CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 9

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 list even includes a Berry number sung in Occitan [continued]

CHRISTIAN ALMERGE & Test (France)

Singer, songwriter. In the early ‘80s and ‘90s he was a member of the band Test who released two singles and five albums including a compilation. In 2004 he released his first solo album (the one below) but using Test as backing band, and several albums followed. In October 2022 he had a completely new album out. All sung in Occitan, an ancient French language.

Carol [as “Caròl] (2:45) 2004

CD: On Dirait Le Sud [Agorila AGCD-369] ● France, 2004

A variety of covers ranging from Chuck to Eddie Cochran, Little Richard, Gene Vincent, Brigitte Bardot, James Booker, The Weavers, Serge Gainsbourg and more. All translated to his own language by Almerge himself.
See also Test below.

AUTOMATIC CITY (France)

Psychedelic rhythm & blues quartet from Lyon, formed in 2015.

Havana Moon (3:44) 2017

CD: Bongoes & Tremeloes [Stag-O-Lee STAG-O 105] ● France, 2017

Pretty ordinary rendition.

ANDY CHRISTIAN & THE SUNLIGHTS (Austria)

Probably a dance/pop quintet.

Memphis, Tennessee ( : ) mid 1970s

45: Berton Records 8752 ● Austria, mid ‘70s

The Berry cover was the flip-side. The A-side was titled “Dance To The Music”, which seems like an original song from the band.

D.J. BLUES BAND (UK)

Sue Noel (vocals), Ray Deefholts (guitar), Jim Pitts (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Derek Dailey (organ, keyboards), Norman Leppard (tenor saxophone), Geoff Hoare (trumpet), John Bradford (bass), Derek Middleton (drums).

I still Got The Blues (2:56) 1965 (?)

Various artists 4-CD set: Something Inside Of Me [Wienerworld Presentation WNRCD-5114] ● UK, 2021

“Unreleased Masters & Demos from the British Blues Years 1963-1976”. I don’t have the actual album set so I have no more info. But it’s Berry’s and another track to add to the already huge amount of Berry songs that’s been covered.
I think that this is a Berry song (it’s a good blues tune) that would have captured several cover versions had it been released on a proper studio album back in the day instead on the infamous “On Stage” LP with the faked audience and all.

ESTEFAN FAMILY (USA)

Gloria Maria Milagrosa Fajardo Garcia Estefan and her daughter Emily Estefan and her grandson Sasha Estefan-Coppola, plus other family members. Gloria is a Cuban/American singer, songwriter and actress, born 1957 in Havana,Cuba, raised in Miami, Florida. First million seller in 1985-86 with “Conga” as Miami Sound Machine which included her husband Emilio on keyboards. In 1989 she was just Gloria Estefan and had several hits during the ‘90s.

Run Rudolph Run (medley titled “Run, Little St. Nick”) (3:33) 2022

CD: Estefan Family Christmas [Sonic Music Latin 19658778982] ● USA, 2022

On page 752 (Vol.2) you’ll find a song mentioned by The Beach Boys titled “Little Saint Nick” (Songs with similar lyrics to Chuck Berry songs). So here Estefan has combined the Berry classic with this Brian Wilson composition which works very well indeed.

CHRIS ISAAK (USA)

Now finally we have Christopher Joseph Isaak on this list of Berry covers. Singer/songwriter/guitarist/actor who was born in Stockton, California on 26 June 1956. In 1984 he released his debut Warner Bros. album titled “Silvertone”. His album “Heart Shaped World” sold two million copies in 1989-1990. His next albums also sold really well, two gold and one platinum. His biggest hit being “Wicked Game” from 1990.

Run Rudolph Run (3:18) 2022

CD: Everybody Knows It’s Christmas [SUN 8017/27558017 27] ● USA, 2022

Recorded at RCA Studio A, Nashville. In the beginning it sounds very ordinary, but later we get an exciting guitar solo which also ends the song.

EARL JACKSON (UK)

He was born in Lambeth in 1964 by Jamaican parents. Very influenced by gospel music, however, it seems that he started an interest for rock’n’roll as he joined a rock’n’roll band in the mid ‘80s and later on took an interest in the music of Chuck Berry. Nowadays he appears regurlary at various venues with his Tribute to Chuck Berry, often wearing that silly captain cap. You can watch several clips on You Tube.

Little Queenie ( : ) 2020
You Never Can Tell ( : ) 2020

CD: Earl Jackson & The Savoys Explains… [Tombstone Records TOMBCD 30-13] ● UK, 2020

Album recorded in Eindhoven, Netherlands with cc Jerome & The Savoys.

JOE And THE JAGUARS (USA)

Aka Joe Bennett of Joe Bennett & The Sparkeltones fame (“Black Slacks” and “Penny Loafers And Bobby Socks” 1957). Singer, songwriter, guitarist born 1940 in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Died in 2015 at the age of 75. However, this Berry cover below was recorded when he was stationed in Spain with the Air Force. It was released on a Hispavox EP in 1964 credited to Joe And The Jaguars.

Memphis, Tennessee [as “Memphis”] (2:00) 1964 (instr)

EP: Si Tuviera Un Martillo [Hispavox HH 17-274] ● Spain, 1964
LP: Historia De La Musica Pop Española No.74 [Alligator Records 560374] ● Spain, 1988
CD: What The Heck! The Complete Joe Bennett & The Sparkeltones [Bear Family BCD-17632] ● Germany, 2022

NEATBEATS (Japan)

Garage rock/beat quartet who was formed in 1997 and had their first single and album released in 1998. The original line-up was Manabe Nakashi (vocals, guitar), Tosa Kazube (vocals, guitar), Ura Dai (bass, vocals), Kusube Shinya (drums, vocals). VERY popular in Japan and has released a vast numbers of singles/EPs and albums. They're good musicians with the right feeling but their English pronounciation is pretty bad.

Reelin’ And Rockin’ (2:31) 1999

CD: Mercurial… [Majestic Sound Records MSCD-003] ● Japan, 1999
CD: Mercurial… [Get Hip Recordings GH-1088] ● USA, 1999

Little Queenie ( : ) 2001 (live)

EP: Top Beat Live EP [Majestic Sound Records MSEP-014] ● Japan, 2002
2-CD: Beat At Majestic Sound 1998-2009 [Majestic Sound Records MSCD-046/7] ● Japan, 2010

Beautiful Delilah (2:15) 2001

CD: The Neatbeats [Deckrec/UK Project DCRC-0026] ● Japan, 2001
EP: The Neatbeats [Deckrec/UK Project DCRC-0027] ● Japan, 2001
EP: The Neatbeats [Majestic Sound Records MSEP-061] ● Japan, 2016
CD: Beat At Deckrec 2000-2001 [Deckrec /UK Project DCRC-0088] ● Japan, 2017

Sweet Little Rock And Roller ( : ) 2004

CD: Big Red Partner [Beatex BTXSCD-020] ● Japan, 2004
45: Big Red Partner [Clap Label CL-726] ● USA, 2004

Run Rudolph Run ( : ) 2006

LP: Rock’N’Roll Christmas [Majestic Sound Records MSLP-035] ● Japan, 2006

I’m Talking About You (2:05) 2009

CD: Beat Side Hits [Majestic Sound Records MSCD-042] ● Japan, 2009

There’s an interesting clip on You Tube from a Halloween Ball in 2016 where the boys are performing this cover dressed in almost full Berry outfits like shiny shirts (different colors) and each with the silly white Berry cap. Great tribute though.

Around And Around ( : ) 2011 (live)

CD: Like The Cavern Live! Reel No.1 [Majestic Sound Records MSCD-051] ● Japan, 2011

Too Much Monkey Business ( : ) 2011 (live)

CD: Like The Cavern Live! Reel No.2 [Majestic Sound Records MSCD-052] ● Japan, 2011

I’m Talking About You ( : ) 2016 (live)

CD: Like The Cavern Live! Lost Reel [Majestic Sound Records MSCD-089] ● Japan, 2017

I Want To Be Your Driver ( : ) 2018 (live)
Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 2018 (live) with The Mackshow

CD: Live At Bigcat Coliseum ’18 [Majestic Sound Records MSDVDCD-002] ● Japan, 2019

This seems to have been released as a complete set with a DVD (limited edition).

Keeping up with the releases here by The Neatbeats are not easy. There are so many albums and 45s which indicates the popularity of the group. And not any of the albums have any timing on them. I found a complete show on You Tube titled Live At The Red Cloth – Back To The Cavern! 2011 where they perform “Beautiful Delilah” (2:00) and “Around Around” (1:40). Don’t know if this was available on any CD?

NOI TRE (Italy)

A blues-rock/R&B trio, Paolo Tofani (vocals, guitar), Agostino Nobile (vocals, bass),Giuseppe Pini (vocals, drums).

Too Much Monkey Business (2:33) 1968 (live)

LP: Compendium [Habla Label HBL-20403] ● Italy, 1989
CD: Compendium [Get Back GET-1] ● Italy, 1995

Recorded live in Sesto Fiorentino, Florence in December 1968. They also do a version of “Don’t You Lie To Me” credited to Berry. Unfortunately, this was very common in the ‘60s but should have been corrected in 1989 to Hudson Whittaker (Tampa Red). The CD has additional tracks from various sources which are not from the ’68 concert.

DICK NOLAN (Canada)

As the cover proclaims: Dick Nolan and Marlene Beaudry present an album of today’s country hits. I am sure the cover below sounds like Waylon Jennings’ version as that one entered the Billboard charts in November ’69.

Brown Eyed Handsome Man (2:15) 1969

LP: Marlene Beaudry & Dick Nolan - Country Hits [Arc records AS-819] ● USA, 1969

The two artists sing five songs each. Recorded at Bay Studios, Toronto, Ontario.

NOMADDS (USA)

1960s rock-beat quintet from Chicago. Dean Kuehl (vocals, harmonica), Lee Garner (lead guitar), Greg Johnson (rhythm guitar, vocals), Denny Kuhl (bass), Tony Cannova (drums).

Roll Over Beethoven (2:50) 1965

LP: Nomadd Originals Plus [Radex Recording Studios MLP-6521] ● USA, 1965
CD: Nomadd Originals Plus [Way Back Records MMCD-66036] ● Germany, 2009

OGI & THE FLINTSTONES (UK)

An obscure beat group from Liverpool, active during the early and mid ‘60s.

Around And Around ( : ) 1961 (live)

Various CD: Beat Waves ‘Cross The Mersey Vol.3 [Merseyside Records ME-1003] ● UK, 2013

“Around And Around” live in 1961 is very early and somewhat strange(!) If true it will be the very first cover of this Berry classic.

OHAŘI (Czechoslovakia)

Country band formed in 1971 and it seems like they were still playing in 2021!

Memphis, Tennessee [as “Újezd Nad Lesy”] ( : ) 1979

45: Supraphone 1143 2265 ● Czechoslovakia, 1979

OIL CAN CHRISTMAS BAND (USA)

From Moline, Illinois, lead by guitarist Jerry Lee Wright.

Run Rudolph Run (2:46) 1994

Various CD: Run Run Rudolph: The Oil Christmas Compilation [Oil Music OIL-01] ● USA, 1995

Credited to Chuck Berry. The recording of the Berry song took place too late (11 December 1994) for a proper Christmas launch in ’94 so it was shelved and released in time for Christmas ’95 together with 12 more spirit of Christmas songs into a full-fledged CD. Now this is a very good rendition of this Berry Xmas classic. There are many players and singers on this one and if you want to hear and see go to You Tube and have fun.

OLD SCHOOL BASTERDS (Austria)

Rock’n’roll quintet. Stanley (vocals), Johnny (guitar), Jerry Lee (piano),Vincenzo (bass), Charlie (drums). They have several self-released albums since 2011. And there’s a Chuck Berry medley on You Tube you can watch.

Johnny B. Goode (2:35) 2011
Maybellene (2:09) 2011

CD: No. 1 [OSB self-released] ● Austria, 2011

No Particular Place To Go (2:15) 2019

CD: Dance Potion No. 5 [screamingPIGrecords SPR-020] ● Austria, 2019

ORIGINAL BATTERSEE HEROES (Australia)

Rock group founded in 1963. Members: Bob McGrowan, Dennis Burke, Peter Nehill, Terry Darmody, Tony Burkys.

Johnny B. Goode (4:26) 1972
Roll Over Beethoven (3:45) 1972

LP: Rock ‘n’ Roll With [Violets Holiday SVHL-934390] ● Australia, 1972
CD: Rock ‘n’ Roll With [Violets Holiday/Du Monde VHCD BH-1] ● Australia, 2010

OUTLAW LYNN (USA)

Country-rock band from Houston, Texas led by Lynn Lewis.

Maybellene (4:01) 2012

CD: Jus Drinkin’ [Double L Squared Records 1290] ● USA, 2012

Opens with a 30 seconds drum solo and has a little Diddley sound in the verses and very country like in the chorus, and the guitar solo is very heavy and follows with a rolling piano. Unusual arrangement but I like it. You can listen to it on You Tube. And by the way, there’s a song titled “Texas Comin’ Home” on You Tube which is a very good country-rock ballad from the band, just wanted you to know.

P-51 AIRPLANES (Italy)

On the album below they are a rock’n’roll sextet, hailing from the Northern parts of Italy, led by Mauro Tognin aka Jim Singer on vocals and guitar. They have a video on You Tube titled “Ten Years Of Rockin’ “ from around 2013. It really swings and the guys are very good at what they do, but here they are a quartet, though, and sounds more like a rockabilly band.

You Never Can Tell (3:00) 2020

CD: 23 Flying Hits [Part Records  PART-CD 679.006] ● Germany, 2021

Recorded August-September 2020. They also do a version of “Surfin’ USA” which is credited to Berry only (!) It should have been Berry/Brian Wilson. There’s a bonus track on the CD, which makes it 24.

PACIFICS (Ireland)

Beat/garage quartet from Dublin.
The first song has been listed here before, but now comes with the correct running time. The three songs from 2012 are to be added.

I’m Talking About You (1:38) 2011

45 EP: Play Favourites [Bachelor BR-51] ● Ireland, 2011

Carol (2:51) 2012
Maybellene (2:11) 2012
Too Much Monkey Business (2:06) 2012

LP: Pacifically… [Blood Red Vinyl & Discs BRLP-12018] ● Ireland, 2012

JOEP PEETERS & The Terrific Ten (Netherlands)

From Breda, born 1949. Singer, playing piano, sax and vibes. He’s been part of the Jazz music scene since the mid ‘60s.

Johnny B. Goode (2:41) 2009
Roll Over Beethoven (2:59) 2009

CD: Elvis Anders [HKM 42681] ● Belgium, 2009

A tribute album to Elvis, although some of the 16 tracks have nothing to do with Elvis at all. Dennis Kolen (singer, songwriter, guitarist from Rotterdam) is doing the vocals on both Berry covers, he was at the time part of the Terrific Ten. Peeters is playing alto.sax and piano and also doing the vocals on several other songs.

BEV PEGG (UK)

Singer, songwriter, guitarist who plays all sort of music (and instruments too), rock’n’roll, country, pop, folk… He’s been around for a long time and has had several various outfits, like Bev Pegg & His Rock’n’Roll Band, Bev Pegg And His Good Time Jazz Gang, Bev Pegg & His Railroad Skiffle Group, Bev Pegg And His Cowboy Band. This should give you an idea. He’s released many albums on the Beaujangle label.

Sweet Little Sixteen ( : ) 1993

MC: The Bev Pegg Band – Live Gigs 1992-1995 [Beaujangle DB-0012] ● UK, 1990s

Promised Land (3:04) 2008
You Never Can Tell (3:54) 2008

CD: All Sorts Of Stuff From Bev Pegg [Beaujangle DB-0022] ● UK, 2008

This album was re-released in 2013 because Bev was never satisfied with the mix, and is said to have been re-recorded which should mean there are two different recordings, but since I haven’t heard any we settle for the original above.

AL PERKINS (USA)

Multi-instrumentalist Perkins can look back at some incredible projects. Steel-guitarist. He’s played with who’s who in the bluegrass and country/country-rock genres. Flying Burrito Brothers is one group he was a member of. The Nash Ramblers (Emmylou Harris) another. His steel-guitar work can be heard on 100s of records. He was born 1944 in De Kalb, Texas.
The album below is a compilation of various sessions that Al’s been involved in since the ‘70s.

You Can’t Catch Me ( : ) 1987 (demo) featuring Gary Walker (vocals)

CD: Snapshots [Klear Tone Records KLR-0016] ● USA, 2002

I was pretty amazed when I spotted this. Again it shows Berry’s importance as a songwriter. The song was included on an album project for Gary Walker, produced by Al after a request from Pete Anderson. The album was never released, though, but since Al produced and played on it, the song above fitted this compilation of Al’s work.

ALEXANDROS PERROS & The Lone Stars (Greece)

Rock'n'roll/rockabilly band formed in 1987 in Thessaloniki, Greece. Nice to finally have a rockabilly unit from Greece doing Berry. The line-up on the album below: Alexandros Perros (vocals, guitar), Kostas Hasiotis (bass) and Chris Koutsouris (drums). They have several albums out from 1988. They write most of their material and includes a cover now and then.

You Never Can Tell (3:16) 2019

CD: Still Alive And Driving Faster [On Stage Records OSR-033] ● Greece, 2019

The Berry cover is one of two bonus tracks on the CD.

JOE PERRY (USA)

Joseph Anthony Pereira was born 1950 in Lawrence Massachusetts, and grew up on Hopedale, singer, songwriter, guitarist. Founding member of rock band Aerosmith in 1970. He’s also released several solo albums, The Joe Perry Project.

Run Rudolph Run (2:59) 2014

CD EP: Joe Perry’s Merry Christmas [Unison Music UM-64] ● USA, 2014

Ordinary mid-tempo rockin’ version. Joe Perry (vocals, guitar), Ron Dziubla (tenor & baritone saxophones), Lee Thornburg (trumpet, trombone). Bruce Witkin (bass), Dan Potruch (drums), Kristle Murden, Linda McCrary (backing vocals).

TOM PETTY & THE HEARTBREAKERS (UK)

See Volume 3, page 1415 for biographical info. Except that he unfortunately died 2 October 2017 at the age of 66, and the world lost a great artist.
The releases below (58 tracks) were taken from his extended 20 show run at the Fillmore West (San Francisco) from 10 January to 7 February 1997. As he told the audience at one of his shows: We’re the house band here at Fillmore. And what a band!!!

Around And Around (2:26) 1997 (live)
Bye Bye Johnny-Johnny B. Goode (3:49) 1997 (live)

4-CD box set: Live At Fillmore - 1997 [Warner Records 093624879633] ● UK/Europe, 2022
6-LP box set: Live At Fillmore - 1997 [Warner Records 093624882572] ● USA, 2022

Now these are very good, rockin’ versions with great guitar picking. It only says “Bye Bye Johnny” on the album, but he never uses the refrain Bye Bye only Go Johnny Go. The verses are first taken from Johnny B. and then he sings some of the Bye Bye verses with a couple of variations.

PHINEAS & FERB (USA)

An American animated musical and comedy television series created by Dan Povenmire (Phineas) and Jeff “Swampy” Marsch (Ferb). It had a one-episode preview in August 2007 but run officially on the Disney channel from February 2008 until June 2015.

Run Rudolph Run (2:41) 2010

CD: Holiday Favorites [Walt Disney Records D-000652592] ● USA, 2010

Dan Povenmire is doing the vocals on this Berry number and it’s a hard rockin’ version.

TOMMY RIVERS (USA)

Rock singer who was a member of The Desperate Angels in the late ‘70s, and Tommy Rivers & The Raw Ramps who had an album out in 1998 and more in the 2000s.

Run Rudolph Run ( : ) 1992

Various CD: Christmas Present 1992 [Sister Ruby SIS-004] ● USA, 1992

Limited edition of a 1000 copies.

DAVID SINCLAIR (UK)

Singer, songwriter, music journalist from London, born 1952. As a music journalist he’s been involved with The Times of London, Rollin’ Stone and Billboard. His group called David Sinclair Four, or rather DS4, was formed in 2013. So far they have six albums out.
He was also involved with a BBC TV series in the ‘80s called “The Rock ‘N’ Roll Years”, and the album (LP) “1956-1959” didn’t include Chuck, Elvis or Carl Perkins. Although not participating in the production of the programme, it’s still a big question mark when you include people like Lonnie Donegan, The Kalin Twins and Jerry Keller instead. That’s a history falsification.

Bye Bye Johnny (4:03) 2022

CD: Apropos Blues [Critical Discs CDISCS-006] ● UK, 2022

A pretty good rockin’ version enhanced by a horn section.

SLINGSBY HORNETS (UK)

Seems like this is a one man’s job, Jon Paul Allen performed and recorded all the instruments and vocals.

Run Rudolph Run (2:46) 2019

CD Single: Christmas Past [Expedition HotDog Records XM-08] ● UK, 2019

Mr. Allen did a good job on this hard rockin’ version.

STRAIGHT NO CHASER (USA)

Ten piece acappella group (at least when the song below was recorded). It was founded in 1996 at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana. I won’t mention any names here as obviously there’s been a lot of changes in the lineup.

Run Rudolph Run (2:05) 2016

CD: I’ll Have Another…Christmas Album [Atlantic, ATCO Records 555752-2] ● USA, 2016

Also released as LP. Don’t know what to say, it’s good but runs a little too fast and you get the feelin’ let’s do it but hurry up so we can sing another … Maybe I’m getting paranoid by listening to so many Rudolph versions lately?

TEST (France)

See page 1554 for more info, however, I didn’t know much at the time. Among other things, the year of recording/release was totally wrong. Test was a parodic hard rock band from Carcassone, France. The group started in 1982. They had a couple of singles out and a few albums.
In addition to the previous text, I discovered that the singer was Christian Almerge who seems to have a name for himself as there are more records by him under his own name. Also a new recording of this Berry classic.
Here is an update of the entry on page 1554:

Carol [as “O Carole”] (2:40) 1984 (live)

45: Polygone Studios PS-5076 ● France, 1984 (picture sleeve)

Their first release.

Carol [as “Escota-me Caròl”] ( : ) 1994

CD: Sea, Sex And Sòm [Revolum 199702] ● France, 1994
MC: Sea, Sex And Sòm [Revolum 199704] ● France, 1994

See also Christian Almerge at the beginning of this blog post.