CBID - From Stones to Covers to Vienne

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: Besides a number of newly discovered cover versions our first today is the Rolling Stones jamming in Chuck Berry style. And the last, and indeed least, is a new CD set containing original, but poor performances of Mr. Berry himself.

A reissue of the Rolling Stones album ”Black And Blue” from 1976 has just come out with additional 6 unissued tracks (Outtakes and Jams). One of them is titled “Chuck Berry Style Jam” which is an instrumental, and is just that, a jam with the Berry beat and guitar riffs that includes everything Berry told them. It seems like it’s only out on vinyl.

The Rolling Stones (UK)

Chuck Berry Style Jam (instr) (5:29) 1976

2-LP: Black And Blue [Rolling Stones Records 602478229770] ● Worldwide, 14 November 2025 (reissue Deluxe Edition 180g)

Featuring the American blues-rock guitarist Harvey Mandel who was a part of the Rolling Stones on the above album.

On page 2081 in Vol.4 regarding Justin Moore there’s a “serious” typographical error. The correct year of release for Run Rudolph Run should be 2011 and not 1971. Hey, the guy was born in 1984.

Here’s another wrong entry in CBID Vol.3, pages 1403-04. The UK band Panama Limited Jug Band has not covered Chuck’s “Around And Around” called Round And Round on their self titled album from 1969. Someone told me way back that they had covered Berry. Well, they didn’t. Unfortunately nobody told me otherwise during the years, but I happen to listen to it on You Tube the other day. I have never had the actual record. Don’t know the origin of the song, it’s printed as traditional.

To give myself a little credit. A few Berry titles especially will always be a problem to identify until you have heard the cover version yourself. Even the credits can be wrong. Around And Around, Reelin’ And Rockin’, Let It Rock, I’m Talking About You, and Promised Land come to mind in the first place. To really be frustrated you can check pages 1745–1754 in Vol.4 of CBID. It goes to show you can’t judge a book by the cover … as Willie Dixon wrote and Bo Diddley told us once.

SANTIAGO & LOUIS AUSERÓN (Spain)

Santiago Auserón Marruedo, singer, songwriter, born 1954 in Zaragoza, Aragon. Louis, brother of Santiago, songwriter and musician (bass player), born 1955.

You Never Can Tell [as “Quién Lo Iba A Suponer”] (3:47) 2006

CD: Las Malas Lenguas [La Huella Sonora (DRO Atlantic) 5101130542] ● Spain, 2006

Recorded at Sonora Estudio, owned by Louis Auserón. Simple rock’n’roll version, but effective.

NICKO CHRISTIANSEN (Netherlands)

Blues singer, songwriter, guitarist, saxophonist. Member of the blues band Livin’ Blues.

Johnny B. Goode (3:56) 2023

CD/LP: Back On Track [Coast To Coast 232/202 A2] ● Netherlands, 2023

Now here is a really strange thing. This is on You Tube as an audio video with a picture of the album cover, however, checking discogs and the tracklisting the song is not there. I have looked everywhere thinking that it could have been a bonus track on the CD, but no !!!! So what happened? Kinda pity because it is a different and great version.

See also Livin’ Blues on this blog.

PHIL CLAYTON (Belgium)

Singer, songwriter, guitarist. On the album below besides Berry there are songs by David Bowie, Iggy Pop, George Thorogood, Lou Reed and Willie Dixon. That should give you an idea, or not (?)

Little Queenie (3:30) 1992
Nadine (4:30) 1992

CD: Just The Right Size [Euro Promo International EPI CD-001] ● Belgium, 1992

Recorded at Caiman Studio in Brussels.

JIM DAUGTERY with Enoch Light & His Orchestra (USA)

Studio musicians and singer.

Carol (2:43) 1958

45: Grand Award Records ? ● USA, 1958
45: Ariola 35 666 ● West Germany, 1958

It’s printed on the German label: original by Grand Award Records, USA. The flip side is by one Jerry Duane with Enoch Light Orchestra doing a cover of “Rockin’ Robin”. Strange, but Discogs have no info about the US release(?) Wikipedia: Grand Award Records was a pop, jazz, and gospel music record label founded by violinist and conductor Enoch Light in Harrison, New Jersey in 1955. Just so it’s mentioned, “Carol” is a verrry lightweight version.

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, 2000

The live set “A Month Of Sundays” was recorded at The Bell Inn, Bath, February 1994. This release looks very professional. And he’s tackled “Nadine” in a different way. Listen on You Tube.

GUITAR MAC & HIS BLUES EXPRESS (USA)

Already on this blog.

It’s My Own Business (1:37) 2010

Digital album: Blue To The Bone [Mac Sound ] ● USA, 2010

Quite different from any others, simple and groovie. It’s on You Tube.

JIM HUNTER (UK)

Singer. songwriter and guitarist from Scotland in the folk-blues tradition. Founding member of The Jim Hunter Band.

Thirteen Question Method (4:32) 2002 (live)

Various Artists CD: Jam At Old Forge [Jam@ The Old Forge Jamcd-01] ● UK, 2002

The subheading reads: Jam Music From The Knoydart Peninsula. Live Sessions Recorded At The Old Forge Mainland Britain's Remotest Pub.
Acoustic version in the Ry Cooder mood.

JOHNNY & THE MG’s (Belgium)

Not much info, but they seem like a quintet who play rock’n’roll and blues stuff according to the two CDs I have spotted.

Oh What A Thrill (3:02) 2007

CD: Splash ‘N Dash [Self released #20070709] ● Belgium, 2007

EVAN JOHNS (USA)

Already on this blog with an album from 2016.

Rock And Roll Music (3:52) 2009 featuring Bubba Coon (Chris Coon)

CD: Mystic Titans Of JuJu 2 [Jelly Roll Records ] ● USA, 2009

Sounds a little noisy and slower than usual, but still a good version.

BRANDON LAY (USA)

Country singer, songwriter, guitarist, born and raised in Jackson, Tennessee. In 2010 after he graduated he moved to Nashville.

Run Rudolph Run (2:47) 2022

CD single digital ● USA, December 2022

I know but this is so different it should be in here. Slow, bluesy, soulful augmented by horns. Good vocals too.

JOHN LENNON (UK)

See Volume 3, page 1313 for biographical info. According to the front cover (head pic of John) of the set below it proclaims: John & Yoko, Plastic Ono Band, Elephants Memory And Special Guests.

Roll Over Beethoven (2:31) 1971

Studio Jam, New York City

Vacation Time ( : ) 1971

Home Recordings at the St. Regis Hotel, New York, 10 September 1971. Just John and his guitar.

9-CD box: Power To The People [Universal Music Recordings 7583966] ● Worldwide, 2025

Was surprised about Vacation Time. This will make the 4th cover version. Anyway. looking through all the 9 CDs I understand again that Lennon was a rocker. Titles like Hound Dog, Rave On, Honey Don’t, Roadrunner, That’s Right, Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On, Ain’t That A Shame, Glad All Over, Wake Up Little Suzie, Peggy Sue, Maybe Baby, and more… should give you an idea.

LOS ROCKETS (Mexico)

Beat quintet.

Nadine ( : ) 1965
Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 1965

LP: Monterrey Surf [Eco No.303] ● Mexico, 1965
CD: En Orbita ! / Monterrey Surf [Peerless 6053352] ● Mexico, 2014

2 LPs on one CD in the Los Originales series.

LOS SUPER RATONES (Argentina)

Pop/rock band (quartet). They sing all of their material in their own language.

Nadine (3:01) 1990

LP: Segundo Tiempo [Barca Discos 20070709] ● Argentina, 1990
CD: Segundo Tiempo [Barca Discos SLC-504] ● Argentina, 1991

Not bad but without the English lyrics it becomes a little strange. It sounds almost ‘60s.

JIMMY LOUIS (USA)

Country and blues performer. Singer, songwriter, guitarist and former Flora-Bama musician. He was living in Florida. Born 1948, died 2020. There’s a segment on a tribute site where he is interviewed by country star Kenny Chesney. That means he must have been something. He is not featured on discogs, bandcamp or any other sites on the net as far as I can tell. How come?

Havana Moon (3:43) 2000s (?)

CD: Lulu [self released ] ● USA, 2000s

Recorded at the University of Miami film school. Produced and directed by Louis De Priest and John Michael Becker. It is really a very good version, simple, slow and acoustic. However, again it is impossible to know anything since people are not writing enough info on the various sites. It is so frustrating !!!

MOLES (Australia)

Pop band formed in the late 1980s by Richard Davies, Carl Zadro, Glenn Fredericks and Warren Armstrong.

Promised Land (4:27) 2025

LP/CD: Composition Book [Splendid Research Records SR-3] ● Australia, 2025

Much slower, and very strange arrangement indeed. Credited to Richard Davies, Bob Dylan, Chuck Berry. New lyrics written by Richard Davies while using some of Berry’s originals and the Berry melody. I’m not so into Dylan but I’m sure he’s also used something from him. I am not so sure when this was recorded and there is no release year on the album at all. It sounds older(?)

KIMBERLEY REW & LEE CAVE-BERRY (UK)

Husband and wife country/rock’n’roll band: Kimberley Rew (Vocals, guitar), Lee Cave-Berry (vocals, bass), Liam Gray (drums). They are based in Cambridge.
Kimberley Charles Rew, born 1951 in Bristol, is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and owns and operates Remote Farm Studios. Among other things he wrote «Walking On Sunshine» for Katrina & The Waves, a group he was also a part of. Has released many albums since the late ‘90s. Lee Cave-Berry is a singer, songwriter and bass player. She’s done some solo work. Since 2015 they have released several albums together.

It’s My Own Business (2:38) 2018

CD: Lend Me Your Comb [CGB, self released] ● UK, 2018

A nice rockin’ version. Good guitar work. You can listen to this on You Tube as an audio video.

DUKE ROBILLARD BAND (USA)

See volume 3, page 1460 for biographical info, and also on this blog.

It’s My Own Business (4:14) 1985 (live)

3-CD: Duke's Mood - Live In Bremen 1985 & 2008 [MIG Records MIG-02892] ● Germany, 2022

Live At The Schauburg, Bremen 28 March 1985. A good and a little slower version.

SHRIMP CITY SLIM & GREEN GRASS (USA/Poland)

Vocalist and pianist Shrimp City Slim from the US, and a three piece blues-rock group Green Grass from Poland. Also featuring Michał Kielak on harmonica.

Nadine (3:14) 2012 (live)

CD: Transatlantic Blues Project [Self released by the guys] ● Poland, 2014

Recorded 27 October, 2012 at Hotel "Pod Orłem" in Bydgoszcz, Poland, as part of the Bydgoszcz Blues & Folk Festival 2012. Pretty ordinary version.

SOUTHBOUND (USA)

1980s rockabilly group from Louisiana, according to discogs.

Nadine (2:35) 1983

45: Gold-Meyn Records UR-3961] ● USA, 1983

The UR number above is from United Record Pressing plant, and it is the same on both sides.

LLOYD SPIEGEL (Australia)

Blues singer, songwriter, guitarist.

Nadine ( : ) 1999

CD: Lloyd Spiegel [Self released SPIE-001] ● Australia, 1999

This above was his first album, he’s had 10 more on various labels since, the two latest being from 2019 and 2023.

PAT TODD & The Rankoutsiders (USA)

Garage rock'n'roll band from Los Angeles, California founded by Pat Todd. This outfit has so far 9 albums out from 2006-2024.

Promised Land (2:23) 2022

12" 45rpm: Blues Soul & Rock’n’Roll [Beluga Music Beluga-121] ● Europe, 2022

Mini-album, 180 Gram. Hurry we need to reach the destination, so it seems when you hear it. Way too fast. But it is a good band.

WESTERN FLYER (Australia)

Country rock band (sextet).

Promised Land (5:20) 1979

LP: Live To Survive! [Infinity L-37055] ● Australia, 1979
CD: The Best Of Western Flyer [Forever Records FOR CD-1] ● Australia, 2001

Recorded June 7, 1979. Featuring harmonica player Matt Taylor.

Finally here is a "new", i.e. 2025, Chuck Berry CD:

2-CD set

THE FRENCH BROADCASTS 1965-2004

FM Concert Broadcast Ltd. FMGZ-191CD ● EU, 2024

CD 1: Intro with Eddy Mitchell / You Never Can Tell, Olympia Paris 7 February or 2 November 1965 *. / Roll Over Beethoven, Olympia Paris 21 Feb 1967. / Mean Old World / Let It Rock / You Never Can Tell / Reelin’ And Rockin’ / Promised Land / Dust My Broom+ (AM Radio), Hippodrome de Pantin 11 May 1977. / Roll Over Beethoven / School Day / Medley: Feeling Lonely-Carol-Little Queenie / Memphis, Tennessee / Johnny B. Goode / Wee Wee Hours / Let It Rock, Nice Jazz Festival 13-14 July 1979. / Baby What You Want Me To Do+, feat. Ingrid Berry / Johnny B. Goode, feat. Ingrid Berry / Reelin’ And Rockin’ feat. Ingrid Berry, Nice Jazz Festival 10 July 1981. / Roll Over Beethoven / School Day / Sweet Little Sixteen, Deauville Jazz Festival 6 July 1995.
CD 2: Don’t You Lie To Me+ / Memphis, Tennessee / Everyday I Have The Blues+ / Carol / Three Quarter Time+ / Nadine / It Hurts Me Too+ / Johnny B. Goode / Reelin’ And Rockin’, Antibes Jazz Festival 24 July 1995. / Memphis, Tennessee / Three Quarter Time+ / You Never Can Tell / Medley: Carol-Little Queenie / Maybellene / My Ding-A-Ling / Around And Around / Johnny B. Goode / Rock And Roll Music / Reelin’ And Rockin’ / Honest I Do+, Vienne Jazz Festival 30 June 2004.

*Berry did 2 concerts at the Olympia 7 February 1965, and 2 concerts at the Olympia 2 November 1965. It doesn’t say which on the album. And at the end of CD2 he did Honest I Do before Reelin’ And Rockin’.

Well, what can one say? CD1 is the “best”, both performances and sound, although far from excellent. CD2 is not any better in comparison. Something is wrong with the sound. How come since this was radio broadcasts? Where did they get the source from? And several of the dates don’t match the correct ones.
They are corrected above.
The thing is that almost all the tracks here are far from the best performances. It’s a difference, sometimes, from the audio recordings to the real live shows. You get a more vivid experience when being at the actual venue.

Chuck plays several mistakes on his guitar which makes you wonder? Forget this set if you are not anxious to have everything. Rather take a listen (again) to the BBC Six Two Five TV show from 1972, that’s Chuck Berry at his best.