That’s not done very often.
ROCKEC IVO PEŠÁKA (Czech Republic)
Jazz musician -flute, clarinet, saxophone-, singer, actor and painter. Born 1944, died 2011. Although being in the jazz field he sounds very rockin’ on the Berry covers.
Maybellene [as “Má Drahá”](2:18) 2002
Roll Over Beethoven [as “Tak Straší Beethoven”] (2:35) 2002
You Never Can Tell [as “Zabitá Láska”] (3:25) 2002
CD: Rockec Ivo Pešáka [Areca Multimedia AM-80119 2] ● Czech Republic, 2002
Again interesting to notice that Berry’s music is in the lead when it comes to numbers of covers on an album.
ROCKVEREINIGUNG WINTERTHUR (Switzerland)
Rock sextet, Markus Hodel (vocals), Päde Morf (guitar), Roger Flieg (guitar), Beat Iseli (steel-guitar, guitar) Bob Curiano (bass), and Stefan Engler (drums). Guests: Roman Weissert (saxophone) and Marc Wagenbach (backing vocals).
Carol (3:41) 1998 (live)
Johnny B. Goode (3:29) 1998 (live)
Sweet Little Sixteen (2:50) 1998 (live)
17 tracks. Recorded live at Winterthurer Musikfestwochen, Steinberggasse-Bühne, Sunday 6 September ’98.
Yeah, this is a self-released album, but it has an informative booklet and you can see that they have made the best efforts to get it as presentable as possible. And they do several Berry soundalikes also: “Natural Born Woman”, “Brown Sugar”, “Back In The USSR”, “Route 66” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”. Not a bad rockin’ album to have in your collection.
ROLLING STONES (UK)
See volume 3, pages 1475-1477 for biographical info.
Around And Around (3:53) 1977 (live)
2-CD: El Mocambo 1977 [Rolling Stones Records (Polydor) 4549589] ● UK-USA, 2022
Recorded live at the El Mocambo Tavern in Toronto, Canada on 5 March 1977 in front of 300 people. It’s the full concert (previously unissued) from 5 March ‘77 and three bonus tracks from the 4 March performance. In addition to the Berry number they also perform soundalikes like “Route 66”, “Star Star”, “It’s Only Rock’n’Roll (But I Like It)”, “Brown Sugar” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash”. There is also a 4-LP box set available.
LEON RUSSELL (USA)
See volume 3, page 1484 for biographical info.
Roll Over Beethoven (3:10) 2011 (live)
LP: The Montreux Session [Edel: Content 0208394CTT] ● Germany, 2013
Recorded at Miles Davis Hall in Montreux, 6 July 2011, during Festival De Jazz De Montreux 2011.
SALEBARBES (Canada)
Cajun quintet. Singing in French.
You Never Can Tell [as “C’est La Vie”] (3:03) 2021
CD: Gin À L’Eau Salée [L-Abe LABECD-21001] ● Canada, 2021
Pretty good swingin’ cajun version in French which makes it more authentic despite not being from Louisiana.
SEACRUISERS (Finland)
Rock’n’roll band from Helsinki.
Sweet Little Rock And Roller (3:36) 2020
CD: The Seacruisers [Turenki Records/Pressworks Music cat no? ] ● Finland, 2020
Good rockin’ version.
SEB’S MUSIC SHOP (Canada)
Sébastien Plante, one man band.
Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 2019
LP: Blues Volume 1 [Seb’s Music Shop no cat no] ● Canada, 2019
I haven’t been able to find this Berry cover on You Tube but he has a complete sound despite being on his own.
SECRET SERVICE (USA)
Garage rock quartet from New York City. Wayne Manor (vocals), Rob Normandin (guitar), Jim Gange (bass), Steve Peper (drums).
Too Much Monkey Business (2:29) (live)
CD: Power And Volume ! [Snap, Crackle & Pop FUNCD-007] ● Spain, 1998
This is a compilation album from different sources. Berry track recorded live at CBGB, New York, NY, 28 May 1987. They also did “I Got To Find My Baby” the same year (different venue) credited to Berry which is wrong. Written by Willie Dixon and originaly recorded by Little Walter for Checker in 1954.
JAY SEWALL (Canada)
Canadian singer, songwriter and guitarist. Born in Boston, but grew up in Montreal. He played in Chicago during the seventies and the eighties. Based in Quebec over the past twenty years and he is today a legend in Canadian blues.
Reelin’ And Rockin’ (3:37) 2018
CD: Payin’ My Dues – 50 Years Of Blues [Mack Records JS2-4788] ● Canada, 2018
SHINDIGGERS (Australia)
Garage rock quartet from Melbourne. Members on the Berry cover below are: Bill Leggett (vocals), Pete Andrews (guitar), Steve Agar (bass) and Spud Wildman (drums).
I’m Talking About You [as “Talking About You”] (2:22) 1984
EP: The Shindiggers [Preston Records 13673] ● Australia, 1985
Recorded September 1984 in Pete’s Lounge Room.
2-CD: Maximum Beat [Off The Hip OTH-7056] ● Australia, 2008
The 2-CD set is a remastered compilation of all their recordings from 1984 to 2000.
SHUSHA (UK)
See page 1505 in Volume 3. The entry below is already in the survey, however, I didn’t know anything about this lady back then. But her life story is kinda interesting. Shamsi Assãr, a very versatile lady, was born 1935 in Tehran, Iran and was an author, editor, actress, singer, songwriter who recorded under the name of Shusha, performing Persian and Western folk-songs. She was a student in France in the late ‘50s and moved to London, England in the early ’60s. Shusha was also a talented amateur documentary filmmaker and was even nominated for an Oscar back in 1976 for her feature documentary “People Of The Wind” which was also narrated by famous actor James Mason. She released 13 albums altogether, 1971-1995. She died in 2008.
Bye Bye Johnny (2:56) 1974
LP: This Is The Day [United Artists UAS-29684] ● UK, 1974
CD: Shusha / This Is The Day [BGO Records CD-531] UK, 2001
This is one of those unusual entries. Much the same as Marianne Faithful and her version of “Sweet Little Sixteen” in 1976. Shusha was a folk singer, sounding like Joan Baez and Joni Mitchell (sort of), and it’s pretty peculiar that she included this Berry title to cover together with songs from the likes of Woody Guthrie, Cole Porter, Van Morrison, Jacques Brel, Bob Dylan and others. The result is a little doubtful, but at least it’s quite different from all other versions!
SILENCE (UK)
Rock/Beat quintet from Herefordshire. Patrick Brooke (lead vocals, harmonica), Overend Watts (guitar, vocals), Paul Jeffery (rhythm guitar, vocals), Robert Fisher (bass, vocals), Dale Griffin (drums).
I’m Talking About You (2:40) 1990
Let It Rock (2:30) 1990
2 CD: Doc Thomas Group: Italian Job / The Silence: Shotgun Eyes [Angel Air Records SJPCD-278] ● UK, 1998
The Silence tracks recorded at Rockfield Studios in Monmouth, October 1990. They also did “Route 66” which I am certain sounds like Stones/Berry.
SKY HIGH (Sweden)
Blues-rock band formed 1978 in Gothenburg by guitarist Clas Yngström.
Too Much Monkey Business (3:52) 2004 (live)
CD: Soul Survivor [Virgin 7243 473524 2 3] ● Sweden, 2004
14 tracks recorded live at Fasching, Stockholm, between 9 and 11 March 2004.
SLAUGHTER & THE DOGS (UK)
See Volume 4, page 1890 (Soundalikes) for biographical info.
Run Rudolph Run (3:39) 2015
Various CD: Punk Rock Christmas [Cleopatra CLO-0091] ● USA, 2015
Heavy rockin’ version. This album was reissued both in 2017 and 2021.
Thursday, August 18. 2022
CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 5
CBID is never complete as new records and CDs appear and some old rarities are discovered. This section presents interesting additions and corrections to CBID.
Today: The more you browse the Internet, the more cover versions you find. Here's another list of artists and band playing Chuck Berry's music. [continued]
JEAN-LUC ATTARD & Orchestra (France)
Rock And Roll Music (2:10) 1966 (instr)
LP: Guitar Boogie Vol. 2 [Discara 138] ● France, 1966
BERLIN BRATS (USA)
Punk-rock quintet led by vocalist Rick Wilder.
Bye Bye Johnny (1:31) 1976 (live)
CD: Believe It Or Not 1973-1976 [Ratchet Blade Records RBR-714] ● USA, 2010
I haven’t heard this and the time of 1:31 is pretty short(?) I haven’t found any original release details of this Berry cover so it might be previously unissued?
CARBONAS (Spain)
Rock’n’roll band from Madrid, formed in 1998.
Nadine ( : ) 2001
CD: Rock ‘n’ Roll Romance [Garage Sónico Records GSR-001] ● Spain, 2001
Recorded in August 2001.
PETER CASE (USA)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist, born 1954 in Buffalo, New York. He’s been into various musical styles, new wave, folk-rock and plain acoustic solo performances. Had his first records out in 1986, and I was amazed of how many singles and albums he’s released!
Nadine ( : ) 2010
45: Live At Euclid [Euclid Records EISS-011] ● USA, 2010 (PS)
Recorded 23 July 2010 at Euclid Records, St. Louis, Missouri. Limited edition of 300 copies.
DECADES (USA)
Very popular pop-rock quintet from California. They do covers of songs from each of the decades, the ‘40s and up. On the album below they were: Samantha Francis (vocals), Ben Ruttenburg (vocals, keyboards), Will Watje (guitar, saxophone), Tobias Brooks (bass), Billy DiBono (drums). So far the band has 3 albums out.
School Day (2:47) 2013
CD: Take Me Back [Decades Music no cat #] ● USA, 2013
Recorded June 2013 at Loud Palace Studios, Weed, California, by Grammy-nominated producer Sylvia Massey.
DELTA MUDD (Canada)
Blues duo from Kingston, Ontario. Rick Anglin (vocals, guitar) and Tom Harpell (harmonica)
No Money Down (3:26) 2000
CD: Playin’ In The Mudd [Summit Sound Inc. SCD-5397] ● Canada, 2000
Recorded at The Toucan, Kingston, Ontario, 14 October, 2000.
MICKY DOLENZ (USA)
Originally a founding member of the ‘60s super group The Monkees. He was also a member of the ‘70s group Starship (see page 1531). See also The Monkees on page 1372. Rumour has it that Johnny B. was the song he auditioned for The Monkees.
Johnny B. Goode (2:41) 2012
CD: Remember [Robo Records RRMD-0001] ● USA, 2012
Acoustic light version but very effective. The album comes as a six panel digipak and a 20 page booklet. Interesting to see that he includes this classic as late as 2012. He’s also done it live together with a cover of “Too Much Monkey Business”. Not included here as they were not official releases.
DUISBURG CITY ROCK ‘N’ ROLL STARS (Germany)
Leader Herbert Pelikan aka A.S.H. Pelikan was born 1953 in Duisburg. Singer, songwriter, guitarist.
No Money Down ( : ) 1988 (live)
Sweet Little Sixteen (4:52) 1988 (live)
CD: Showtime Im Neumühl [OTZ Musik Production Ausflug #3] ● Germany, 2010
Recorded live at Bürgerhaus Neumühl, Duisburg, 27 August 1988.
EXPRESS (Finland)
Rock quintet from Oulu, Finland. It was formed in the late ‘60s and was most active in the 1970s.
Reelin’ And Rockin’ [as “Fiilaten Ja Höyläten”] (3:27) 1997
CD: XXX Since 1967 [EXM CD-2] ● Finland, 1997
This is a cover of a cover, namely Raul “Badding” Somerjoki’s original Finnish hit version from 1973 (see page 1521).
FLASHBACK Best Of The 50’s (USA)
1950s cover band (sextet) from Connecticut.
Roll Over Beethoven (2:37) 1986
LP: Now & Then [FEE Records WRA1-308] ● USA, 1986
It’s printed June ’56 besides the Berry title which is probably referring to the month Berry’s original entered the Billboard Hot 100, 30 June ’56. Anyway, I can’t find any other releases by the group except the album above.
GATHERS (Japan)
Rock quartet.
Let It Rock (2:23) 1996
CD: The Gathers [Nutmeg NC-2069] ● Japan, 1996
GERRY & THE PACEMAKERS (UK)
See Volume 3, page 1211 for biographical info.
Reelin’ And Rockin’ ( : ) 1965 (live)
CD: Live At The BBC [Parlophone 0190295636319] ● UK, 2018
Previously unreleased. Recorded for Saturday Club, 27 July 1965.
JOHN GOTTING (UK)
Singer, songwriter, also known as Johnny G.
Nadine (5:42) 1994 (live)
2-CD: A Month Of Sundays + The Best Of Johnny G [John Gotting JGCD-1+2] ● UK, 1994
A self-released double CD. The live set “A Month Of Sundays” was recorded at The Best Inn, Bath, February 1994.
GIBBY (Jamaica)
Leebert “Gibby” Morrison, singer, songwriter, guitarist.
Johnny B. Goode (3:42) 2001
CD: I’m Just Electrified [High Voltage LM-001] ● Jamaica, 2001
HARD WORKING AMERICANS (USA)
American rock group with members from various Americana and rock bands, formed in 2013. Todd Snider (lead vocals), Neal Casal (guitar), Jesse Aycock (guitars), Chad Staehly (keyboards), David Schools (bass), Duane Trucks (drums). From 2014-2017 they released four albums and a couple of singles.
School Day (3:54) 2017 (live)
LP: CD: We’re All In This Together [Thirty Tigers MEL-005] ● USA, 2017
2-LP: We’re All In This Together [Melvin Records MEL-005-1] ● USA, 2017/2018
Pretty good rock version. They even released a video of this, and also various live clips, check You Tube.
HARDIN & YORK (UK)
As a duo they have released several albums since 1969 which was the year they came out with their debut album, namely “Tomorrow, Today”.
Edward Hardin was a singer, songwriter, pianist, born 1949, died in 2015. As a solo artist he released a lot of singles and albums since the early ‘70s.
Peter York, drummer, born 1942. Has played with Eric Clapton, Brian Auger, Alexis Corner and you name it.
Rock And Roll Music-Sweet Little Sixteen (3:52) 1969
CD: Tomorrow, Today [RPM Records RPM-128] ● UK, 1994
Reissue with bonus tracks. Series: The RPM Hardin & York Collection – Volume One.
Recorded at Olympic Studios, London, Spring 1969. Previously unissued. It only says “Rock And Roll Music” as the title. It starts with Rock And Roll Music and goes into Sweet Little Sixteen and then back to the first one.
GRADY HARRIS And The Modern Country (USA)
Country quartet. Grady was born in the heart of the Blue Ridge mountains near Sylva, North Carolina and has been playing the guitar and singing since the age of 10. The album below was recorded at Ripcord Recordings Studios in Vancouver, Washington.
Brown Eyed Handsome Man (2:13) late 1970s
LP: Grady Harris And The Modern Country [Ripcord Records RSLP-1015] ● USA, late 1970s
Again it is an irritating fact that companies doesn’t print any year on their releases. I have never understood why?
Anyway, the album has 12 tracks of well-known country songs.
HARVEY & THE WALLBANGERS (USA)
Harvey Brough, a versatile singer, guitarist, composer, arranger. The Wallbangers: a jazz/blues vocal harmony group. Band members shifted but on the album below they are in addition to Harvey: Chuck Baker (guitar), Dean Dixon (piano), Chris Wiser & Theron Sharp (saxophones), Matt Blagg (trumpet), Kevie Hazelton & Martin Butcher (bass), Mike McCarty (drums). It seems the band was active around 6 years (ending in May 1987) and released three albums (1984-1987). However, the album below means they must have had a reunion. A compilation album “Early Days” was released in 2005.
It’s My Own Business ( : ) 1999
Sweet Little Rock And Roller ( : ) 1999
CD: Nothing Takes The Place Of You [HWB Records LLC KH-3504] ● USA, 1999
HERMAN’S HERMITS (UK)
See Volume 3, page 1243 for biographical info.
You Never Can Tell (C’est La Vie…) (3:04) 2006 (?)
CD: Live In Germany [Zounds Gold 24 Karat 600680] ● Germany, 2007
The correct title of the CD is: Herman’s Hermits & Chantal – Live In Germany. Chantal has 3 tracks, Herman’s Hermits have 13, then Hermits & Chantal have 5 tracks together. The CD is in a series titled Audiophile Edition – Volume 15.
Chantal is a German classical group or instrumental-ensemble. They are also on this blog of covers list.
DAN HICKS And The Hot Licks (USA)
Daniel Ivan Hicks was born in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1941, and died in 2016 at the age of 74 in his hometown Mill Valley, California. Singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist. I counted 16 albums by him spanning 1969-2017 including 5 compilations. He called his music Folk Swing.
Run Rudolph Run (2:27) 2010
CD: Crazy For Christmas [Surfdog Records 2-525580] ● USA, 2010
This is an unusual folk swing (yes) version, really goode !
HI-FREQUENCIES (USA)
Rock quintet from Philadelphia, formed in the late ‘90s.
Brown Eyed Handsome Man (2:53) 2001
CD: H-F House Party! [MSP-002] ● USA, 2001
I’m Talking About You ( : ) 2005
CD: Money Isn’t Everything [Teen Regime Records TR-004] ● USA, 2005
HOBO BLUES BAND (Hungary)
Also known as HBB, a blues rock sextet formed in 1978 and disbanded 2011. They have released plenty of albums.
Bye Bye Johnny (3:27) 1980
CD: Kopaszkutya [Mega HCD-37692 (93/M-085)] ● Hungary, 1993
Actually a soundtrack album for the 1981 movie “Kopaszkutya”, songs that first became available in 1993.
HOMETOWNERS (Japan)
Country music quintet from Tokyo.
Memphis, Tennessee ( : ) 1970
LP: I Wanna Go Stateside (Hometowners In Guam) [Green City GCL-1971] ● Japan, 1971
Recorded live on the American Island Guam 21 November, 1970.
RICH HOPKINS & BARRY “THE FISH” MELTON (USA)
Rich Hopkins, born 1958 in Fort Worth, Texas, singer, songwriter guitarist. Barry Melton, born 1947 in Brooklyn, New York City, singer, guitarist. They have help from Nick Augustine (bass) and Tom Larkins (drums).
Thirty Days (3:16) 2005
CD: Duel In The Desert [Taxim Records TX-2082-2 TA] ● Germany, 2007
Recorded at Cavern Recording Studios, Tucson, Arizona. Unusual and different rockin’ version.
JANICE HOYTE (UK)
Black singer who had worked at Marks & Spencer and their Social Society was behind the release of her first album (see below). A live album came out in 1977 on the SRT label and also a single on the Seismic label. In 1979 she had a single out on United Artists and later on started working behind big names like Pete Townshend (studio backing vocalist) and Bill Wyman’s Rhythm Kings (singer in the band). Another single came out in 1992.
Brown Eyed Handsome Man ( : ) 1974
LP: I’m A Winner [Marks & Spencer Social Society, no cat #] ● UK, 1974
All proceeds from the sale of this record were to be donated to B.A.R. (The British Association for the Retarded).
HUMAN NATURE (Australia)
Male vocalist quartet, Andrew James Tierney, Michael John Tierney, Phil Andrew Burton and Toby Charles Allen. Since their debut in 1996 they have released several albums and singles, and many of them have covers of soul and R&B hits from the ‘60s/’70s.
Run Rudolph Run (3:17) 2015
CD: The Christmas Album (Deluxe Edition) [Sony Music 8887 514 4382] ● Australia, 2015
This album was originally first issued in 2013, but this new Deluxe Edition has 4 extra tracks newly recorded, including the Berry number. A rockin’ version with a girl choir.
HUMPERS (USA)
Punk rock band from Long Beach, California, who started out in 1989. Some of the members had already been part of the L.A. punk band The Suicide Kings in the ‘80s.
Run Rudolph Run (3:29) 1993
Various 10” LP: Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus [Sympathy For The Record Industry SFTRI-271] ● USA, 1993
As so often with punk bands they play in a rapid speed. Although this is actually rockin’ without the usual noise.
HUNTERS (Netherlands)
Rock band. Paul Hubert (vocals, guitar), Ron Bijtelaar (vocals, guitar), Wilfred Arends (bass), Sidney Wachtel (drums).
Johnny B. Goode (2:43) 1983
Roll Over Beethoven (2:10) 1983
Sweet Little Sixteen (2:09) 1983
Thirty Days [as “Fourty Days”] (2:34) 1983
LP: Russian Spy And I [Universe Productions LS-44] ● Netherlands, 1983
MICHAEL HURLEY (USA)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist and fiddle player, born 1941. He grew up in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and has released a lot of albums since 1964.
It Don’t Take But A Few Minutes ( : ) 1976 (live)
MC: Land Of Lo-Fi & Redbirds [Bellemeade Phonics no cat #] ● USA, 1988
Consists of two albums, the first recorded in 1988 together with Dave Reisch and the other recorded live in 1976. This is a self-released ditti where he’s used C-90 cassettes.
LP: Redbirds Live At Folk City [Feeding Tube Records FTR-240] ● USA, 2017
Re-issue of the live album above. Good that he did it or else it wouldn’t have been here. I usually don’t include private cassette releases.
JACKIE AND THE CEDRICS (Japan)
A trio instrumental garage rock/surf band from Tokyo, formed in the early 1990s. They had their first two singles out in 1993, and by the way they also sing a little.
Brown Eyed Handsome Man (2:51) 1994 (instr)
2 x 7” 33 1/3 EP: Great 9 Stomps Set [One plus Two Records EP-058] ● Japan, 1995
Album recorded 1994 at the Blue Plum Studio in Tokyo. This is a strange version, as they have incorporated some of the Buddy Holly riffs and the song ends sounding a bit like “Tequila” (!)
JACKPOT (Germany)
Pop-rock quintet.
You Never Can Tell (3:33) 1998
CD: Bringin’ Back The Good Times [Jackpot Music 2405-1983-2] ● Germany, 1999
Album recorded at “Onkel Toms Hütte-Tonstudio”, Berlin. August-October 1998.
PAUL JAMES BAND (Canada)
See Volume 3, page 1265-1266 for biographical info; also on page 1824.
Nadine (4:12) 1987
You Never Can Tell (2:45) 1987
LP: Paul James Band [OPM Records OPM-PJ-1] ● Canada, 1987
The album also includes a soundalike version of “Route 66”, which is by the way included in Vol. 4 (see above).
The album even has liner notes from Mr. Bo Diddley himself. There are two Diddley covers on the album.
LEO JAIME (Brazil)
Leonardo Jaime, born 1960, singer, songwriter, actor, author and journalist. Released his debut album in 1983 which was the one below here.
Rock And Roll Music [as “Rock’N’Roll”] ( : ) 1983
45: Epic 46.075 ● Brazil, 1983 (picture sleeve)
LP: Phodas “C” [Epic 144.471] ● Brazil, 1983
CD: Phodas “C” [Columbia 866.103] ● Brazil, 1995
Recorded At Sigla Studios and Transamerica Studios, Rio De Janeiro.
JAMMIN’ (Switzerland)
Blues-rock trio from Berne, originally formed in 1976 by Boris Pilleri as Jammin’ The Blues. It was renamed Jammin’ in 1989 and Boris Pilleri’s Jammin’ in 2008.
Nadine (3:58) 1990
CD: Too Many Nights [Mercury 842 228-1] ● Switzerland, 1990
JANCREE (Germany)
Hard rock trio formed in 1987, Diddi Hock (guitar, vocals), Olaf Steffens (vocals, bass), Klaus Schmid (drums) are the members on the album below.
School Day [as “School Days”] (2:51) 2005 (live)
2-CD: Night Moves – Live [Pesch Records PR-1007] Germany, 2007
JAYBIRDS (Austria)
Rhythm & blues / mod quintet from Vienna.
Let It Rock (2:20) 1993
EP: Oh, Baby [Ilsa Records ILSAREC-69002] ● Austria, 1993
PETER JEZEWSKI (Sweden)
See Volume 3, page 1271 for biographical info. In 2021 he released a new album titled “Rock Me Tonight”.
Roll Over Beethoven (3:15) 2013 (live)
2-CD: Be Bop A Luba - Back To The Fifties Live [Be Bop A Luba CD-001] Sweden, 2013
Tuesday, August 9. 2022
CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 4
CBID is never complete as new records and CDs appear and some old rarities are discovered. This section presents interesting additions and corrections to CBID.
Today: The more you browse the Internet, the more cover versions you find. Here's another list of artists and band playing Chuck Berry's music. [continued]
As mentioned before, more and more cover versions are now available as download only, and you’ll find most of them on You Tube.
Here are a few new interesting ones:
RICARDO RIBEIRO (Spain) – Louie To Frisco (6:35) 2021
ROE JULES (Spain) – My Mustang Ford (2:50) 2020
2 versions, one in English and one in Spanish, the latter being the best. The second time someone has covered this obscure Berry rocker. In 1980 a group from Canada called The Shakers did a cover of the song and you’ll find info on this blog.
NUVOLE BIANCHE (Spain) – Go Bobby Soxer (3:01) 2020
(is it a little peculiar that these three above are all from Spain?)
SATB CHOIR (USA) – Run Rudolph Run (2:35) 2017
ALEX CHILTON (USA)
See more info on this blog.
Memphis, Tennessee [as “Memphis”] (3:11) 1977 (live)
2-LP: Ocean Club ’77 [Norton Records ED-400] ● USA, 2015
CD: Ocean Club ’77 [Norton Records CED-400] ● USA, 2015
Recorded at the Lower Manhattan Ocean Club in ‘77. Previously unissued.
CONRADS (Germany)
Blues trio led by singer, songwriter, guitarist Stefan George, plus Jay Trapp (bass) and Will Clipman (drums).
No Money Down (4:48) 1998
CD: Way Back Home [Line Music 9.01369] ● Germany, 2000
Recorded by Jim Pavett at Allusion Studios, Tucson, Arizona.
COPS LTD. (USA)
Rock quintet of law enforcement musicians from Yakima, Washington. Joe Smith (guitar, vocals), John Caiman (guitar, vocals), Mike Schreimer (keyboards, vocals), Bob Broyles (bass, vocals), Terry Roseberry (drums, vocals).
Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 1975
LP: Play Old New [Tell International Records 27152] ● USA, 1975
Recorded at R.P.M. Studios, Yakima, Washington, in September ‘75.
COPS ’N ROBBERS (UK)
1960s beat/R&B group, formed in Watford, Hertfordshire. They had one single on Decca (1964) and two on PYE (1965),and one EP in France (1965). It’s not easy, they are pictured as a quartet, quintet and sextet. Members: Dane Stephens (vocals), Brian “Smudger” Smith (vocals, guitar), Duff Jackson (vocals, guitar), Colin Strange (guitar), Brian “Chuck” Rainer (guitar), Terry Fox (keyboards), Keith Canandine (harmonica), Steve Smith (bass), Alan Whitehead (drums), Henry Harrison (drums).
Take your pick.
Betty Jean (2:24) 1964
Let It Rock (2:30) 1964
CD: The Cops ’N Robbers [Distortions Records DR-1036] ● USA, 1997
Both songs copied from acetates, previously unissued.
JEFF CURTIS & THE FLAMES (UK)
Beat band formed in 1961. However, on the tracks below the band was as follows: Jeff Curtis [real name David Myers, born 1940] (lead vocals), Louis McKelvey (lead guitar), Keith Gardiner (rhythm guitar, backing vocals), Malcolm Randall (saxophone), Dave Wigginton (bass), Malcolm Tomlinson (drums, backing vocals). Jeff Curtis really had a career in pop music during the ‘60s, check out garagehangover.com/jeff-curtis-and-the-flames
Bye Bye Johnny (2:17) 1963 (demo)
It Don’t Take But A Few Minutes (2:31) 1963 (demo)
4-CD set: Something Inside Of Me [Wienerworld Presentation WNRCD-5114] ● UK, 2021
“Unreleased Masters & Demos from the British Blues Years 1963-1976”. They also did “Route 66” which I am sure is in the Berry/Stones way.
DAVOLI (Croatia)
Pop band from Split, active from 1983. They were playing a mix of ‘50s and ‘60s rock’n’roll, rockabilly and Mediterranean pop.
Memphis, Tennessee (3:32) 1998
CD: Space Twist [Dallas Records CD-2415] ● Croatia, 1998
Recorded summer/autumn 1998 at Studio Garaža, Rijeka.
Memphis, Tennessee (2:20) 2016 (live)
2-CD: Studio M & Kulušić Live [Croatia Records 2CD-6074389] ● Croatia, 2016
JERRY DEEWOOD (Belgium)
Pop singer, born 1943 in Bruges.
Promised Land (2:45) 1980
LP: From Ballad To Rock & Roll [International Bestseller Co. 1A 058-63714] ● Belgium, 1980
This album is a tribute to Elvis in some way, so I would assume it sounds like Presley’s version.
Back In The USA (3:00) 1982
Sweet Little Sixteen (2:30) 1982
LP: Souvenirs [Sounds Superb (EMI) 4M 036 64748] ● Belgium, 1982
“Back In The USA” is based on the Linda Ronstadt version, at least for the tempo and the piano.
DELFINI (Italy)
Delfini was a beat/rock quartet from Padua, founded in 1961. They actually released a lot of singles and two albums during their heydays 1964-1968.
Memphis, Tennessee (3:29) 1966 (live)
LP: Una Serata Al Piper [Arc SA-9] ● Italy, 1966 (Piper Club Series)
CD: Una Serata Al Piper [On Sale Music 64 SOM-104] ● Italy, 2015
DIVIN’ DUCKS (Norway)
Rock quartet from Oslo.
Roll Over Beethoven (3:01) 1998 (live)
CD: Brewed And Bottled – Alive! [Clean Cut Records CCR-01] ● Norway, 1998
DONNEZ (Sweden)
They are a Swedish danceband from Perstorp in Skåne (the very south area), formed in 2000. Donald “Donne” Laitila is the leader on vocals, keyboards and accordion. They sing both in English and Swedish.
Run Rudolph Run (3:12) 2014
CD: Vem Tänker På Tomten? [Neptun NEP-1406] ● Sweden, 2014
Pretty goode rockin’ version, actually.
DREAMBOATS (Canada)
An old fashion rock’n’roll quartet from Mississauga, comprised of Sir Ritchie Hummins (vocals, guitar), Matt Best (lead guitar, vocals), Bryan Lewis (vocals, bass), Johnn G. Wiz (drums, vocals).
I’m Talking About You (1:53) 2021
CD: Back To The Start [Dreamboats no cat no] ● Canada, 2021
I am a little uncertain if there’s actually a proper CD or is it just for downloading? But this version is so good it needs to be here. Yes, I can make an exception. And there is also a video on You Tube from 2015 where they play a speed-up version of “Maybellene”.
T. O. EARNHEART (USA)
Thomas O. Earnheart, singer, guitarist in the rock’n’roll genre.
Around And Around (3:05) 1970s
Back In The USA (2:51) 1970s
LP: Big Rockin’ Daddy [Audio Dimension AD-077] ● USA, 1970s
Recorded at Audio Dimension, Memphis, Tennessee. Again these kind of record labels had trouble of getting any year printed.
DAVE EDWARDS (Canada)
Real name: Gaston Fortier, singer, songwriter, guitarist from Québec
Johnny B. Goode / Rock And Roll Music (in a R&R medley) (7:20) 1982
45: Unidisc UN-158 ● Canada, 1982
This is a shorter version at (4:19).
LP: Everybody Likes Rock And Roll [Unidisc UNI-1084] ● Canada, 1982
The rock’n’roll medley is titled “Everybody Likes Rock And Roll” containing in addition to the two Berry ones the following songs: Rock Around The Clock, Blue Suede Shoes, Good Golly Miss Molly and Long Tall Sally.
ETHICAL DEBATING SOCIETY (USA)
Kris Martin (el.guitar, vocals), Tegan Christmas (el.guitar, vocals), Eli Caballero (drums).
Run Rudolph Run (2:02) 2015
Various CD: Riot Grrrl Christmas [Cleopatra CLO-0092] ● USA, 2015
Various LP: Riot Grrrl Christmas [Cleopatra CLO-0092] ● USA, 2020
What the f… and what a noisy version, guitars all over the place (!) You get completely mad after 20 seconds.
FATHER Featuring RICKI YORKE (Canada)
Ricki (Ricky) Yorke is a vocalist from Toronto. In the ‘70s she was one of the singers for session work at Art Snider’s Sound Canada Recording Centre studio and releases on his Periwinkle Records label, and also on Ed LaBuick’s Cachet Records. Members on the album below: Ricki Yorke (lead vocals, tambourine), Dave Konvalinka (lead guitar, backing vocals), Rick Santagato (keyboards), Peter Simpson (tenor sax), Bruce Flynn (tenor and baritone sax), Brian Lucrow (trumpet), Bill Short (bass), Leigh “Leroy” Robinson (drums).
Chuck Berry Medley: Roll Over Beethoven-Rock And Roll Music-Sweet Little Sixteen-(Can’t Turn You Loose) (5:32) 1974
LP: Father [Periwinkle Records PER-7319] ● USA, 1974
Don’t know what the last title is all about, as there is no Berry song with that title, and I haven’t heard the medley so I can’t comment.
FATHER DOLAN (USA)
Singer, guitarist. He’s a minister according to the picture. Songs on the album varies from Oh, Rock My Soul, Universal Soldier, Cotton Fields to Blowin’ In The Wind and Mansion Over The Hilltop. Therefore interesting that he included Memphis. I assume he liked the fabulous lyrics.
Memphis, Tennessee (2:27) 1965
LP: Guitar In Hand [T N’ R Records (Guildcraft Productions) 803V-1001] ● USA, 1965
Guitar supplement: Dwight Pacific. Record label out of Hammond, Indiana. Recorded for Guildcraft Productions by RCA Custom Records.
DANNY FISHER (Belgium)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist. Real name Edmond Vermeylen, born in 1940, died in 1980. Had his first single out in 1961 and he had many after that, and a few albums.
Memphis, Tennessee (2:19) 1972
No Particular Place To Go (1:43) 1972
Rock And Roll Music (2:26) 1972
Roll Over Beethoven (2:35) 1972
Sweet Little Sixteen (2:50) 1972
LP: Rock & Roll [Diábolo LS-27007] ● Spain, 1972
HALINA FRĄCKOWIAK (Poland)
Pop singer, songwriter, born 1947 in Poznań. She must be a popular performer as she’s had a lot of singles and albums out since 1970.
Rock And Roll Music [Polish lyrics](1:56) 1986 (?)
CD: Napisz Proszę… [Polskie Nagrania Muz PNCD-204] ● Poland, 1992
This is a compilation album which means some of the tracks have been out before. I haven’t been able to find the Berry cover on other releases so I will assume that it’s previously unissued. Two songs on the album, including the Berry one, have PRiTV written behind them so maybe it’s taken from a TV show? You can check a clip of her on You Tube doing it from a 1986 TV performance.
FRANK OG FYRENE (Denmark)
Six piece dance-band of elderly musicians, based in Nordsjælland. To be quite honest, they call themselves a ‘60s band playing music from that Decade. So far they have released three albums.
You Never Can Tell (4:00) 2020
CD: Alle Gode Gange 3 [Eldorado (BMG) unknown cat no] ● Denmark, 2021
Pretty ordinary and a little boring, but I am sure it’s a good dance tune for the people.
GABBY HAZE (USA)
Good time music played by a band consisting of Dan Layman (vocals, autoharp), Dave Magnone (Guitar, vocals), Carl Bailey (Sax, flute, keyboard, vocals), Bill Yetzer (harmonica, percussion), Jerry Fretwell (double bass, vocals), Paul Cline (drums).
Maybellene (2:49) 2011 (live)
CD: Live At The Mockingbird [Gabby Haze 49213] ● USA, 2012
Recorded live at The Mockingbird in Staunton, Virginia, July 2011. Album released in March 2012. Goode and a little unusual version.
GAMSI (Slovenia)
Folk-rock band consisting of three brothers Marko Omahna (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Tone Omahna (accordion, keyboards, vocals) and Janko Omahna (bass). They also have a drummer and other guest musicians when necessary.
Roll Over Beethoven [as “Zarolajmo Na Slaka”] (2:20) 1998
CD: Jodl Korl-Hit [Helidon 6740919] ● Slovenia, 1998
ANTHONY GERACI (USA)
Blues and jazz keyboard player and composer. Born 1954 in New Haven, Connecticut.
Promised Land (4:21) 2018 (live)
Various 2-CD: Lucerne Blues Festival 2018 [Lucerne Blues Festival no cat no] ● Switzerland, 2018
The 24th Annual Lucerne Blues Festival. This was released by the help of many sponsors.
TONY HADLEY (UK)
Anthony Patrick Hadley from London, born 1960. He was a member and lead singer of the 1980s new wave band Spandau Ballet. And started on his solo career in 1990 after the band split up. You’ll find a lot of records by him, singles, CDs, videos from 1992 and up.
Run Rudolph Run (2:33) 2015
CD: The Christmas Album [Universal Music 0602 547 627025] ● UK, 2015
Standard rock version with guitar and a good piano solo.
Monday, June 27. 2022
Chuck Berry - Live from Blueberry Hill - explained
Since 1996 Berry had played regular shows at Joe Edwards "Blueberry Hill" in St. Louis, more than 200 of them. In contrast to the huge concert halls typically used for Berry concerts, the 300-seat "Duck Room" brought back the club atmosphere from the 1950 when Berry started to perform in St. Louis.
Also in contrast to his other concerts world-wide, the Blueberry Hill shows always had the same line-up for almost twenty years. The "Blueberry Hill Band" consisted of Berry's children Charles, Jr. and Ingrid, his band leader and bass player for 40+ years Jim Marsala, plus Robert Lohr on piano and Keith Robinson on drums.
As we already know from Dualtone Music, "Live from Blueberry Hill" is sold in many different ways: on CD, as a digital download, and in various Vinyl variants. The music is always the same, and this is what this site is about.
The liner notes to the CD tell a bit about the shows, but very little about the music. There's not even a recording date given, just "All songs recorded live at Blueberry Hill, St. Louis, MO from July 2005 - January 2006". I therefore contacted Bob Lohr, who played piano on all tracks, to find out more about how the recordings were created. Here's what I learned.
Bob Lohr (to the right) and the band (Jim Marsala, Charles, Ingrid, and Chuck Berry) live at the Blueberry Hill 2009
photos courtesy of Doug Spaur, many thanks, Doug! Click to enlarge.
Bob, do you remember when you started playing with Chuck at the Blueberry Hill or at other venues?
1996…on Chuck’s 70th birthday. The first three shows were in a different club room at Blueberry Hill called the Elvis Room…could probably fit 100 people maximum…about the size of a basement recreation room w/ Elvis memorabilia in glass cases on the walls. Joe Edwards later built the Duck Room in 1997 after he took over an adjoining restaurant (Cicero’s) which moved up the street. Cicero’s had a music club in the basement which was very small…had a lot of local acts plus well known national acts occasionally (I played there in local blues bands…also saw the Doors’ Ray Manzarek live w/ poet Michael McClure once!). Joe Edwards expanded Cicero’s club space, including digging out the floor a couple of feet deeper…and the Duck Room was born!
Please tell our readers a bit about your musical work. How often did you perform with Chuck, with whom did you share stages?
With Chuck I played almost all the shows at Blueberry Hill (over 200) and at least 100 on the road/private gigs/local gigs outside of Blueberry Hill…an estimate would be some 350 shows in total.
Onstage, I’ve gigged w/ Willie “Big Eyes” Smith & Calvin “Fuzz” Jones (Muddy Waters rhythm section), Billy Boy Arnold, Jimmy Rogers, Sam Lay, Roy Gaines, Snooky Pryor, Hubert Sumlin, Albert Collins, Big Jack Johnson, Sam Carr, Mud Morganfield, Cyril Neville’s Royal Southern Brotherhood & many others. Lots of well-known blues artists over the years.
Here’s a partial discography on me: https://www.allmusic.com/artist/bob-lohr-mn0000057405
Thinking back at the Blueberry Hill shows, what made them special in comparison to playing at large halls?
It was a 300-seat venue which made it a more intimate experience for the fans…the St. Louis version of Liverpool’s Cavern Club. Chuck always had a lot of interaction with audiences wherever he played…check out various YouTube clips. People flew in from all over the world to see Chuck at Blueberry Hill. After tickets became obtainable online, people would come up to me after the show from all over the world. Oftentimes I would take them to downtown St. Louis to either BB’s Jazz Blues & Soups or Beale on Broadway to hear some serious blues/r&b. A lot of these tourists were traveling through what I call “Blues/Rock Ground Zero”, or hitting all the music cities within a 300-mile radius of St. Louis: Chicago, Memphis/Clarksdale, Nashville etc…
The new CD presents a short show of just 30 minutes. Was this the standard length of the Blueberry Hill performances?
No, Chuck’s standard show was 1 hour wherever we played.
30 minutes seem to become the new standard for albums. Given that many people listen to music using digital streaming, 30 minutes seems to be "long enough" for the labels and for the listener's attention span.
As for the song selection, we only hear Chuck's greatest hits plus Walter Jacobs' "Mean Old World". Was this a typical tracklist?
No, we did at least two or three blues numbers per gig. “Wee Wee Hours” of course…also “It Hurts Me Too” and “Key To The Highway”, “Every Day I Have The Blues”, “Worried Life Blues”, “Beer Drinkin’ Woman” etc.
Do you remember Chuck playing more obscure and rare songs from his huge repertoire? On the CHUCK album for instance there's a Blueberry Hill recording of Tony White's "Enchiladas".
Not really…would usually play the well known songs.
What do you think is missing from new CD? Is there any special song you remember from Blueberry Hill which you wished to hear again?
We used to do “Brown Eyed Handsome Man” and “Promised Land” on an occasional basis…also, “Worried Life Blues”…
Ingrid is heard only on two tracks, "Mean Old Word" and "Let It Rock". Was it typical that she only joined small segments of the show? Or has she been with you only sometimes and was absent when the other tracks were recorded?
She was at every show in St. Louis onstage. She did not go on every road trip.
The two songs Ingrid plays harmonica on as well as "Roll Over Beethoven" are also the only three songs on this album we hear you soloing. Have you been allowed to solo during the shows? Or was it just Chuck and the rhythm he needed?
As you can hear on the latest live CD, Chuck would throw us solos on almost every song…very generous in that regard.
A reviewer wrote that to his ears Charles Jr. is playing the lead of "Johnny B. Goode" on the new CD. Did father and son share and distribute the lead guitar solos?
No, that’s clearly Chuck on Johnny B. Goode here. Chuck did almost all the lead guitar on stage and threw Charles Jr. some solos during the set. Charles Jr. does a solo at approximately 1:57 of Roll Over Beethoven right after mine. Charles Jr.’s rhythm guitar can be heard throughout this CD on the left channel.
Chuck was close to eighty years when these recordings were made. We almost cannot notice when he sings and plays.
You cannot notice in these 2005 shows, but as his later show recordings sadly indicated, Chuck’s hearing was seriously degraded. He had some expensive hearing aids but he didn’t like wearing them onstage…one actually fell out on the stage and could not be found later!
Bob, what is your favorite recollection from Blueberry Hill?
One of the coolest things I remember about the Blueberry Hill shows was hearing and watching Chuck warm up with his guitar backstage before the show. Chuck would warm up with his guitar while not plugged into an amplifier. It was amazing to hear…all the classic Chuck Berry licks played perfectly by the man himself…often did some amazing things which I never heard him do onstage. It was like all the years and age were stripped away and he was back again playing in the 50’s…I’m so sorry that I never asked Chuck whether he would allow me to record him on my iPhone…absolutely amazing. You could also hear him warming up when he was changing clothes in the bathroom. Once he opened the door and I watched him playing guitar in the mirror…Chuck told me he liked playing in the bathroom because the reverb reminded him of the Chess studio!
Many thanks for your explanations, Bob! We appreciate to hear from "the sources".
Monday, June 20. 2022
CBID - Eight additions to the Tributes list
CBID is never complete as new records and CDs appear and some old rarities are discovered. This section presents interesting additions and corrections to CBID.
Today: Chapter 14 lists musical tributes to Chuck Berry. This includes tribute albums on which his music represents a large part, and it includes tribute songs in which title, lyrics or story refer to the man's life or music. This time you’ll get 8 new entries in the Tributes section: a couple of albums and 6 variations of songs.
DON ADAMS (Scotland)
Hector Reay MacKay was a blues and soul singer, born 1942 in Glasgow, and died in 1995. He was mostly active in Germany. He toured in the late ‘60s with the German Ensemble of Hair. He was also a member of the Les Humphries Singers (see page 1259). He had a few solo albums and singles released.
Reelin’ And Rockin’ / Too Much Monkey Business / Nadine / (Rock’n’Roll Fieber) / Wee Wee Hours / Sweet Little Sixteen / (Rock And Coke) / Memphis, Tennessee / Bye Bye Johnny / Roll Over Beethoven / (Rock On The Rocks) / Rock And Roll Music / No Money Down / (Rock Store)
MC: Rock It Over Again [Polyband CS-233 (12 31127-4)] ● Germany, 1973
This came as a big surprise to me when I found it on discogs. Hey, the album title don’t give any clue that it is almost a Chuck Berry Tribute album, except for the four strange titles, two written by one called Erec and two by Kienemann. When this was released is a little doubtful as there is no year printed (again), but checking other cat numbers on the same label I came to the conclusion of 1973.
ANA CÃNAS (Brazil)
Singer, songwriter, actress, born 1981 in São Paulo. So far she’s released six albums.
Chuck Berry Fields Forever [Gilberto Gil] (3:40) 2009
CD: Hein? [Sony Music 88697556392] ● Brazil, 2009
Featuring Gilberto Gil on guitar. This has no Berry arrangement, more disco oriented. But it’s still a tribute. Refering to the entry by Gilberto Gil on page 1815 (Vol. 4).
ADAM CARTER (USA?)
There’s a country singer/guitarist whose name is Adam Carter but this is surely not him. Probably studio musicians.
Rock And Roll Music / Maybellene / Johnny B. Goode / Sweet Little Sixteen / Memphis, Tennessee / School Day / Bye Bye Johnny / Roll Over Beethoven / Too Much Monkey Business / You Never Can Tell
CD: A Tribute To Chuck Berry [Kives Records kv-5107] ● Brazil, 1996
I don’t think that “the artist” is from Brazil. There’s a lot of similar tribute albums to various artists like Donna Summer, Stevie Wonder, A-Ha, Paul Simon, Eric Clapton and a whole lotta more. There’s no picture of others than the actual tribute artist/group. Discogs have listed 25 various tributes in this series on the Kives label.
HEART OF MARY (Norway)
A rockband from Kongsvinger who operated from 1986-1989. Denis (Decay) Kamphaug (vocals, guitar), Anders Bøhnsdalen (guitar), Levi Henriksen (bass) and Kai O. Tønnessen (drums). They reunited in 2015 and came to an end in late 2018 when Denis Kamphaug died.
Mozart Never Did The Duckwalk [Heart Of Mary] (3:18) 1988
CD: Greetings From Stuckville [A Rose for Emily Records Flooral-2200] ● Norway, 1989
Recorded 1988-89 at Loud Level Studio, Hjellum. Well, the title should be a sure winner for a tribute, and Chuck Berry is mentioned in the lyrics also Too Much Monkey Business. Mozart never did the Duckwalk and he never let his baby guitar talk... All of the lyrics themselves are not really about Berry, however, the guitar solo is straight Berry with all the necessary riffs.
The album was reissued in 2021 on Norske Albumklassikere series (Norwegian Albumclassics), NACD-043.
LOS REBELDES (Spain)
See Volume 3, page 1333 for biographical info, and also on this blog.
Rockabilly/rock’n’roll quartet formed in Barcelona in 1979. Originally they were a trio Carlos Segarra (vocals, guitar), Aurelio Morata (bass) and Moisés Sorolla (drums), later extended to a quartet. On the album below they are a actually a quintet: Carlos Segarra (vocals, guitar), Santiago Campillo (guitar, pedal-steel guitar), Quino Lucas (piano, accordion), Aurelio Morata (bass) and Wichi Garcia de Maya (drums).
Chuck Berry [Los Rebeldes] (2:18) 2016
CD: A Flor De Piel [Altafonte MM-0013] ● Spain, 2016
LP: A Flor De Piel [Altafonte MM-0014] ● Spain, 2016
It’s a mid-tempo rockin’ tribute sung in Spanish. You can watch it on You Tube, both the studio version and live.
RAS KASS (USA)
Real name John R. Austin IV, born in 1973, Carson, California. He was an original founding member of Patchwerk Records in Atlanta, Georgia. He’s released a lot of albums since 1994.
Chuck Berry [John Austin] (2:49) 2020
LP/CD: I’m Not Clearing Shxt [Blackhouse Records BH-999 130] ● USA, 2020
I don’t understand anything (almost) of what he’s saying but Berry’s name is mentioned several times. It all starts with the intro of “Jailhouse Rock” ! and I’m trying to figure out why. Maybe because it was a white song? You know, Berry has always been a big star amongst the hip-hoppers and rappers because he was black and proud and didn’t take any shxt from anyone during his lifetime.
There are other rap songs that mention Berry in the lyrics; to sum it up: Chuck Berry made it, but the credit went to Elvis.
WERNER SCHMIDBAUER (Germany)
TV host, singer, songwriter and musician, born 1961 in Munich.
Chuck Berry (3:03) [Werner Schmidbauer] 2017 (live)
CD: Bei Mir – Solo & Live [F.A.M.E. (Sony) 787420] ● Germany, 2018
Recorded live in October 2017. Guitar and harmonica, that’s all. This is a story about Schmidbauer meeting Chuck Berry while shopping and Berry complaining about how hard it is for old rockers to find work. So they go to a public place in Munich where they play for 5 hours so that Berry has enough money for the flight back home to the States. I’m so glad I’m livin’ in the USA… Schmidbauer is singing in Bavarian dialect which is not easy to understand, so thanks to Dietmar and his wife for the efforts of listening closely to the lyrics here.
ERIC WESTPHAL (USA)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist, producer. He has worked on numerous albums over the years as a band member, session musician and fronted one of Northern California’s most celebrated power-pop bands, James Blonde. So far he’s recorded two solo albums, “Alice Street Sessions” from 2001 and the latest being “Kobold Moon” below.
Chuck Berry [Eric Westphal] (3:50) 2021
CD: Kobold Moon [IAC Records 1202 1011] ● USA, 2021
Slow and soulful big band tribute. Album recorded at 25th Street Recording, Oakland, California.
Monday, May 30. 2022
CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 3
CBID is never complete as new records and CDs appear and some old rarities are discovered. This section presents interesting additions and corrections to CBID.
Today: The more you browse the Internet, the more cover versions you find. Here's another list of artists and band playing Chuck Berry's music. [continued]
The following new entries to the Berry Covers really include several obscure Berry songs, and even a couple that have not been covered before, like “Ma Dear” and “Stop And Listen”. Enjoy.
Two more in the NO Chuck section:
Gene Latter (UK) - Sweet Little Rock And Roller (Yellowstone-Danova-Howdar) 1974
Phase III (USA) - Back In The USA (Dave Hassinger) 1969
NOTE: This is actually featured on page 1417 as a Berry cover, but it’s NOT. Sorry.
And a UK punk trio, Super Adventure Club, had an album out in 2010 called “Chalk Horror!” with a track titled In The Wee Wee Hours. Even though they thank Chuck Berry on the album this is NOT Berry’s “Wee Wee Hours”.
A & M TWO GENERATIONS (West Germany)
Alfred Fäth (bass, harmonica), Manfred Fäth (guitar, vocals, harmonica, drums) from Aschaffenburg, Bayern.
Let It Rock (2:40) 1975
Louie To Frisco (3:30) 1975
LP: Hemo [Sound Record PA-4/75] ● West Germany, 1975
Nice to find another cover of this obscure Berry track “Louie To Frisco”. See also George Thorogood, page 1559.
A-BONES (USA)
Garage rock band from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 1984. The group originally disbanded in 1994 but reunited in 2004 and again in 2009.
Tulane (3:33) 2014 (live)
LP/CD: Ears Wide Shut [Norton Records ED/CED-93] ● USA. 2014
Recorded live at the rehearsal room on Super Bowl, 2 February 2014.
WOLFGANG BERNREUTHER, THOMAS FEINER, LEO “BUD” WELCH (Germany, Sweden, USA)
Blues musicians. Wolfgang Bernreuther [from Neumarkt, Oberpfalz, Germany] (vocals, guitar) & Leo “Bud” Welch [born 1932 in Sabougla, Mississippi; died in December 2017] (vocals, guitar), Thomas Feiner [born 1968 outside Gothenburg, Sweden] (vocals, harmonica), Tommy Gedon (guitar), Jimbo Mathus (piano), Starling Browning (guitar, vocals), Beata Kossowska (maracas), Harry Hirschmann (bass), Bronson Tew (drums)
Wee Wee Hours (4:57) 2017 (live)
LP: Don’t Let The Devil Ride [Grooveland GL-114] ● Germany, 2019
CD: Don’t Let The Devil Ride [Fenn Music FMS-2109] ● Germany, 2019
Album recorded live at Dial Back Sound, Water Valley, Mississippi, 7 & 8 June, 2017.
BOGGIE LEG (Sweden)
Johan Wigge, singer, songwriter, guitarist. He also plays harmonica. He’s joined by Anders Krusell (bass) and Stefan Wållberg (drums, vocals).
Oh What A Thrill (4:02) 2003
CD: Cut To The Bone [Blue Wig Productions WIGCD-0301] ● Sweden, 2004
BILLY BREMNER’S ROCKFILES (UK/Sweden)
Singer and guitarist Billy Bremner (see Rockpile page 1471) and Geraint Watkins (piano), in collaboration with Swedish musicians like Bonnie Löfman (guitar, vocals), Mikael Finell (bass, vocals)= The Refreshments (see page 1444), and Peder Sundahl (drums). Produced by Mikael Finell and Peder Sundahl.
Oh What A Thrill (3:58) 2018
CD: Cover It Well - A Tribute To Rockpile [Ball And Chain Records BACCD-0052018] ● Sweden, 2018
Album recorded at Studio Rock Around The Clock, Skutskär and Musikhuset, Gävle, both in Sweden.
CD: A Tribute To Rockpile - Billy Bremner For President [Kool Cat Musik PURR-2142] ● USA, 2020
Let’s Make Rockfiles Great Again. This is the same album as above but has 13 tracks instead of 12 as the Swedish one.
Released 2019 both in Spain (Folc Records FOLC-119) and Japan (Target Earth Records TE-037).
DUKES OF HAMBURG (Germany)
Beat band from Bielefeld in Germany led by singer, guitarist Thilo Pieper. Pieper was also a member of an American variant of the band in the ‘90s.
Beautiful Delilah (2:29) 1998
LP: Star-Club Show 1 [Dionysus Records ID-123346] ● USA, 1998
They have used the same album art work as the old ‘60s Twist Im Star-Club LPs as a gimmick.
Oh Baby Doll (1:42) 1999
LP: Bad Side Of July [Dionysus Records ID-123377] ● USA, 1999
Recorded at Pin Up Studios, Hayward, California, USA. The song is wrongly credited to one Petry, but it’s the Berry song all right. On this album the group was billed as The Dukes Of Hamburg III.
I’m Talking About You [as “Talkin’ ‘Bout You”] (1:54) 2016
LP: Germany’s Newest Hitmakers [Moonshake Records SHAKE-8. TFA-38] ● Germany, 2017
EXCITEMENTS (Spain)
Seven piece R&B band based in Barcelona, formed 2010. Their first single came in 2010. and so far they have 4 albums out, 2011-2021.
Back To Memphis (3:04) 2016
LP/CD: Breaking The Rule [Penniman Records PENN-006] ● Spain, 2016
A good soulful rendition with lead singer Koko Jean Davis in full blast.
SIGGI FASSL (Austria)
Blues and country singer, songwriter, guitarist. Born 1966 in Vienna. He’s also been a member of the Mojo Blues Band, a band itself also represented in the Berry covers survey.
Thirteen Question Method (2:50) 2006 (live)
CD: I Did The Same Mistake Again [Styx Records STYX CD-1037] ● Austria, 2009
Recorded live at Reigen in Vienna, 3 April 2006. This is an acoustic set with just Siggi and his guitar.
FLAMIN’ GROOVIES (USA)
See Volume 3, page 1190 for biographical info.
Around And Around (3:24) 1979 (live)
Let It Rock (3:46) 1979 (live)
LP: Vaillancourt Fountain - Justin Herman Plaza - San Francisco, CA - September 19, 1979 [Rockbeat ROC-3423] ● USA, 2018
Almost Grown (2:07) 1987 (live)CD: Live At The Festival Of The Sun [AIM CD-1051] ● Australia, 1994
CD: Live In Barcelona 1987 [Music Sessions MS-028] ● Spain, 2007
Recorded live at the La Merce Festival in Barcelona, Spain, 4 October 1987.
GRAFITTI SINGERS (France)
Probably studio musicians, however, may have something to do with the rock’n’roll trio Joint De Culasse, or not?
Roll Over Beethoven (2:56) 1975
2-LP: Roll Over Beethoven [Carrere 67.054] ● France, 1975
Bye Bye Johnny (3:24) 1979
Carol (3:23) 1979
Johnny B. Goode (2:32) 1979
Memphis, Tennessee (2:29) 1979
Promised Land (2:15) 1979
Reelin’ And Rockin’ (2:55) 1979
Rock And Roll Music (2:20) 1979
Roll Over Beethoven (2:30) 1979
School Day (3:02) 1979
Sweet Little Sixteen (2:50) 1979
2-LP: Rock And Roll Story [Carrere 67.326] ● France, 1979
24 songs, but except for the Berry ones there are “Blue Suede Shoes”, “Tutti Frutti”, “Twilight Time”, and “Stagger Lee”. The rest looks like originals. With 10 Berry covers on a two-album set, it could almost be considered as a tribute.
See also under Joint Du Calasse
HENTCHMEN (USA)
See Volume 3, page 1242 for biographical info.
Oh Baby Doll (2:00) 1994
7” EP: Girl From Jackson [A Front Porch Record FPR-3] ● USA, 1994
Recorded in Northville, Michigan.
It Don’t Take But a Few Minutes (2:12) 1995
7” EP: Gravel-Bite [1+2 Records EP-099] ● Japan, 1995
Recorded 7 April ‘95 at Nomad Studios, Michigan.
BRUCE HORNSBY (USA)
Bruce Randall Hornsby was born 1954 in Williamsburg, Virginia. He’s a singer, songwriter and pianist.
Too Much Monkey Business (4:01) 2021
CD: Flicted [Zappo Productions/Thirty Tigers] ● USA, 2022
According to press release, this is the first ever cover song to appear on a Hornsby studio release. That should tell you somethin’. And would you believe that this is a rap version, pretty unusual, but gets a little boring in the long run.
HOT PANTS (France)
Rock’n’roll/punk/latin quartet. Formed in 1984.
Ma Dear (2:14) 1986
CD: Loco-Mosquito [All Or Nothing Records AN-CD-02] ● France, 1986
CD: Loco-Mosquito [Virgin Records 7243 8 49860 2] ● France, 2000
Recorded and mixed at Studio Do in Bordeaux, May 1986. Now this is the second cover version of this obscure Berry Mercury track from 1968. (See also Joint De Culasse below.)
JOINT DE CULASSE (France)
Rock’n’roll trio: Manu Chao (vocals, guitar), Jean-Marc Despeignes (bass), Santiago Casariego (drums).
Carol [as “Ho Carol”] (2:30) 1982
Ma Dear [as “My Dear My Dear”] (3:04) 1982
Memphis, Tennessee (2:35) 1982
Roll Over Beethoven (2:32) 1982
LP: Super Boum Rock’n’Roll [Force Records (Carrere) 67950] ● France, 1982
Fourteen rock’n’roll covers recorded at Studio Damiens in Boulogne, France. Hail! Hail! Another new Berry song that I didn’t know had been covered. “Ma Dear”, which Berry recorded 1 July 1968 and released on Mercury single 72840 coupled with “Louie To Frisco” (July ’68) and album “From St. Louie To Frisco” Mercury SR-61176 (October ’68). It’s okay and has a staccato funky beat and don’t sound like a Chuck Berry song. The original didn’t either, so… You can listen to it on You Tube.
HOWEVER, this album also came out in 1983 under the “band” name Graffiti Singers, released on Carrere LP-63072 containing sixteen tracks. Too much monkey business if you ask me.
See also Graffiti Singers.
See also Hot Pants for another cover of “Ma Dear”.
LA CLINIC DU DR. SCHULTZ (France)
Rock band formed in 2000 by guitarist Roger Fritsch-Schultz (died in 2104) and drummer Denis Baudrillart.
Roll Over Beethoven (2:20) 2004
CD: Rock ‘N’ Roll De Proximité [Patate Records PRP-022] ● France, 2004
10” LP: Vol. 1 [Red Head Man RHM-008] ● France, 2005
Reelin’ And Rockin’ (2:42) 2009
Rock At The Philharmonic (2:36) 2009 (instr)
CD: Rythmes Et Mélodies Du Vingtième Siècle [La Clinic Du Dr. Schultz self-released] ● France, 2009
Now this is the forth cover version of this Berry instrumental, so far. However, more rock than jazz feeling.
LES BLUE SHADES (France)
Beat/rock quartet.
How You’ve Changed (3:11) 1965
LP: Les Blue Shades [Cameleon Records CAME-43] ● France, 2016
Previously unissued (?) I haven’t found any releases by this group except the album above which contains 12 tracks. 300 copies on colored vinyl. And I would assume that this cover is based on the version by The Animals. And by the way, if you search for this Berry song on discogs you’ll find more entries by The Animals than Chuck !!!
MICKEY & LUDELLA (UK)
Michael Hampshire and Sarah J. Crouch (Ludella Black). Michael has been a member (guitarist, vocals) of The Milkshakes. And Sarah has been vocalist in groups like The Mighty Ceasars (backing vocals), Sexton Ming (vocals) and Delmonas (vocals).
Stop And Listen (2:16) 1995
LP/CD: Bedlam A’ Go-Go [Vinyl Japan ASKLP/ASKCD-52] ● UK, 1995
Surprise!!! Here’s another Berry title to add to the long list already. This blues ballad has never been covered before as far as I know (you can listen to it on You Tube). And I like it, as it doesn’t drag so much as Berry’s own. Originally recorded by Berry in February 1960 and included on the Chess album New Juke Box Hits LP-1456 released in March 1961.
MOONLIGHTERS (Belgium)
Blues-rock band. Filip De Fleurquin (vocals), Marnix Vernieuwe (guitar), Jozef Leféve (keyboards), Gust Vernieuwe (bass), Fernand Buyls (drums).
Dear Dad (1:47) 1989
It’s My Own Business [as “My Own Business”] (3:31) 1989
You Never Can Tell (3:23) 1989
LP: Pains Of 17 [Blue Sting STING-013] ● Belgium, 1989
Good to see two Berry songs that have not been covered too much, strange as it is.
N.R.B.Q. (USA)
See Volume 3, page 1393 for biographical info.
It Don’t Take But A Few Minutes (2:40) 1977
CD: Kick Me Hard – The Deluxe Edition [Rounder Records CD-3030] ● USA, 1989
Previously unissued. Only available on the Deluxe Edition. Recorded 13 October ’77.
ZOOGS RIFT (USA)
Robert Pawlikowski. Punk, rock, avantgarde (?) Not quite sure. Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, wrestling personality, born 1953 in Paterson, New Jersey. Have had 19 albums out since 1985, plus a couple of compilations. Died in 2011.
It’s My Own Business (5:19) 1999
CD: School Of The Criminally Insane [Miss Anne Thrope Music/Zoogs Rift no cat no] ● USA, 1999
Recorded April 1999 at Lotek Studio, Marina Del Rey, California. Self-released. Another cover of this obscure Berry rocker.
RISKY BLUES (Belgium)
Blues band. Filip De Fleurquin (vocals), Marnix Vernieuwe (guitar), Jef Lefeve (piano), Chris De Brakeleer (drums). Rik Wolf is playing double bass on the Berry cover.
Thirteen Question Method (2:56) 1995
CD: Doggin’ Around [Paradiso PA-6512] ● Belgium, 1995
So far there are now seven cover versions of this unusual Berry song.
SLICKEE BOYS (USA)
Psychedelic garage-rock band from the Washington D.C. area. First single release in 1976 and the first album came a year later which was the one below.
No Money Down (4:04) 1977 (live)
LP: Separated Vegetables [Dacoit LP-1001] ● USA, 1977
Only a 100 copies were pressed of this. The album was reissued in 1980 on Limp Records 1003. The track itself is a very typical white blues version if you get my drift.
V.I.P.s (UK)
Rock quintet from Carlisle, 1965-67. Original members: Mike Harrison (vocals), Jimmy Henshaw (guitar), Frank Kenyon (guitar), Greg Ridley (bass) and Walter Johnstone (drums). They had several singles and EPs out from 1964-1967.
Wee Wee Hours [“Late Night Blues”] (5:37) 1966
EP: Stagger Lee [Fontana 460 219 ME] ● France, 1967
LP: I Wanna Be Free [Beat Club International Ltd 200 005] ● France, 1987
2 CD: The Complete V.I.P.s [Repertoire REPUK-1088] ● UK, 2007
The song is actually called Late Night Blues (Wee Wee Hours), written by Berry and arranged by Greg Ridley and Mike Harrison. However, on the French EP the song is credited to Harrison/Ridley. (You’ll find it on You Tube.)
YOUNG FRESH FELLOWS (USA)
Rock/beat quartet formed early 1980s in Seattle, Washington..They have released quite a bit of singles and albums since 1984.
I Want To Be Your Driver (2:13) 1991
CD: Gleich Jetzt [1+2 Records Barn Homes CD-028] ● Japan, 1993
Recorded at EGG studio, Seattle, Washington. Berry song previously unissued. Compilation album of 16 tracks whereas 6 have been out before. The rest were unreleased.
Monday, May 9. 2022
CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 2
CBID is never complete as new records and CDs appear and some old rarities are discovered. This section presents interesting additions and corrections to CBID.
Today: The more you browse the Internet, the more cover version you find. Here's another list of artists and band playing Chuck Berry's music. [continued]
An Australian group called John Kennedy’s Love Gone Wrong had a single out in 1986 titled “Run Rudolph Run” which is not the Berry number strangely enough. It’s a self written song where they use the title between the verses. It sounds like a leftover from the Beach Boys in the ‘60s. Again it’s always a chance to take if you haven’t heard the song, and this is a very good example.
An American guitar player called Lightnin’ Red had an album out in 1972 called “The Super Guitar Of …” (Stereo Gold Award MER-351) featuring “Guitar Boogie” credited to Chuck Berry, but that’s the Arthur Smith’s version he’s playing.
ALARM CLOCKS (USA)
Originally a garage rock trio from Parma, Ohio, formed in 1965. Bruce Boehm (guitar), Mike Pierce (vocals, bass), and Bill Schwark (drums). They recorded a single in ’66 released on their own Awake label. Nothing happened and the band disbanded in 1967. The single though became later on popular among collectors and in 1996 turned up on a compilation album “Back From The Grave”. Various old songs made up an album “Yeah!” on Norton Records in 2000. The group reformed in 2006 and added a fourth member, guitar player Tom Fallon, and they had a new album out on Norton. Busy guys.
Carol ( : ) 2009 (live)
LP: Live Nov.7, 2009 [My Mind’s Eye Records NME-003] ● USA, 2010
Recorded live at the Beachland Tavern, Cleveland, Ohio. Limited Edition of 300 copies. Record has a white cover with artwork pasted on and insert with song titles, and the labels have handwritten song titles.
ARA VA DE BO (Spain)
Nuri* (lead vocals), Ricard Casals** (lead vocals), Joaquin "Max" Sunyer (guitar), Josep "Kitflus" Mas (keyboards), Primitiu Sancho (bass), Jordi Colomer (drums).
Carol** (2:59) 1977 (Spanish lyrics)
Rock And Roll Music* (3:46) 1977 (Spanish lyrics)
LP: Ara Va De Rock [Pardal 709 L.P.] ● Spain, 1977
CD: Ara Va De Rock [Actual Records 80 2008/14] ● Spain, 1998 (reissue)
Seems like this is an educational album for children.
See also Max Sunyer
AUTOMATICS (UK)
Punk-rock quartet. They had a single out in 1978 and later a few in the 2000s, and seven albums from 2000 to 2009.
You Can’t Catch Me (3:49) 2000
LP: The Missing Album [Destroy Records BURN-001] ● UK, 2000
BARBARA ANN (Spain)
Rock quintet, all men despite the band name. Hector Fernandez (vocals, ac.guitar), Jorge Garcia (el.guitar, vocals), Pedro Pasamontes (guitars), José Antonio Danta (bass, vocals), and Sergio Ramos (drums, vocals). Add. musician: Lluis Vidal (piano).
Carol (2:31) 1992
Carol (2:31) 1992 (Spanish version)
CD: Another Girl [3 Cipreses CR-9C-0910] ● Spain, 1992
LP: Another Girl [3 Cipreses 4C-0910] ● Spain, 1992*
Okay rockin’ version but the Spanish one sounds best. The CD has 15 tracks, but the LP* only features 11 tracks, which means the Spanish version is not included.
BASICS (Australia)
Rock trio, formed 2002 in Melbourne. Michael Hubbard (lead guitar, vocals) replaced by Tim Heath in 2005, Kris Schroeder (bass, vocals), Wally De Backer (drums, vocals). Most of their songs are originals, often written by Kris Schroeder, so it’s interesting to see they selected a Berry tune to cover, where they, by the way, are enhanced by a horn section.
You Never Can Tell (3:05) 2019
LP: B.A.S.I.C. [The Three Basics 3B0170562] ● Australia, 2019
CD: B.A.S.I.C. [The Three Basics 3B0170579] ● Australia, 2019
But a pretty ordinary version.
CARROLL BATEMAN And The UNTOUCHABLES (USA)
Singer and guitarist together with Ted LeMire (saxophone), Tom Vanyo (bass, vocals), Richie Pommer (drums).
No Particular Place To Go (2:50) 1966 (live)?
LP: Songs From Last Night [Smigar Records M-101] ● USA, 1966
I have a feeling this is very local. Record label out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.
BETTERDAYS (UK)
Rhythm & blues quintet from Plymouth. Mike “Shane” Hayne (lead vocals). Richard Broczek (guitars), Bob Pitcher (keyboards, vocals), Mike Weston (bass, vocals), Frank Tyler (drums). Formed in 1960 as a rock’n’roll group but who more and more added rhythm & blues to their repertoire. They released an EP on the Oak label in the early ‘60s and a single in 1965 on Polydor, but promotion and sales were poor so they disbanded in 1966.
Too Much Monkey Business (2:10) 1994
CD: No Concessions [Aftermath NAFT-1001] ● UK, 1994
2-LP: Backlash [N.T.B. Records 1003] ● UK, 2017
This re-issue in 2017 contains more songs than the 1994 version. The album has both early unreleased songs and newer recordings from the reunion of the band in 1994.
BLACK CAT JOE & MISS CORINA (France)
Black Cat Joe (vocals, guitar, harmonica, bass drum & cymbal), Miss Corina (washtub bass, maracas, tambourine). I have found two albums and two EPs by them. They play folk blues and primitive rock’n’roll. You can find several You Tube clips where they a.o. perform both “Carol” and “Roll Over Beethoven”.
Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 2013
You Never Can Tell ( : ) 2013
CD: A Thousand Miles From Nowhere [Kerozen, no cat number] ● France, 2013
BLACK LIPS (USA)
Flower-punk band from Atlanta, Georgia formed in 1999. They have released over 12 albums and a LOT of singles and EPs since 2002.
Too Much Monkey Business ( : ) 2004 (live)
7” 33 1/3 EP: Live At The Jam Club [Shake Your Ass Records SYA-009] ● Italy, 2004
Recorded live on a two-track at Jam Club in Mestre, Italy (near Venice). Limited numbered edition.
BLACK KNIGHTS 2005 (UK)
Back in the ‘60s, really 1965, they had a single out on Columbia “I Gotta Woman” produced by George Martin. This reunion band consisted of Mal Jefferson (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Frank Hopley (piano, vocals), Ritchie Ballard (bass), Allan Schroeder (drums, vocals), the latter was a founding member of the original group.
Johnny B. Goode (3:20) 2005
Nadine (3:29) 2005
No Particular Place To Go (2:30) 2005
CD: Back In Black [Mastersound MS CD.570] ● UK, 2005
LYNDA CARTER (USA)
Lynda Jean Cordova Carter from Phoenix, Arizona, born in 1951. She’s an actress and singer. Won Miss World USA in 1972. Played the role of “Wonder Woman” for three seasons in the ‘70s TV series. So far she has released four studio albums, from 1978-2018.
You Never Can Tell (C’est La Vie …) (3:21) 2011
CD: Crazy Little Things [Potomac Records PP-4003] ● USA, 2011
Pretty good pop version.
CASH (USA)
Rock quintet. Kathy Turner (vocals), Howard “Bunk” Beenken (guitar), Isaac Josef Anthony (organ), Tim James (bass), Hank Laake (drums)
Johnny B. Goode / Roll Over Beethoven [in a rock’n’roll medley] (10:10) 1972 (live)
LP: Caught Live At The Golden Hawk [Catch Records LAM-128] ● USA, 1972
Recorded live at the Golden Hawk on 9 September 1972 in Des Moines, Iowa. In addition to the Berry covers the medley consists of: Long Tall Sally, Great Balls Of Fire, Shake Rattle And Roll and Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.
It’s not easy to find on line tracks from obscure albums, so I can’t comment here.
CHANTAL (Germany)
German classical group or instrumental-ensemble with ten to fourteen musicians gathered.
Roll Over Beethoven (4:54) 2003 (live) (instr)
CD: Live At The Cavern [Zounds Music 27000 60022] ● Germany 2003
Recorded live at The Cavern Club in Liverpool 22 February, 2003. This is in a series titled Audiophile Edition – Volume 4.
Again, I wonder why they include Beethoven, except that Beatles recorded it and had a hit with it, but still ? The Beatles wrote plenty of their own. As a matter of fact of the 14 tracks on the album, 13 are from the pens of Lennon-McCartney.
CO-DEPENDENTS (Canada)
Rock’n’roll-country quartet from Calgary, Alberta, consisting of Billy Cowsill (lead vocals, ac. guitar), Steve Pineo (el. guitar, vocals), Tim Leacock (bass, vocals), Ross Watson (drums). They existed from 1998 to 2004.
You Never Can Tell (3:02) 2001 (live)
CD: Live At The Mecca Café – Volume 2 [Indelible Music NIRC-0009] ● Canada, 2006
Album recorded live at the Mecca Café in Calgary, 27, 29, 30 June 2001. Here we have 18 mostly covers of rock’n’roll, soul, R&B songs from various well known artists and groups.
CORMAN (France)
Alias Marc Simon, a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter. In the ‘90s he performed and recorded with Claude Saut as Corman & Tuscadu. He’s also recorded a lot as Marc Simon. To be quite honest I am not sure where he’s from, France or Italy? Most of the albums by him are from France. It’s not easy when you have songs recorded in French, English, Italian and German.
Carol (4:09) 1997
CD: Anatomia [Baracca & Burattini 489171 2] ● Italy, 1997
I have only found one release of this album from Italy. And this is also the only release as Corman.
CRAZY ROCKERS (Netherlands)
Four piece indo-rock band. See Volume 3, page 1146 for biographical info.
However, there were some missing links in there. I didn’t have the exact year for the first two Berry covers and I missed the timing. And the CD “Story Of The Crazy Rockers” was also missing. Now their Berry covers collection is complete and correct, so far.
Bye Bye Johnny (2:32) 1964
Rock And Roll Music (2:18) 1964
LP: Drivin’ With The Crazy Rockers [Delta DL-502] ● Netherlands, 1964
CD: Story Of The Crazy Rockers [Sam Sam Music CDHL-1006] ● Netherlands, 1992
Reelin’ And Rockin’ (2:13) 1964
45: Delta DS-1116 ● Netherlands, 1964 (PS)
CD: Story Of The Crazy Rockers [Sam Sam Music CDHL-1006] ● Netherlands, 1992
You Never Can Tell (3:21) 1998
CD: In Session [KoKo Records 98201] ● Netherlands, 1998
Vocals by Sugar Lee Hooper.
CREOLE STRING BEANS (USA)
Six piece Swamp pop/R&B group from New Orleans, Louisiana.
You Never Can Tell ( : ) 2009
CD: Creole String Beans [String Bean Music SM-001] ● USA, 2009
Recorded at Word Of Mouth Studio, New Orleans. There are a couple of live performances by the band of this song on You Tube.
CROSSTONES (USA)
A rock band led by guitarist Bobby Emmons.
Run Rudolph Run (2:46) 1980
LP: It’s Christmas Time [Clifton Records CL-2001] ● USA, 1980
This runs too fast in a country rock way, enhanced by a horn section which makes it a little nagging. Record label out of Clifton, New Jersey.
KIKKI DANIELSSON (Sweden)
See Volume 3, page 1153 for biographical info.
Run Rudolph Run (2:42) 2016
CD: Christmas Card From a Painted Lady [Universal Music UNI-0602557-24198] ● Sweden, 2016
Slower and pretty dull version, unfortunately.
DELILAH DeWYLDE And The Lost Boys (USA)
Delilah DeWylde (vocals, upright bass), Lee Harvey (guitar), and DJ McCoy (drums). Delilah hails from Western Michigan and started with her high octane rockabilly back in 2004. She’s released three albums and two EPs from 2008-2012.
Run Rudolph Run ( : ) 2012
45: Merry Christmas From Delilah DeWylde… [Girl Friday Records GFR-003] ● USA, 2012
Released in limited quantities; 100 copies on green vinyl, and then re-issued in 2013 on red vinyl with 130 copies.
DOLLHOUSE (Sweden)
Garage rock band from Enköping, Sweden. They were active from 2000 to 2011. Unfortunately no info when the Berry number below was recorded.
Too Much Monkey Business ( : ) 2010 (?)
45: Ghost Highway Recordings GHR-130 ● Spain, 2016
Interesting release with Dollhouse on one side with the Berry number and Jake Starr And The Delicious Fullness on the other with a Bo Diddley cover “Gunslinger”. There are two picture sleeves (color drawings), the Berry side has a “Dollhouse” leaning on a jukebox like on Berry’s LP “New Juke Box Hits”. The Diddley sleeve is showing “Jake Starr” in disguise as Bo as on his Checker LP “Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger”. Limited editions of a 100 hand numbered copies each on black, green and blue vinyl.
MAX SUNYER (Spain)
Real name Joaquin Antoni Sunyer Llop. Jazz-rock guitarist, born in La Pobla de Massaluca, Terra Alta in 1947. He’s been active since the mid ‘60s. He studied classical guitar playing from the late ‘60s during four years. Musicians on the album below are: Jordi Querol (vocals), Max Sunyer (guitar, harmonica), Pepe (bass), J. M. Vilaseca (drums).
Carol (2:53) 1972
Rock And Roll Music (2:51) 1972
Roll Over Beethoven (2:45) 1972
CD: 1972 [PDI S.A. F-80.3325] ● Spain, 1994 (reissue)
I can’t seem to find the original album, so maybe this is something that never came out originally(?) It’s a straight rock’n’roll album with ten tracks and again Berry’s music is represented the most.
See also Ara Va De Bo
Main Page
This weblog is an addition to my Chuck Berry fansite called "A Collector's Guide to the Music of Chuck Berry" which describes all books and records of interest to everyone enjoying Chuck Berry's music.
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What You Missed
Some earlier but important entries:
- Unanswered questions about the recording of Memphis, Tennessee
- Sweet Little Eight Variants of Sweet Little Sixteen
- The Johnny B. Goode Session
- Chuck Berry in Stereo
- Chuck Berry's Recording Session for Volkswagen
- Chuck Berry's Recording Session for Dr Pepper
- Tim McFarlin Introduces the Berry-Johnson Test into American Copyright Law
- Chuck Berry's Early Recording Locations
- Run! Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer – and the copyright mystery
- Chuck Berry live in New York 1956
- The very first Chuck Berry LP album
- The Chuck Berry On Stage confusion continues
- The Chuck Berry Vinyl Bootlegs, Vol. 1: Rare Berries
- Rocksmuk album - bootleg or not?
Recent Entries
- Lonely School Days - the variants explained
- Tuesday, January 31 2023
- An Interview with Johnnie Johnson - 1987
- Sunday, January 29 2023
- Chuck Berry: An American Life - by RJ Smith
- Thursday, January 12 2023
- CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 8
- Wednesday, January 11 2023
- CBID - Sounding like Chuck Berry
- Tuesday, January 10 2023
- CBID - A Tribute to a Tribute to Chuck Berry
- Monday, January 9 2023
- CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 7
- Wednesday, November 9 2022
- Andy McKaie RIP
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- CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 6
- Monday, October 10 2022
- CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 5
- Thursday, August 18 2022
- CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 4
- Tuesday, August 9 2022
- Chuck Berry - Live from Blueberry Hill - explained
- Monday, June 27 2022
- CBID - Eight additions to the Tributes list
- Monday, June 20 2022
- CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 3
- Monday, May 30 2022
- CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 2
- Monday, May 9 2022
- Run! Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer – and the copyright mystery
- Saturday, May 7 2022
- CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 1
- Friday, April 29 2022
- CBID - More Berry Covers - part 2
- Tuesday, March 29 2022
- CBID - More Berry Covers - part 1
- Monday, March 21 2022
- CBID - Some old but missing Berry releases popped up
- Monday, January 31 2022
- CBID - Surfin' the Net for Berry covers
- Sunday, January 30 2022
- CBID - Mikka Grytviken and the Differents honor Chuck
- Tuesday, January 25 2022
- CBID - Chuck Berry in Radio and Movies
- Saturday, January 15 2022
- CBID - Additions to the Eddy Clearwater Discography
- Friday, January 14 2022
- CBID - The Night Chuck Berry Died
- Thursday, December 23 2021
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