The Chuck Berry Collectors Blog

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 are some corrections to previously listed covers - plus some new ones, including the Rolling Stones.

Let's start with what we discussed in the previous covers addition: digital-only releases.
When I began listing Chuck Berry cover versions, of course the only thing that counted was that I could (at least theoretically) buy a physical copy of the music, on vinyl, CD, cassette or whatever. This is the same prerequisite that the discogs database has. It must be physically available.
In today's digital world, where music is no more than a computer file or stream, people are able to upload any kind of 'performance' including Chuck Berry cover versions. So on let's say Facebook or Tiktok we find some ten-year-old trying to play 'Johnny B. Goode', on YouTube we find some bad-quality TV or concert video of some once-known 'star' singing 'Memphis, Tennessee', on privately run websites we find a hobby band's recording of 'Sweet Little Sixteen', and so on. Likewise on Spotify, Apple Music or Bandcamp cover versions appear which have never made it (and should never make it) to a physical release.
There are some good digital-only cover versions and many bad. I will point you to some which I think are worth listening to. But for inclusion into CBID it has to be very goode, very interesting, or physical.

Thus to follow up from last time regarding cover versions of 'Johnny B. Goode', here are a few examples of what I found on Spotify a little while back. None of them is on discogs, i.e. available physically:
Burnt Lips (USA) 2015, Callahan (USA) 2015, Count Markus Cross (USA) 2013, Jerry L. Vernon Dune Country Band (USA) 2011, The Everyday Blues Band (USA) 2013, First Highland Watch (USA) 2011, Shamus Hannah (Canada) 2007, Nate Jaeger (USA) 2010, Billy Jay (USA) 2013, Delaney Johnston (USA) 2013, KM Rock (USA) 2013, Lindley Creek Bluegrass (USA) 2011, Nagata (Japan) 2011, John Nicole (USA) 2012, Velsh Odegan (Iran), Doc Richardson (USA) 2014, John Schneider (USA) 2013, Wild Ride (USA) 2013.
If you search now you will find a whole lotta bunch of others 'released' in between … Braaheim (Norway) 2026, Louise Andersson Bodin (Sweden) 2026 … Just to give you an idea.
Talking about covers not on discogs, You Tube, Spotify a.o. have an “album”: World Allstars - Chuck Berry Tribute versions (Legacy Records) featuring 10 uninspired covers by some studio musicians. They call themselves New Tribute Kings.

On another topic: The band Mefisto from Czechoslovakia has an instrumental tribute to Chuck titled “I Like Chuck Berry” (2:58). When I finally got the opportunity to hear it I understood it couldn’t be 1966 as first pointed out to me. I searched a bit and found out it was actually recorded in 1989. There are in addition two other versions, both live in 1989, one clocking in at (3:13) and another at (3:40).

Now to the Berry covers:

GARY ALLEGRETTO (USA)

Blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter. Special guests on the album below are: Ivan Neville, Janiva Magness, John Cephas, and Doug MacLeod. The legendary Pinetop Perkins had this to say about Gary: «That boy can really blow the harp».

Back To Memphis (3:05) 2008

CD: Many Shades Of Blue [Big Flore Records 01890 6] ● USA, 2008

14 tracks. 12 written by Gary, one by Hank Williams and the Berry one. Recorded at The Neville Brothers' home studio, New Orleans, Lousiana. Piano played by Steve F’dor which is very much up front in the music picture. Goode version, nuff said.

HUGHUES AUFRAY (France)

Real name Hughues Jean Marie Auffray, singer, songwriter, guitarist, born 1929 in Neuilly-sur-Seine. At the time of writing (May 2026) he’s 96 years of age. He became famous in the ‘60s with Bob Dylan covers translated to French. Since 1964 he’s released over 30 albums, and since 1959 so many EPs and singles you wouldn’t believe it!

You Never Can Tell (as “Prends La Vie Comme Telle”) (3:17) 1981

LP: Caravane [Atlantic 50 788] ● France, 1981
CD: Caravane [Atlantic (Rhino) 2564698152] ● France, 2007

On page 686 (CBID Vol.2) this is mentioned as an unknown Berry number but credited to Berry. Here it is, finally.

BJØRN BERGE (Norway)

See Volume 3, page 1069, for biographical info, as he recorded a studio version in 1998.

Thirteen Question Method (as “13 Question Method”) (5:00) 2005 (live)

CD: Live In Europe [Skycap CAP-053] ● Germany, 2007

The Berry track and one more were recorded at Nouveau Casino, Paris - March 2005. The rest were recorded live at Ancienne Belgique, Brussels, Belgium, February 2007.

CD/DVD: Live In Europe [Blue Mood Records BMCD-6508 ] ● Norway, 2008
CD/DVD: Live In Europe [DixieFrog DFGCD-8643] ● France, 2008

CD same as above. However, the DVD was recorded live at Smuget in Oslo, Norway, June 2001, and at Arezzo Wave Love Festival, Italy, July 2005.

CLASS OF ’58 (UK)

A family group formed back in 1986. At that time consisting of husband Howie Coleman on vocals and lead guitar and wife Christine on double bass with a various line-up They got two sons in the ‘90s who would later join the group, David on keyboards, and John on drums. Which by the way is the line-up on the CD below.

Run Rudolph Run (3:01) 2025

CD EP: Christmas With The Colemans [Classroom Records CRCD-002] ● UK, 2025

FESTIVAL BOYS (Norway)

See Volume 3, page 1186-87 for biographical info.

Johnny B. Goode (3:10) 2015
Memphis, Tennessee (as “Memphis”) (2:33) 2015

CD: From Dakota To Memphis [Festival Boys (CPR Project)] ● Norway, 2016

Even though there’s no actual record label and cat no, this is a true CD release. 14 tracks with a little bit of pop, country, rock’n’roll and Shadows music. Johnny B. is pretty dull/uninspired and Memphis is as so often in the Johnny Rivers mode.

FIREBIRDS (Germany)

See this blog for info and two other Berry covers.

Roll Over Beethoven (5:38) 2018 (live) as The Firebirds Rockestra

CD: Live In Berlin [Firebirds (Broken Silence) 00754] ● Germany, 2018

FRIJID PINK (USA)

Now this is a great mistake from the author. As this is actually featured in the NO Chuck section in Vol.4 page 1748. Somebody told me once that this was not Berry’s. Well thanks to my collector friend Sverre Romfo of Norway who pointed out to me yesterday (16 July 2026) that it is very much a cover of the Berry classic! And checking discogs it surely is. I should of course have checked it later on when working on the CBID project, but didn’t. However, collecting Berry covers since the mid ‘60s it’s almost impossible to double check everything 30-40 years later (?)

Frijid Pink was a blues-rock band from Detroit, formed in 1967. Probably best known for their million seller heavy version of “House Of The Rising Sun” in 1969/1970. The original line-up was Tom Beaudry (aka Kelly Green) (vocals), Gary Ray Thompson (guitar), Tom Harris (bass), Richard Stevers (drums) and later was join by Larry Zelanka (keyboards).
However, except for Stevers, the line-up on the album below is different: Rockin’ Reggie Vincent (vocals) who is singing on the Berry cover, Joe Baker (harp, vocals), Craig Webb (guitar), David Ahlers (piano), Larry Popolizio (bass), and Rick Stevers (drums).

School Day (3:36) 1974

LP: All Pink Inside [Fantasy F-9464] ● USA, 1974

Recorded at Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California, March ’74. Good rock version. They slow it down during the first guitar solo. Petty they didn’t do more Berry.

RAY FULLER And The Bluesrockers (USA)

Singer, songwriter, guitarist from Ohio. He started way back in the mid ‘70s, forming The Bluesrockers in 1978, releasing a self-titled album. His LP “Somethin’ Shakin’” on Midnight Records came out in 1984. He’s had at least 4 albums on Azurtone Records, 2011-2019.

I Will Not Let You Go (3:13) 2019

CD: Pay The Price [Azurtone Records ] ● USA, 2019

14 tracks album with mostly original songs, except… The second cover of this obscure Berry song. (Also see Terry Davidson & The Gears.)
In 2004 Ray released an album titled “Live – Rockin’ The Blues” featuring a.o. “Don’t You Lie To Me” credited to Chuck Berry, which of course is wrong.
In 2014 he released “Live At Buddy Guy’s Legend” featuring a cover of Eddy Clearwater’s Berry soundalike “I Wouldn’t Lay My Guitar Down”.

GLI ARCHIMEDI (Italy)

Classical string trio from Alba, Piedmont. Formed in 2015. Andrea Bertino (violin), Luca Panicciari (cello), Giorgio Boffa (contrabass).

Johnny B. Goode (2:48) 2018 (instr)

CD: Forvojaĝi [New Model Label NML-160] ● Italy, 2018

Finally a classical rendition of this classic. Pretty interesting and unusual. You can watch and listen on YouTube.

JOHNNY IGUANA (USA)

Singer, songwriter, pianist from Chicago. Here is an update and amendments to the already included version on this blog.

You Never Can Tell (3:21) 2025

LP: At Delmark: Chicago-Style Solo Piano [Delmark 888 ] ● USA, 2025

Played on a 1917 Steinway B piano, Delmark's very own.

KINGSNAKES (USA)

See Volume 3, page 1291 for biographical info.

No Particular Place To Go (2:43) 1981 (live)
You Never Can Tell (2:11) 1981 (live)

CD: Live At The Old Waldorf June 5, 1981 [Liberation Hall LIB-5137] ● USA, 2023

Recorded live at the Old Waldorf in San Francisco, California, 5 June ’81. There are a couple of bonus tracks which were recorded elsewhere. The album is part of a series called Sounds From The San Francisco Underground.

LOS HAWAI SAN REMO Y’ADRIAN (Spain)

Beat/rock quintet featuring singer Adrian.

Memphis, Tennessee (2:23) 1965

EP: Terry [Belter 51.525] ● Spain, 1965

Now this sounds pretty okay, all things considered.

LOS HOLIDAY’S (Venezuela)

Rock quartet from Caracas who started out as a surf/rock band in 1964, but in the late ‘60s became more of a psychedelic rock outfit.

Memphis, Tennessee [as “Memphis”] (2:13) 1964

45: Discomoda 1378 ● Venezuela, 1964
LP: Los Holiday’s [Discomoda DCM-428] ● Venezuela, 1964

Spanish lyrics. Sorry, but this sounds so uninspired and flat.

MESEY & SCORFINA (USA)

Michael Mesey (drums), Steve Corfina (lap steel), Johnnie Johnson (piano), Michael McDonald (vocals), David Sanborn (saxophone), Jimmy Vivino (guitar), Dora Oxford (harmony vocals),Greg Hulub (bass).

Johnny B. Goode (3:56) 2002

YouTube: Audio ● USA, 2015

Featuring Johnnie Johnson, Michael McDonald, David Sanborn, those three names are highlighted on YouTube.
I have included this just because Johnnie is involved. I have tried to find info on the recording date and it seems like it was made early 2000 to raise money for the then upcoming movie about Johnnie, Johnnie Be Good. Unfortunately Johnnie died in 2005. It was scheduled to be completed in 2008 but so far in May 2026 nothing has happened. This particular movie is mentioned on page 948 in Vol.2 of CBID.

MICHEL PAGLIARO (Canada)

Michel Armand Guy Pagliaro. Rock singer, songwriter, guitarist, born 1948 in Montréal, Québec. He started in the mid ‘60s and by 2026 still doing his thing. First single and album came in 1968.

Around And Around (as “Ça Va Brasser”) (2:25) 1974
Come On (as “Comment”) (2:38) 1974

LP: Pagliaro [RCA Victor KPL1-0075] ● Canada, 1974

On pages 683 and 684 in CBID Vol.2 both these covers above where not known to me, except that I knew they were songs based on unknown Berry numbers. But now we finally know.

ROCKHOUSE BROTHERS (UK)

Rockabilly/rock’n’roll trio consisting of Joey (guitar) and Jamie (bass) Carnwath. They were born in the USA but raised in England. On drums they have Wolff Reichert. So far I have spotted six albums, the first from 2003.

You Never Can Tell (2:37) 2009 (live)

CD: Live At Thomas Read [Wolfman Records RHB-8448] ● Germany, 2010

Pretty simple but effective version. Good guitar playing from Joey.

Run Rudolph Run (2:42) 2025

CD: The Gift Of Giving [India Records ] ● Germany, 2025

ROLLING STONES (UK)

See Volume 3, page 1475-1477 for biographical info, and also this blog.

Beautiful Delilah (3:25) 2026

LP: Foreign Tongues [Rolling Stones Records (Polydor) 00602488213639] ● Worldwide, 2026

The LP comes in green, red and blue vinyl.

CD: Foreign Tongues [Rolling Stones Records (Polydor) 8821328] ● Worldwide, 2026

Sounds like a cross between Muddy Waters and John Lee Hooker. Do I like it? Well, it’s okay by me. They started out in 1963 with a Berry cover (“Come On”), so you might say that the ring is closed with the final song on the album above.

RUSSELL (Austria)

Country singer. Real name is Russell B. Burke.

Memphis, Tennessee (2:22) 1990s

CD: Collections 2 [Filzmooser Records CD-5545] ● Austria, 1990s

Not much Lonnie Mack or Johnny Rivers. What a relief.

JAY STOLLMAN (USA)

Singer, songwriter in the blues/soul bag.

Back To Memphis (3:01) 2015

CD: Room For One More [Number 7 Records ] ● USA, 2015

Pretty decent version with the good help from guitarist Debbie Davies who knows her Berry.

TOWNSMEN (Canada)

Rock quintet from Ottawa, Ontario, active in the 1960s.

Memphis, Tennessee (as “Memphis”) (2:46) 1992 (instr) (live)

2-CD: We’re Doing Fine – The Anthology [Olde CD 2006.8/9] ● Canada, 2006

Recorded live at Ottawa Civic Center. Reunion performance. Previously unissued.

VILHO “LITTLE BEAT” VAINIO (Finland)

Drummer, 14 years old when he recorded the album below.

Guitar Boogie (2:03) 2025 (instr)

Mini CD: Lost In…Drums [Moondog MOONCD-2601] ● Finland, 2026

Four tracks from “Perdido”, “Let There Be Drums” to “Because they’re Young” and Berry’s. There are several musicians present and 5 guitar players(!) and a Hammond organ, which unfortunately you hear too much of on the Berry number.

WANDERLÉA (Brazil)

Wanderléa Charlup Boere Salim. Born 1946 in Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais. She’s a popular singer, songwriter with over 20 original albums (the first in 1963) to her credit plus a lot of compilations, and almost 50 singles and EPs (the first in 1962).

Memphis, Tennessee [as “Sem Endereço”] (2:49) 1964

LP: Quero Você [CBS 37376] ● Brazil, 1964

People from Brazil and fans of her probably enjoyed this version, but it is actually a terrible joke, musically. It’s on YouTube if you dare.