Entries by Morten Reff

CBID is the Chuck Berry International Directory, a 2.200 page pile of Chuck Berry records information published in four volumes between 2008 and 2013. For details see the bibliography section of this site.

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 in Volume 2 describes tribute songs and albums. Here are some additions to this:.

ROSMAITY BROTHERS (Germany)

Fabian and Christoph Rosmaity, guitar and bass respectively featuring Christian Bleiming (piano) and Alex Lex (drums). The brothers have been playing together for over 20 years.

Let It Rock (1:50) / Thirty Days (2:27) / Carol (2:55) / You Never Can Tell (2:56) / Roll Over Beethoven (2:38) / Wee Wee Hours (4:22) / Johnny B. Goode (2:49) / No Particular Place To Go (2:36) / Nadine (4:02) / Sweet Little Sixteen (2:52) / Little Queenie (3:02) / Maybellene (2:34) / Worried Life Blues+ (3:06) / Promised Land (2:21) / Rock And Roll Music (2:42) – 2016

CD: Berry Pickin’ - A Salute To the Genius of Chuck Berry [The Rocket Sound Lab] • Germany, 2016

I do appreciate that the guys took the time and recorded an album with 14 Berry songs and one related. Unfortunately they almost sound like the originals, updated that is. The tracks that really work are the two blues oriented songs. Interesting to hear “Worried Life Blues” the Berry way. It’s okay to record ones favourite Berry song(s) but since they have been recorded by almost who’s who in the music business it’s therefore important to get a personal and different approach, like they did with “Wee Wee Hours”.
See also The Ballroom Rockets.

RICHARD THOMPSON (UK)

See Volume 3, page 1181 under Fairport Convention for more info.

Guitar Heroes (7:40) – 2015

CD: Still [Propel Records PRPCD131] • UK, 2015
CD: Still [Fantasy Records FAN-37274 02] • USA, 2015

Here Thompson pays tribute to his guitar heroes. One of them being Chuck Berry, others being Django Reinhardt, James Burton, Hank Marvin (The Shadows) etc. In one verse he sings about Berry and imitates his guitar style.

RONNIE WOOD & His Wild Five (UK)

Ronald David Wood, singer, songwriter, guitarist, author and radio personality, born in 1947. Today best known as a member of The Rolling Stones since 1975, but also as a member of Faces and The Jeff Beck Group.

Tribute To Chuck Berry (2:04) 2018 (live)
I’m Talking About You [as "Talking About You"] (3:07) 2018 (live)
Mad Lad+ (3:13) 2018 (instr) (live)
Wee Wee Hours (4:46) 2018 (live) feat. Imelda May
Almost Grown (2:50) 2018 (live)
Back In The USA (3:58) 2018 (live)
Blue Feeling (3:52) 2018 (instr) (live)
Worried Life Blues+ (5:28) 2018 (live)
Little Queenie (4:27) 2018 (live)
Rock And Roll Music (2:17) 2018 (live) feat. Imelda May
Johnny B. Goode (3:34) 2018 (live)

CD: Mad Lad – A Tribute To Chuck Berry [BMG 538527702] • UK, 2019
LP: Mad Lad – A Tribute To Chuck Berry [BMG 538527711] • UK, 2019
Box-set Deluxe Edition: Mad Lad – A Tribute To Chuck Berry [BMG 538542250] • UK, 2019
CD: Mad Lad – A Tribute To Chuck Berry [BMG 4050 538527704] • USA, 2019

The box-set above contains the LP (180G vinyl), CD and album cover art print. Nothing fancy really. Playing time of around 40 minutes is way too short today. But I like the music and Imelda May lifts the result on the two tracks she’s involved in. She also sings backup vocals on “Almost Grown”. Irritating that the running time of the tracks are completely missing.
The tribute is okay but nothing to brag about, and Ronnie is no quality singer but he’s a tremendous guitar player. The Berry sound is all in there.
Interesting to notice the two instrumentals, especially “Mad Lad” since it becomes the very first cover of this. Although not written by Berry it is credited to him on the album. “Blue Feeling” was done by The Trashmen in 1966 (page 1568).
On YouTube you’ll find Ronnie and Imelda doing “Johnny B. Goode” on BBC’s Later with Jools Holland show. There’s also videos of Ronnie playing “Mad Lad” and Ronnie and Imelda with “Wee Wee Hours”.
Apart from Imelda May Ronnie is helped by the likes of Ben Waters (keyboards), Dion Egtved (bass) and Dexter Hercules (drums). Augmented by Antti Snellman on tenor saxophone and Tom Waters on alt saxophone. Also Amy Mayes and Denise Gordon are doing backup vocals on some tracks. All tracks were recorded at the Tivoli Theatre, Wimborne Minster, Dorset in 2018. It doesn’t say when, though. Produced by Ronnie Wood.

MIKE ZITO And Friends (USA)

Mike Zito, singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer from St. Louis, Missouri, born in 1970. Since 1998 when his first CD “Blue Room” came out he’s released some 15 albums.

St. Louis Blues+ (3:19) 2019 - Charlie Berry III
Rock And Roll Music (3:08) 2019 - Joanna Connor
Johnny B. Goode (3:49) 2019 - Walter Trout
Wee Wee Hours (5:25) 2019 - Joe Bonamassa
Memphis, Tennessee [as “Memphis”] (3:05) 2019 - Anders Osborne
I Want To Be Your Driver (2:55) 2019 - Ryan Perry
You Never Can Tell (4:00) 2019 - Robben Ford
Back In The USA (3:02) 2019 - Eric Gales
No Particular Place To Go (2:50) 2019 - Jeremiah Johnson
Too Much Monkey Business (3:13) 2019 - Luther Dickinson
Havana Moon (4:21) 2019 - Sonny Landreth*
Promised Land (3:29) 2019 -Tinsley Ellis*
Down Bound Train (4:03) 2019 - Alex Skolnick
Maybellene (2:55) 2019 - Richard Fortus
School Day (3:02) 2019 - Ally Venable
Brown Eyed Handsome Man (2:16) 2019 - Kirk Fletcher & Josh Smith
Reelin’ And Rockin’ (4:01) 2019 - Tommy Castro*
Let It Rock (2:26) 2019 - Jimmy Vivino
Thirty Days (2:56) 2019 - Albert Castiglia
My Ding-A-Ling(+) (3:16) 2019 - Kid Andersen* **

CD: Rock’n’Roll – A Tribute To Chuck Berry [Ruf Records RUF-1269] • Germany, 2019
LP: Rock’n’Roll – A Tribute To Chuck Berry [Ruf Records RUF-2059] • Germany, 2019

Some of the artists are already in the covers* or soundalikes** sections, or like Jimmy Vivino in the Johnnie Johnson discography (Vol. 2). So what should one say about such a gigantic release, I mean 20 tracks, 20 different guitar players and singers! This album might help younger people to get to know Berry’s music. In that sense the album is very important and a rockin’ goode one.
“Memphis” is true to Berry’s original, not the same but simple in structure and sound. However, most of the others are filled with musical instruments, sometimes a little too much. Chuck’s grandson follows very much the arrangement his grandfather did in 1965. Well performed. Luther Dickinson makes it swing on “Too Much Monkey Business” and even includes the final lyrics with I don’t want your botheration, get away leave me be… which is so often forgotten. “You Never Can Tell” is without the identical piano playing but remember this is a guitar based album. “Down Bound Train” is strange and even more “scary” than Berry’s own, think 63 years difference. “School Day” is quite goode, one of two females on the album, and Ally Venable is doing a very decent job of it.
The worst will have to be “Wee Wee Hours” and Joe Bonamassa. That guitar playing destroys the whole tune. After just a few seconds when I heard it I said what the f…? I have played the album a few times but skip this track every time. What were they (Zito and Joe) thinking? A reviewer said it was a highlight(!), well in that case we are living in two different worlds. Maybe because that kind of guitar playing to me it’s just noise.
On the contrary, check out Mike Zito and Walter Trout on YouTube performing “Johnny B. Goode” in a garage!!!
Again the running time on each track is missing. That’s an European problem on many releases.
Of course an artist wants to cover a Berry tune that most people know so it’s interesting that songs like “I Want To Be Your Driver”, “Havana Moon” and “Down Bound Train” were chosen, but why Ding-A-Ling? Although his biggest hit, unfortunately, it doesn’t give Berry nor Andersen the best of credits.
The Mike Zito band is as follows on all tracks: Mike Zito (vocals, guitar), Lewis Stephens (keyboards), Terry Dry (bass, percussion, vocals) and Matthew Johnson (drums, percussion, vocals). Recorded at Marz Studios in Nederland, Texas, December 2018 – July 2019. Produced by Mike Zito.
Twenty Berry songs covered and you think where are “Sweet Little Sixteen”, “Roll Over Beethoven”, “Little Queenie”, “Bye Bye Johnny”, “Carol”, “Around And Around”, “I’m Talking About You” and “Nadine”? Well that gives you an idea of how many classic rock’n’roll songs Berry created.
However, again on YouTube you can see and hear Mike Zito and Joe Louis Walker doing five and a half minutes of “Around And Around” at the Casselberry Craft Beer & Blues Fest 2019 in Casselberry Florida.
I like the front cover and also the image of Berry on top of the St. Louis skyline and the Gateway Arch painted by Rip Kastaris. A beautiful touch to the memory of Chuck Berry.

CBID is the Chuck Berry International Directory, a 2.200 page pile of Chuck Berry records information published in four volumes between 2008 and 2013. For details see the bibliography section of this site.

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: Sometimes it takes decades until I am finally able to see and show a specific Chuck Berry album. And sometimes getting one requires me to rewrite a description.

JAPAN

CHUCK BERRY’S GREATEST HITS
Globe (Chess) JET-7198 • 1964

No Particular Place To Go / You Never Can Tell / Maybellene / Nadine / Brenda Lee / You Two / Memphis, Tennessee / Sweet Little Sixteen / Roll Over Beethoven / Rock And Roll Music / Johnny B. Goode / Brown Eyed Handsome Man (1961 version)

Referring to page 374. The tracks are of course not the same as the US release Chess LP-1485, as you can easily see. I didn’t have this album back then and unfortunately I messed it up when writing. Anyway, it really says The Best of Chuck Berry on the back cover and on the label. As far as I can see this was the very first Berry LP issued in Japan. Including “No Particular Place To Go” and “You Never Can Tell” were wise, however, “You Two” and “Brenda Lee” were not, even though they were B-sides of the first two tracks. The front cover is the same as the US LP-1485 with the yellow sticker.
For some strange reason they included the 1961 version of “Brown Eyed Handsome Man” (from the On Stage album with the audience noise).
This particular album was also issued in Taiwan in two different disguises, see pages 475-476, and also this blog.

SOUTH AFRICA

LIVE AT THE FILLMORE AUDITORIUM
Fontana STL-201 • April 1968

See page 2019 in Volume 4. Since I finally got a copy, I would like to show you the cover and label here.

CBID is the Chuck Berry International Directory, a 2.200 page pile of Chuck Berry records information published in four volumes between 2008 and 2013. For details see the bibliography section of this site.

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: a rarity from the UK

UK

CHUCK BERRY’S GREATEST HITS (Test pressing)
Marble Arch MALS-660 (white label) • January 1967

See page 176 for info.

Now this is the first time we have found a test pressing of any UK albums from the ‘60s. The label is pure white with Side 1 and Side 2 handwritten on each side. Very few test pressings of albums turn up so this is a rare treat for collectors. We can assume that the other Marble Arch albums might be around as test pressings also. And maybe others too. At least now we know they exists.

This is how the labels of the commercial release look like:

CBID is the Chuck Berry International Directory, a 2.200 page pile of Chuck Berry records information published in four volumes between 2008 and 2013. For details see the bibliography section of this site.

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: A huge list of cover versions to be added to the chapter on Chuck Berry covers in Volume 3.

This time I must emphasize the help I have been given from Ari Niskanen in Finland (he was also a great resource with Vol. 3). Several months ago he sent me a bunch of 5 CDs with over 20 Berry covers on each, and many of them I had never heard of before. A big thank you Ari for your enthusiasm and knowledge for Berry covers.
Also I would like to thank Bjørn Knudsen of Norway who supplied me the other day with 19 newer Berry covers (2014-2019) I had never heard of. And I have also been searching a little myself, so …

AC-ROCK (USA)

See Volume 3, page 1033 for biographical info.

Rock And Roll Music (2:10) 2012

CD EP: Framed ! [AC-Rock AR-007] • USA, 2012

The album contains 6 tracks.

CHRIS ANDREWS (UK)

He’s been around since the ‘60s when “Yesterday Man” was a big hit for him in 1965 and “Pretty Belinda”. He was born in 1942. He’s been writing songs and recording ever since.

No Particular Place To Go (2:13) 2014
Rock And Roll Music (2:26) 2014
You Never Can Tell (3:22) 2014

CD: Still Rockin’ And Ravin’ [CAP-Sounds ] • Germany, 2014

To be quite honest, these versions are very goode indeed. Solid band and straight ahead arrangements. 15 tracks of good ole rock’n’roll music. Berry is the only one who has 3 songs covered, although there’s a Buddy Holly medley and “Peggy Sue”.

BILLY BOY ARNOLD (USA)

Blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter from Chicago. Born in 1935. He recorded with Bo Diddley in the ’50s. And has released many solo albums throughout the years.

Nadine (3:23) 2014

CD: The Blues Soul of Billy Boy Arnold [Stony Plain SPCD-1378] • USA, 2014

Produced by Duke Robillard and backed by fabulous musicians, plus the Roomful Of Blues horns. However, the presentation is standard.
It’s kinda interesting to notice all the artists who have taken a new interest to this song during the last 20 years.

BREAKAWAYS (New Zealand)

Beat, R&B, rock quartet from Wellington.

Guitar Boogie (1:55) 1966 (instr)
I’m Talking About You [as “Talkin’ About You”] ( : ) 1966
Little Queenie ( : ) 1966

LP: Let’s Take A Sea Cruise! [His Masters Voice MCLP-6221] • New Zealand, 1966
CD: Let’s Take A Sea Cruise! / Album Two [EMI 7243 8 21714] • Spain, 2009

I have only managed to listen to Guitar Boogie and they have almost followed Berry’s arrangement.

BULLFROG RATA & THE UNDERGATORS w/ Midge Marsden (New Zealand)

According to himself, I do all sorts of things depending on what feels right, with me, and the vibe in the crowd at the time! But blues is definitely the glue that holds the gumbo together. This could mean a driving Texas shuffle, or a sly West Coast swing, maybe a riveting acoustic ballad or a stinging slide solo perhaps.
He started out in the ’80s playing street corners, busking in various towns and he’s also played in some of London’s most packed bars.

No Money Down (4:41) 2002

CD: All I Need – Live At The Globe [Jayrem no # ] • New Zealand, 2002

Now this is faster than the original, becoming an uptempo R&B number. Very different and unusual.

No Particular Place To Go (2:55) 2002

CD: It Is What It Is [Jayrem CDMULL-14] • New Zealand, 2003

A little bit slower than Berry’s but pretty simple and soulful.

DAVID CARBE Kvartett (Sweden)

Martin David Carbe was born 1993 in Kungãlv, Sweden. He started playing piano when he was 15 and studied piano while in college. He’s played and toured with Robert Wells and in 2016 was a part of his Rhapsody in Rock Summer tour.

Roll Over Beethoven (3:18) 2016

CD: 88 Toner Och 13 Kompositioner [Self released 73 2556 00014 4 5] • Sweden, 2017

CHANG PO CHING (New Zealand)

He’s a full time working singer, songwriter, guitarist from South Auckland. He’s become very popular.

Johnny B. Goode (2:03) 2018 (live)

CD single: Universal Music Australia • 2018
The VOICE Australia performance

This probably shouldn’t be here, but I couldn’t help wondering why an artist/singer would perform this classic for a TV performance in his third entrance in the competition. Interesting isn’t it? Maybe because most of the viewers of the Voice are at the age from 30 and down(?)
Anyway, the most peculiar thing is that the stage was arranged just like Berry’s performance in the TAMI Show movie. Check it out on You Tube.

ERIC CHURCH (USA)

One of the popular modern rockin’ country artists. Born in 1977 in Granite Falls, North Carolina. In 2008 he had his first Top Twenty hit and later on he hit #1 several times with songs like “Drink In My Hand” 2011, “Give Me Back My Hometown” 2014 a.o. Seems like he’s a great Berry fan. Check out “Tulane” on You Tube.

Nadine (3:22) 2017 (live)

CD: 61 Days In Church Vol. 4 [EMI Nashville EC-61 / 73683 4 2] • USA, 2017
LP: 61 Days In Church Vol. 14 [EMI Nashville EC-61 / 36775 0] • USA, 2017

Tulane (3:06) 2017 (live)

CD: 61 Days In Church Vol. 3 [EMI Nashville EC-61 / 73683 4 2] • USA, 2017
LP: 61 Days In Church Vol. 9 [EMI Nashville EC-61 / ? ] • USA, 2017

“Nadine” recorded live at Scottrade Center, St. Louis, Missouri on 13 May 2017. “Tulane” recorded live at Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah on 25 March 2017. The 100 songs are from the Holdin’ My Own Tour. I read somewhere that it was a box set of 5 CDs, but when checking Amazon it’s just mp3 downloading. However, on eBay there’s a lot of LP’s for sale from volume 1 to 15. I feel Eric is a very good performer of these two Berry covers. He has the right drive and voice.

COLWELL BROTHERS (USA)

Guitar brothers. They “advertise” the CD as follows: Old School Soul/Blues/R&B 100% autotuneddrummachinesynthesizerfree stuff.

Beautiful Delilah (3:08) 2012

CD: Guilty Pleasures [Colwell Brothers CBCD-793447357720] • USA, 2012

COUNTRY MUSIC FIVE (USA)

No biographical info.

Promised Land (2:19) 1971

Various CD: Rare 1960s Country Rock From Nashville [SPV 309002] • USA, 2011

This is strange and again I wonder what people (compilers) might be thinking when they say 1960s, as this cover is truly based on the hit version by Freddy Weller which was big on the country charts in the Autumn of 1971.

DUM DUM BOYS (France)

France's number one fuzz rockers. When I saw this I thought, hey, has one of the most popular bands in Norway recorded a Berry song, but I was wrong. This is a French band who’s released some 12 albums so far.

Havana Moon (2:52) 2019

LP: Play All Your Favourite Songs [Mono Tone Records MT 030LP] • France, 2019

HOWARD EMERSON (USA)

Born 1951 in Boston, MA. It says that his musical DNA was permanently disarranged upon hearing Chuck Berry’s “Maybellene” when he was 4 years old (my oh my, that was early!). However, he learned playing guitar by listening to a dozen albums by The Ventures. He became a very accomplished master on the guitar, electric slide and fingerpickin’. Since 1998 he’s released 4 albums with mostly self penned original songs.

Maybellene (3:33) 2004

CD: A Tale To Tell [Orchard 804986] • USA, 2004

As Howard says himself: The CD represents all the musical influences that have affected me since childhood. Then it’s interesting to notice that he performs only original songs except the Berry one.

NATHAN FOLEY (Australia)

Singer and musician born in 1979. For ten years he was a member of the Australian children’s entertainment group Hi-5.
He’s been part of several musicals and has won several awards both as a solo performer and with Hi-5. He’s released several albums, containing mostly covers.

Roll Over Beethoven (2:45) 2018

CD: At This Moment [self released 01 9192 49250 6 4] • Australia, 2018

This is a cross between Berry and Beatles with a more nod to Berry. I think this is just available digital.

GHOSTS OF NOTHING (Australia/UK)

They are actually Sean Lowry and Ilmar Taimre with artistic collaborators including Lee Devaney, Charles Famous, Coleman Grehan, Lyndall Johnston, Laura Purcell, Frank J. Miles and more. See below for more info.

Johnny B. Goode (5:07) 2014

CD: In Memory of Johnny B. Goode - A Rock Opera [Ghosts of Nothing 940499] • Australia/UK, 2014

This is not even peculiar, this is weird. There are absolutely no guitar riffs or melody and if you listen carefully you’ll hear the lyrics. It’s not easy to explain what this is all about, however, it’s a play in 3 acts containing 13 songs altogether. You can visit www.ghostsofnothing.com and see and read for yourself. Also visit You Tube and listen to Johnny B. The CD cover is a fold-out with lots of old fashioned pictures. 5 of the songs are covers a.o. Rock Around The Clock, and Mercedes Benz (Janis Joplin), the rest are composed and arranged by Sean Lowry and Ilmar Taimre. Very strange concept indeed.

IAN GILLAN & THE JAVELINS (UK)

See Volume 3, page 1268 under Javelins for biographical info.

Memphis, Tennessee ( : ) 2018
Rock And Roll Music ( : ) 2018

CD: Ian Gillan & The Javelins [Ear Music 0211877 EMU] • Germany, 2018
LP: Ian Gillan & The Javelins [Ear Music 0213164 EMU] • Germany, 2018

Ian is reuniting with original band members from the early ‘60s to play the songs they did back then. 15 tracks from the likes of Howlin’ Wolf, Bo Diddley, Sam Cooke, the Drifters, the Coasters, Buddy Holly, Ray Charles, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Everly Brothers, Roy Orbison and the Contours.

RON HACKER And The Hacksaws (USA)

Blues-rock singer, guitarist born 1945 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He released his first album back in 1988, titled “No Very Music”.

Almost Grown (5:57) 1990 (live)

CD: Barstool Blues [Hacksaw HRH-1990] • USA, 1990

Recorded live at the Saloon North Beach, San Francisco

Almost Grown (3:01) 2003

CD: Burnin’ [Hacksaw HR-6415] • USA, 2003

Nadine (3:28) 2015

CD: Goin’ Down Howlin’ [Hacksaw WTB-1003] • USA, 2015

Slower and more bluesy.

STEVE HACKETT (UK)

Real name Stephen Richard Hackett. Born 1950 in Pimlico, London. He’s regarded as a first class guitar player and is well known for his prominent work with Genesis. He did 8 albums with the group before he would concentrate on a solo career.

Guitar Boogie (2:12) 1982 (instr)

CD: Highly Strung [Virgin 00946 377318] • UK, 2007

Too fast and too noisy. Loses the beauty of the melody… This album was a reissue of the original from 1983 with 3 bonus tracks including the Berry cover.

WARD HAYDEN And The Outliers (USA)

Country rock quartet from Boston, Massachusetts, formerly known as Girls, Guns and Glory.

Promised Land (2:34) 2018

CD: Can’t Judge A Book [ unknown ] • USA, 2019

Now folks, this is a really raw, rockin’ country version with great guitar work (by Cody Nilsen). One of the best versions I’ve heard in years. Check them out on You Tube.

RICHARD HENDERSON (Canada)

Country-blues player on acoustic lap steel which is a pretty rare solo instrument. The CD below contains 15 tracks and he has help from other people on several but it’s only Henderson and his lap steel featured on the two Berry covers. He has some original songs but mostly it is covers of blues standards. Again it is interesting to notice the inclusion of Berry’s music. As it says in the album notes: Chuck Berry’s “Nadine” and “You Can’t Catch Me” are not really blues standards I guess but they certainly do get re-interpreted on solo lap steel.

Nadine (2:33) 2010
You Can’t Catch Me (3:44) 2010

CD: Seventh Day: Acoustic Lap Steel Guitar [Richard Henderson 775020996328] • Canada, 2010

HETTY & VIBES (Australia)

No biographical info.

Johnny B. Goode (4:40) 2012

CD: Hetty & Vibes [Belmar Records mp3 ] • Australia, 2012

Johnny B. Goode the slow way… I know, it’s mp3 and I usually don’t include mp3’s, but I wanna make an exception as I think this is quite unusual and goode.

JACKYS (Switzerland)

A quartet led by pianist and singer Jacky, real name Ueli Schmutz, born in 1945 in Bern. The band has released 11 albums since 1976, and Jacky himself has released a few. Jacky is known as MR. Swiss Rock’n’Roll.
Strange I have never heard of them before??? Remember I have been searching for Berry covers on the net since the early ‘90s.

Sweet Little Sixteen ( : ) 1976

LP: Jacky’s Boogie [EMI 3E 054 33865] • Switzerland, 1976

11 country and rock’n’roll covers plus two originals.

Memphis, Tennessee (3:46) 1980
Sweet Little Sixteen (2:43) 1980

LP: My Little World [EMI 13C 058 76103] • Switzerland, 1980

Rock’n’roll and country covers.

Roll Over Beethoven (3:36) 1988
You Never Can Tell (3:00) 1988

CD: Hello Rock And Roll [Phonacord CDPA-82007] • Switzerland, 1988

Rock’n’roll and country covers and originals.

Little Queenie ( : ) 2015
Promised Land ( : ) 2015

CD: 50 Years [Sound Service JACKCD-11] • Switzerland, 2015

10 rock’n’roll covers and one by Kris Kristofferson.

MARVIN JENKINS (USA)

American jazz pianist and composer. Has played with many of the jazz greats and was a member of the Barney Kessel Quartet. Born 1932 in Aultman, Ohio, died 2005 in Pasadena, California.

Memphis, Tennessee (2:37) 1965

LP: Big City [Palomar G-24001 (mono) /GS-34001 (stereo)] • USA, 1965

Nice to have another jazz man recording a Berry number. We are still looking for Stan Kenton’s cutting Maybellene(?)
Although this is not an instrumental as expected but a vocal one that sounds like a cross between pop/jazz and soul. Quite unusual.

EVAN JOHNS (USA)

Johns was born 1956 in McLean, Virginia, but started his musical career as a songwriter and guitarist in Washington D.C. In the ‘70s he played with Danny Gatton and later started his own band The H-Bombs. He died in 2017.

No Money Down (2:50) 2016
Rock And Roll Music (3:51) 2016

CD: Does The Great American Songbook Vol. 1 [Jelly Roll Record ] • USA, 2016

12 tracks from the pens of Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, Carl Perkins, Merle Haggard and more. Again Berry is the only one with two songs !!! Produced by Evan Johns and recorded at Teenie Weenie Sound Studios in Vancouver, Canada.

J J JOHNSON (USA)

James Louis Johnson, jazz trombone player and songwriter, born 1924 in Indianapolis, Indiana and died in 2001. According to Wikipedia he played jazz, bebop, hard bop and third stream (!)

No Particular Place To Go (2:13) 1965

LP: Goodies [RCA Victor LSP-3458] • USA, 1966

He must have been one of the very first to cover this Berry tune, and in the jazz field(!) Again I am amazed how many different styles and artists/musicians who covers Berry.

LORANES (Germany)

Garage rock, neo-blues, psychedelic trio who came on the scene in 2015 with their debut single and album “Trust”.

Johnny B. Goode (4:12) 2018 (live)

LP: Live At Acoustic Lakeside Festival 2018 [H42 Records H42-059] • Germany, 2019

According to Discogs this was a one sided limited vinyl release with 250 copies pressed, 125 on black vinyl and 125 on clear-red vinyl. It also seems it was released as a full 11 track album. Sorry to say but to me this is just noise.

LORENZO MENZERSCHMIDT (USA)

Just so you know, this is a three piece blues band, consisting of “Lost Jim” Ohlschmidt (lead vocals, guitars), Tony Menzer (bass, vocals) and Victor de Lorenzo (drums, vocals). Kinda interesting invention of a band name.

Johnny B. Goode (4:19) 2012

CD: Lorenzo Menzerschmidt [Lorenzo Menzerschmidt 884501814195] • USA, 2012

A minor swing version of this classic. Very unusual. As they say at CD Baby: What do Sleepy John Estes, Mississippi John Hurt, Chuck Berry, and Blind Blake have in common? - They're all covered by this adventurous roots trio with an original song list shaped by old-school blues and rock 'n' roll.

TRADE MARTIN (USA)

Born in 1943, Union City, New Jersey. Musician, songwriter, producer. He worked with Johnny Powers in the late ‘50s, recording as Johnny & The Jokers. He later on recorded for Roulette a.o. and released an album on Buddah in 1972. But it is as a composer and producer he’s best known throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s especially. In 1990 he was also involved in B. B. King’s Grammy Award winning CD “Live At San Quentin”.

School Day (2:45) 2005

CD: Then - Songs Of Our Youth [Innovation Digital ] • USA, 2005

He’s followed Berry’s arrangement to the point, even the guitar is in the same key.

SWEET MIKEY C (USA)

Real name Mike Campbell. Family moved from Phoenix, Arizona to Odessa, Texas in 1956 when he was about 9 years old. He remember seing Roy Orbison on TV and later got hooked on the guitar playing by Scotty Moore. So there you have his roots.

Nadine (4:18) 2012

CD: Scooby Daddy [Mikey C Music 1951089] • USA, 2012

Featuring Bobby Keys and Johnny Hiland. This was his second CD where he is in a little Roy Orbison mood by covering 3 early songs by him. Recorded, mixed, and mastered at Java Jive Studios in Nashville, TN. Mikey’s first album came out in 2009 titled “Rock ‘n’ Roll Time Capsule”, a 2-CD set, where he a.o. covered 4 Buddy Holly songs, and a lot of other rock’n’roll classics.

MOODY BROTHERS (USA)

Country music trio , Carlton Moody, Dave Moody, and Trent Moody who started out in the early parts of the ‘80s. Got nominated for a Grammy for their recording of the classic “Cotton Eyed Joe” in 1985. In 1988 they recorded an album in Prague, Czechoslovakia with Jiri Brabec and Country Beat. The album Friends was the first such cooperative production between an American company, Lamon Records and what was then a communist state-owned record label Supraphon.
Later on the Moodys have focused on individual careers while still performing together occasionally.

Johnny B. Goode (2:37) 2012 (live)

CD: Live From Billy Bob’s Disneyland Paris [Lamon Records ] • USA, 2012

MARIUS “BUTCH” NORDAL (USA)

Jazz pianist, jazz journalist and educator. He was born in New Orleans but family moved to Seattle when he was seven. After several years of piano lessons he became an accomplished boogie woogie and blues player with a little rock and roll thrown in for good measure.

School Day (3:35) 2009 (instr)

CD: Boomer Jazz [Origin Records ‎82545] • USA, 2009

Nice to see even another jazz musician playing Berry. Of his background he has this to say: During my high school years,I grew up during the last few years of an eclectic, bluesy era where Miles Davis, Count Basie, Fats Domino, Chuck Berry and Bill Doggett co-existed with Doris Day, Pat Boone, Perry Como and Frank Sinatra. You could even hear any of them on a single radio station!

CLAIRE PETRIE (USA)

Country singer who grew up in a large musical family in Saratoga Springs, New York. "You Never Can Tell" was her debut single from the album and also with a following video.

You Never Can Tell (3:32) 2015

CD: The One [Playback Records ] • USA, 2015

She does a very decent cajun version of this Berry classic, good voice and arrangement, check out the video (pretty nice) on You Tube.
People, think of all the great videos you can actually do to a Chuck Berry tune. The story lines are so great they could have all been small and short movies.

QUIREBOYS (UK)

Heavy hard rock band from London, formed in 1985 disbanded in 1993. They got together again in 2000. They released 5 albums from 1990-1994 and some 16 albums from 2000-2019. Man they have been productive.

Little Queenie (4:24) 2017

CD: White Trash Blues [Off Yer Rocka Recordings OYR-044] • UK, 2017

On an album from 2014 they do a song titled You Never Can Tell which is not the Berry classic, although they repeat several times It goes to show… So they learned something.

RATS (UK)

See The Treacle below

RONA (Israel)

No biographical info.

Johnny B. Goode (3:06) 2015

CD: Goose Chase [ ? ] • Israel, 2015

Synthesizer … very slow interpretation and the guitar has been sampled several times during the 3 minutes playing time, the same opening riff over and over again while Rona sings very sensual. Don’t know if there’s an actual CD release here. I can only find two songs with her from 2015. And there’s even a couple of videos on You Tube of her singing Johnny B.
You probably need to download the songs, in case.

JIM RORIE (USA)

Country singer, songwriter It says that he plays Mississippi country blues, but I feel he sounds much more country than blues.

Memphis, Tennessee (4:18) 2012 in medley with “Mr. Crumb” (1:31)

CD: My Home Is Memphis, Tennessee [Jiro Records 887516161537] •

Unfortunately he follows the Johnny Rivers arrangement almost note for note. All songs on the album are about Memphis, the home of Rock and Roll and the home of the Blues. Songs by W. C. Handy, Hoagy Charmichael, Berry, Tommy Tucker and Curley Williams, plus six new songs written by Rorie.

WOLFGANG SCHMID (Germany)

Fusion, Jazz-Funk, Jazz-Rock quintet.

Johnny B. Goode (5:07) 2004

CD: A Swift Kick [Skip Records SKP-9053 2] • Germany, 2005

Recorded live at Dreamscape studios, Munich, 2004.

SHAKERS (Canada)

Now here’s another Shakers group, this time from Canada. A rock quartet who was active from 1979-1982. They had two albums out, 1981 - 1983. Rick Andrew played bass. Hail! Hail! boys for pickin’ an obscure Berry song. In 1980 nobody else had ever thought of covering "My Mustang Ford". Strange actually because it’s a good rocker, again a car song with excellent lyrics.

My Mustang Ford (3:02) 1980

12” EP: Rock And Roll [Warpt Records WRC1-1515] • Canada, 1980
CD:The Shakers [Warpt Records # 909] • Canada, 2000

No Money Down ( : ) 1980

12” EP: Rock And Roll [Warpt Records WRC1-1515] • Canada, 1980

SHOVELS & ROPE (USA)

A country/folk duo from Charleston, South Carolina. They are husband Michael Trent and wife Cary Ann Hearst.

You Never Can Tell (2:19) 2017

CD: Busted Jukebox Vol. 2 [New West Records NW-6415AD ] • USA, 2017

Strange version, it starts with a Johnny B. guitar riff and then runs way too fast. Also with a weird sound.

BJØRN SPELLMANN (Norway)

Accordionist. Real name Bjørn Brenne. Playing pop and country oriented music. He also had an album out in 2001 “Trekkspill I 2001”.

Memphis, Tennessee (2:40) 2004 (instr)

CD: Trekkspill I 2004 [Busk Records BCD-245] • Norway, 2004

Not bad and it swings, but he’s followed the Johnny Rivers arrangement (as so many others) and it becomes sort of predictable.

JOHN THIBODEAU (Canada)

John and the boys play a kind of accoustic blues and folk music. John Thibodeau (guitar, vocals), Barry Brown (guitar), Chris Turner (harmonica) and Mark Thibodeau (piano).

Maybellene (3:48) 2009

CD: Passin’ through [Ruination Records 700261266374] • Canada, 2009

A slower more bluesy version.

TREACLE (UK)

Featuring guitarist Mick Ronson and Benny Marshall and Keith Cheesman. It seems like the connection between the Rats and the Treacle were actually Mick Ronson. The Rats had three singles out in 1964-65. Don’t know if Treacle released any records but three songs by them are on both the CDs mentioned below.

Guitar Boogie (4:28) 1969 (instr) prev. unissued

CD: The Rise And Fall Of Bernie Gripplestone And The Rats From Hull [Tenth Planet TP-012] • UK, 1995
CD: The Fall And Rise – A Rats Tale [Angel Air Records SJPCD-165] • UK, 2004

This is not the worst I have heard but it comes pretty close. Okay, so they got he idea from Jeff Beck, but… Harmonica doesn’t fit the song guys, and the so-called short drum solos sounds like a joke. I am almost sure this was not supposed to be issued, and it should have stayed in the can. The overall sound is rotten too.

TRIPWIRES (USA)

Rock and roll group from Seattle, Washington featuring John Ramberg on vocals and lead guitar.

Tulane (2:39) 2007

CD: Makes You Loook Around [Paisley Pop 678277145924] • USA, 2007

Not quite sure what to make of this heavy version. It’s like a total mess The vocals are not following the music. It sounds like they were living in two different worlds.

JOHN VERITY BAND (UK)

Blues-rock band. Guitarist John Verity was born in 1949 in Bradford, West Yorkshire. He’s been in bands like Argent and Phoenix. Has released some 20 albums, the latest being “Blue To My Soul” in 2017.

Johnny B. Goode (5:16) 2015

CD: Live At Bosky [VaVoom Records 478897] • UK, 2015

They also do a version of “Route 66” the Berry/Stones way. Recorded live in one day at Bosky Studios in the village of Ireland in Bedfordshire. Live?

JOHN C. WAKELY (USA)

Son of country & western singer/songwriter Jimmy Wakely. The man who wrote a.o. “Too Late” which Berry recorded in 1974.
I have tried to find out when this album below was recorded but with no luck. It was produced by his dad Jimmy (who died in 1982). I did find an album by John Wakely released on Decca 75139 in 1969, titled “Please Don’t Hurt Me Anymore”, but “Memphis” is not on it.

Memphis, Tennessee (2:48) late ‘60s or early ‘70s

CD: Country Son Of A Western Singer [Essential Media Mod 5191076] • USA, 2012

CBID is the Chuck Berry International Directory, a 2.200 page pile of Chuck Berry records information published in four volumes between 2008 and 2013. For details see the bibliography section of this site.

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: still we discover releases which were missing from the book, including some from well-documented countries.

UK

CHUCK BERRY’S GREATEST HITS
Marble Arch MALS-660 • January 1967

See page 176 for info.

Same tracks as the mono LP but in electronic stereo. STEREO MALS is stamped in red letters on the back cover.  You will find the labels with the printing Stereophonic or without. Both have MALS 660 printed on the labels.

NETHERLANDS

Nadine / Come On
Funckler AR 45.111 • 1964 (picture sleeve, Chuck Berry Song Series #6)

Here we have three different variants. The Chuck Berry Song Series was a series of 45s going way up to #17. This one pictured had an orange Funckler label with some variations in printing. However, you might find it with a black label although I have never seen one. The other two images show two different (earlier) releases having colour tops, blue and purple. One with orange and one with black Funckler label, the latter being the first issue. Although we have no info what came first, the hen or the egg.
There is also a third label variant from Holland, Chess International orange label. Although I have never seen ARI 45.111 like that. Hopefully to give you a better explanation regarding all of this, please see page 400 under ARI 45.082 Roll Over Beethoven / Sweet Little Sixteen.

Probably third issue:

Probably second issue:

Probably first issue:

NEW ZEALAND

ST. LOUIS TO LIVERPOOL
Viking [Chess] LP-1488 • 1964

This is the mono variant. Don’t know if the stereo one was released.

PHILIPPINES

You Never Can Tell / Brenda Lee
Chess ARI-1013 • 1964

Multicolor label. The sound here is pretty poor. According to Thierry Chanu it seems like master (the tape machine) might have fluctuated.

SPAIN

ROCKIN’ AT THE HOPS
Zafiro [Serdisco] 301 12367 • 1989

Same as the UK reissue Charly (Green Line) LP GCH-8041 (1986).

NEW JUKE BOX HITS
Zafiro [Serdisco] 301 12364 • 1989

Same as the UK reissue Charly (Green Line) LP GCH-8008 (1986).

BERRY IS ON TOP
Zafiro [Serdisco] 301 12369 • 1989

Same as the UK reissue Charly (Green Line) LP GCH-8043 (1986).
The above three albums have printed 1988 on the back cover, but the labels says 1989.

TAIWAN

CHUCK BERRY’S GOLDEN DECADE VOL. 2 [2-LP]
Giant TD-1215 16 • 1973

Same as US LP 2CH-60023, but it seems as this was a single LP cover, no fold-out. And the back cover is in black & white, no colours.

CBID is the Chuck Berry International Directory, a 2.200 page pile of Chuck Berry records information published in four volumes between 2008 and 2013. For details see the bibliography section of this site.

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: An addition to chapter 18 in Volume 2. This chapter covers the session work and records by Chuck Berry's main musical partner Johnnie Johnson, recorded in addition to his work with Berry.

SESSION WORK and GUEST APPEARANCES

Keith Richards

TALK IS CHEAP (30th Anniversary De-luxe edition)

2-CD: BMG 4050538466980 • USA, 2019

Big Town Playboy (4:19)

(See page 876.) A remastered edition of the 1988 original album, released 29 March 2019. CD one has the original album and CD two has 6 tracks all previously unissued. The track above featuring Johnnie Johnson is previously unissued. It’s a midtempo bluesy tune with Johnnie in good form and Keith throwing in some Berry riffs at the end. Also available on 180gr. vinyl as a 2 album set.

CBID is the Chuck Berry International Directory, a 2.200 page pile of Chuck Berry records information published in four volumes between 2008 and 2013. For details see the bibliography section of this site.

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: three additions to chapter 14 in Volume 2 which covers tributes to Chuck Berry.

ÅGE ALEXANDERSEN (Norway)
See Volume 3, page 1036 for biographical info, and also Volume 4, page 1763.

Gå Gå Gå (3:52) (Chuck Berry-ge Alexandersen) 2018

CD: So far this is only available on line. He performed it live during his 70 years birthday party (where he spoke highly of Berry) which was filmed for TV.

This is Åge’s tribute to one of his mentors, Chuck Berry. He says he once did get some Berry singles with Johnny B. Goode and Sweet Little Sixteen and he knew what he was going to do. He says that there wouldn’t be any rock’n’roll as we know it without Chuck Berry. He uses a great deal of the text from Sweet Little Sixteen and then writes his own lyrics to fit in. It’s actually a rock song but it’s not rockin’, if you get my drift. Anyway, it’s a good tribute.

LA MANZANA PLASTICA (Mexico)
1960s rock/beat band who is still out there playing “pure rock of the ‘60s” as they call it.

Berry Rides Again (as “El Gran Chuck Berry”) (2:20) 1970

45: CBS 6644 • Mexico, 1970

Sung in Spanish. Taken from The Steppenwolf’s tribute to Berry from 1968 (see Steppenwolf on pages 761 and 1895).

GUNN-TRUSCINSKI DUO (USA)
Steve Gunn (guitars), John Truscinski (synths, drums). According to something I’ve read they play a mixture of folk, rock and experimental music. And if you listen to the tribute below it sounds something like that.

Seagull For Chuck Berry (5:02) (Gunn-Truscinski) 2017 (instr)

LP: Bay Head [Three Lobed LPTLR-124] • USA, 2017

Recorded at Echo Canyon West (?) in March 2017. Not so much Berry pickin’ on this slow and unusual instrumental. You can hear traces from “Deep Feeling”, but Gunn explains that we sometimes took direct inspiration from the late rock’n’roll godfather. However, you will have to listen closely. Anyway, because of the title it’s a tribute all right. The album above was their third as a duo.

CBID is the Chuck Berry International Directory, a 2.200 page pile of Chuck Berry records information published in four volumes between 2008 and 2013. For details see the bibliography section of this site.

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: Yet another list of cover versions to be added to the chapter on Chuck Berry covers in Volume 3 and two songs which made it there by mistake:

Here’s another cover that must be moved to the NO Chuck section:
The Mike Cotton Sound (UK): Around And Around (1964) (live) (page 1142) Written by Mike Cotton.
This was one of the early covers I spotted way back in the late ‘60s and unfortunately didn’t re-check when I was working with Vol.3. But now we know.

Also the group Big Country (UK) – page 1073 must be erased as their version of “Promised Land” from 1989 was written by Stuart Adamson and NOT Berry.

However, cover versions of Berry song keep coming. And some of these are quite goode, indeed. Here's the latest list of new and newly discovered Berry covers.

GEORGE BENSON (USA)

Singer, songwriter and guitar player from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he was born in 1943. Alternating between jazz, pop, R&B , and scat singing. In the ’60s and ’70s he was known for his funky instrumental jazz, and in the ’80s and ’90s for his more smooth R&B crooning. His first album “The New Boss Guitar Of George Benson” came out in 1964. He recorded a tribute album to Nat King Cole in 2013.
As a guitar player he was heavily influenced by jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery. In 1976 his album “Breezin’” hit the #1 spot on the Billboard album chart and was certified triple-platinum. He has also received several Grammy Awards throughout his career.

Havana Moon (4:54) 2019
How You’ve Changed (3:21) 2019
Memphis, Tennessee (3:19) 2019
Nadine (3:53) 2019
You Can’t Catch Me (3:35) 2019

CD: Walking To New Orleans [Provogue PRD 819873018650] • USA, 2019
CD: Walking To New Orleans [Provogue PRD-75812] • Netherlands, 2019
LP: Walking To New Orleans [Provogue PRD-75811] • Netherlands, 2019

The subheading is Remembering Chuck Berry and Fats Domino. The LP is available in both black and yellow vinyl. “Nadine” turns out to be the best Berry cover on the album. Of course it’s interesting that a guy like Benson turns to Berry’s and Domino’s music to make an album. Although I would have wished for a more original approach. I have been listening to the album several times and it becomes a little predictable, there’s no surprises. Although I must admit that “How You’ve Changed” was an interesting and good choice which has become more of a ballad thing. Come to think of it, isn’t the song actually a ballad?

WILD BOB BURGOS And His Houserockers (UK)

See Volume 4, page 1779 for biographical info.

It’s My Own Business ( : ) 2018

CD: Yeah!!...Dedicated To Rockin’!! [TCY Records TCY-033] • Switzerland, 2019

Recorded in December 2017. “Dedicated to the memory of the late great Chuck Berry”.
He’s done several soundalikes and tributes, but it’s goode to finally have him in the Cover series. The album contains 14 tracks, all written by Burgos except the Berry tune.

SANDY FORD & FLYING SAUCERS (UK)

See Volume 3, page 1197 for biographical info on The Flying Saucers.

Maybellene ( : ) 2018

CD: Out Of The Blue [Raw 1041] • UK, 2018

Self published album, containing 27 tracks, mostly covers of well-known rock’n’roll songs, and some originals. Produced by Sandy Ford and he also plays most of the instruments himself. Sandy’s voice is remarkable reminiscent of Gene Vincent’s.

JERRY GARCIA BAND (USA)

See Volume 3, page 1207 for biographical info.

Let It Rock (6:37) 1987 (live)
You Never Can Tell (C’est La Vie) (7:08) 1991 (live)

6-CD box: Electric On The Eel [ATO Records JGFRR-1021] • USA, 2019

Both songs recorded live at French's Camp On The Eel River in Piercy, California on 29 August 1987 respectively on 10 August 1991.

HET COCKTAIL TRIO (Netherlands)

No biographical info.

No Particular Place To Go [as ‘De Hele Wereld Alleen Van Ons’] ( : ) 1964

45: Imperial IH-608 • Netherlands, 1964 (PS)

JP AND THE RAZORS (UK)

A three-piece rhythm and blues/rock’n’roll outfit from the North-West of England. Guitar, bass and drums.

It Wasn’t Me (3:50) 2018

CD: Nothin’ To Lose [JPRCD-18011] • UK, 2018

Again it goes to show, all material is original apart from the Berry number!

LOS DRACS (Spain)

Beat sextet.

Johnny B. Goode [as ”Ven Johnny Ven”] (2:24) 1965
Rock And Roll Music (1:57) 1965

EP: Los Dracs [Alma 4010-XC] • Spain, 1965

Johnny B. follows the others from Spain or Mexico. Rock And Roll Music built around the Beatles’ version, plain and straight forward.

SEAMUS McGARVEY BAND (UK)

At the age of 72, Seamus McGarvey comes out with his debut album! A family band from Southend On Sea consisting of Seamus McGavey on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, John McGarvey on harmonica, Pat McGarvey bass, 5-string banjo and backing vocals, plus Jed Potts on rhythm and lead guitars, Calum McIntyre drums and washboard.

Roll Over Beethoven (3:10) 2018

CD: Seamus O’Boogie [Johnny Rock Records JOROCK-028] • UK, 2019

A rockin’ goode version with a solid beat, one of the best I’ve heard in a long while. Recorded in Edinburgh during two days in March 2018.

LITTLE HERBIE MAYES & The Twisters (USA)

No biographical info.

Maybellene (1:51) 1962

45: Alley AS-1064 • USA, 1962

Fast rockabilly version with a good bass line.

DUKE ROBILLARD BAND (USA)

See volume 3, page 1460 for biographical info.

Dear Dad (2:13) 2019

CD: Ear Worms [Stony Plain SPCD-1403] • USA, 2019

This is a rockin goode version for sure. Duke has gathered a lot of friends to participate on this album and it is Klem Klimek who sings on this track but Duke is playing guitar, at least. The album was conceived as an album of songs that he heard and was attracted to growing up. Duke had this to say about pickin’ “Dear Dad”: It is one of my favorite Chuck Berry tunes. A latter song of his and never a hit, but it possesses all the components of a great Berry composition. Chuck’s command of the English language and his ability to create the coolest slang ever written is uncanny – Coolerator?!!! What’s cooler than that?
The CD contains 13 tracks and the opening and self penned “Don’t Bother Trying To Steal Her Love” is a cool one too, rocking like a Chuck Berry tune and sounding very close to “You Never Can Tell” in the verses.

TOMMY ROE (USA)

See volume 3, pages 1472-73 for biographical info.

It has come to my knowledge that it is actually guitar wizard Reggie Young who plays the eminent guitar fills and solos on Tommy Roe’s version of “Carol” from 1964. The guitar playing blew my mind the first time I heard it. I was sure there must have been someone special, but now it is out that it actually was Reggie Young, a studio musician who’s played on 100s of country, rock and pop songs (and hits) since the late ‘50s. Unfortunately he died 17 January 2019 at the age of 82.
Additional info for us all, it is also Reggie who played solo guitar on the Bill Black’s Combo album “Plays Tunes By Chuck Berry” [Hi SHL-32017] from 1964.

LINDA RONSTADT (USA)

See volume 3, pages 1478-79 for biographical info.

Back In The USA (2:58) 1980

CD & LP: Live In Hollywood [Rhino 574477] • USA, 2019

Recorded 24 April 1980 for her HBO television special at Television Center Studios in Hollywood. She was joined on stage by a band featuring Kenny Edwards (guitar), Danny Kortchmar (guitar), Billy Payne (keyboards), Dan Dugmore (pedal steel), Bob Glaub (bass), Russ Kunkel (drums), plus backing vocalists Wendy Waldman and Peter Asher, the latter besides being the executive producer also plays percussion. The Berry cover sounds very much like the hit version from 1978, very solid. The album contains 12 tracks, and except for two of them the rest are previously unreleased, including the Berry number.

ARLEN ROTH (USA)

See volume 3, pages 1481 for biographical info.

Promised Land (5:21) 2019 feat. Jerry Donahue

CD: Tele-Masters [Aquinnah AQ-0414] • USA, 2019

A whole album of players who are known for their Fender Telecaster skills. 16 tracks and besides featuring Arlen Roth (of course) you’ll hear in the country field people like Vince Gill, Steve Wariner, Brad Paisley, Albert Lee. In the blues field Joe Bonamassa a.o. And people like Steve Cropper, Bill Kirchen, Redd Volkaert and also Cindy Cashdollar (Fender steel).
BUT where’s James Burton???

LUDWIG SEUSS BAND (Germany)

Born in 1964, Munich, Germany. Blues, Cajun, Zydeco pianist, organist and accordionist. Has been a member of the Spider Murphy Gang since 1987. Check out this group on pages 1526-1527 in Vol. 3.

Maybellene ( : ) 2018 (live)

CD: Live Im Lustspielhaus [Styx Records STYX-1094] • Germany, 2018

Sounds okay by me. The vocalist on this Berry number is Günther Sigl, a founding member of the Spider Murphy Gang.

JIMMY (STAGGER LEE) SMITH (USA)

No biographical info.

Memphis, Tennessee [as "Memphis"] ( : ) 1970s

45: Rexius RR-5051 • USA, 1970s

Don’t know much about this except I have seen the record and label but haven’t heard it. It could be an instrumental version or… The flip side is a cover of ”Stagger Lee” and is actually credited to Chuck Berry! Record label out of Portland, Oregon. I am not even sure about the year either, it could be the late ’60s for all I know.

TONY VILAPLANA (Spain)

No biographical info.

Maybellene ( : ) 1964

EP: Tony Vilaplana Y Sus Teen Stars [Vergara 35.0.076 C] • Spain, 1964

I haven’t heard it but he looks like a teen star and he probably sounds like it too, or maybe he listened to Gene Vincent’s version?

CBID is the Chuck Berry International Directory, a 2.200 page pile of Chuck Berry records information published in four volumes between 2008 and 2013. For details see the bibliography section of this site.

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: a beautiful re-release of mankind's most important record release containing a Berry number.

USA

THE VOYAGER GOLDEN RECORD (3-LP set / 2-CD set)
Ozma Records OZMA 001 • USA, 2017

Johnny B. Goode

A very nice box in LP size containing 3 gold vinyl LPs (or 2 CDs) with a 90 page elegant booklet with the story telling the whole background and many color photos, several taken from the spacecrafts.

The project started way back in July 1972. The initial idea was a grand tour of the Solar system exploring the four mysterious outer planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

In 1977 the United States of America (NASA) launched two spacecrafts, Voyager I (5 September) and Voyager II (20 August). Each contained a special Gold Record which included pictures, sounds and music from planet Earth. Apart from the usual classical music of Beethoven, Bach, and musical highlights from various countries, the discs also have popular tracks like Louis Armstrong “Melancholy Blues” (1927), Blind Willie Johnson “Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground” (1927) and Chuck Berry “Johnny B. Goode” (1958).

The idea to the golden record came about in January 1977 when Carl Sagan and Frank Drake met in Hawaii, both colleagues at Cornell University.

The metal Gold record is covered with a lid with information for the aliens on how to build a record player, how to use the enclosed cartridge of stylus inside the package and how to place the pickup onto the record.

The gold record was recorded at half-speed which gave 2 hours of material. One and half hour of music, the rest being spoken greetings, natural sounds and photographs.

On the OZMA release, the sound is distributed onto three golden-color vinyl LPs which you don't have to build your own record player for. Also included in the box are a slipmat for your record player showing the spacecraft's trajectories, a gold foil print of the original record cover and a 100-page book.

Sunday 28 January 2018 this LP vinyl box set won a Grammy Award for Best Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package. Well deserved.

The Voyager Golden Record 3xLP Vinyl Box set and 2xCD-Book edition are available from Ozma Records at: https://ozmarecords.com/pages/voyager

After over 41 years the two spacecrafts are some 19 billion kilometers from earth and have now reached what’s called "Interstellar space", beyond the planets mentioned above. And continue their journey through the Universe by some 16-17 kilometers per second (!). Both Voyagers send signals home every day taking up to 18 hours to reach earth.

In 2017 a documentary titled “The Farthest” was made by HHMI Tangled Bank Studios in association with Irish Film Board and ZDF in collaboration with Arte, BBC, RTÉ and PBS, (Crossing The Line Productions) to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the launching. Very interesting to follow what happened before, under and after. You even see a glimpse of Berry performing at the launching event back in 1977.

Here are a few comments from the documentary regarding Berry and Johnny B. :

We had a big party at the JPL [Jet Propulsion Labratory, a federal research center in Pasadena, California where the spacecrafts were built] and that was a good send off for Voyager.
The greatest moment at JPL was when Chuck Berry was on the steps of the administration building doing the Duck Walk to Johnny B. Goode.
Ed Stone [Voyager Chief Scientist] was dancing to Johnny B. Goode, it was something to see. Everybody was dancing.

Candy Hansen-Koharcheck (Imaging Science Representative):

4 billion years from now when our sun turns into a red giant, Voyager will be traveling out there through the stars, and the sounds of our time are going to be out there, Chuck Berry is still out there…

A little humor at the end. Comedian and actor Steve Martin told the viewers on Saturday Night Live 22 April 1978 that a message was soon received after Voyager had been launched which read: Send more Chuck Berry … And he was dead serious. A transcript of the joke can be found at http://climateerinvest.blogspot.com/2017/03/send-more-chuck-berry.html.

To follow up in connection with the 40th Anniversary, the Dualtone Store offered a black T-shirt saying exactly that: Send More Chuck Berry. You can actually buy it on their web-site https://www.dualtonestore.com/products/send-more-chuck-berry-t-shirt

Thanks to Ozma Records/LAD Design for providing additional information and several of the images shown.

Further links worth to follow are:
an interactive version of the Golden Record: http://goldenrecord.org/
NASA description of the Golden Record production: https://voyager.jpl.nasa.gov/golden-record/

CBID is the Chuck Berry International Directory, a 2.200 page pile of Chuck Berry records information published in four volumes between 2008 and 2013. For details see the bibliography section of this site.

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: Johnny B. Goode was released as a single in March 1958. In the US it took until late 1959 when the hit finally appeared on Chuck Berry Is On Top. However, this was not the first LP release of this song. Here's the album to know. Also we show yet another version of the CHUCK album as an addition to our blog post of November 2017.

AUSTRALIA
Correction - see Volume 4, page 1989

ONE DOZEN BERRYS
Philips B 94229 L • 1958

Sorry folks but there is a very important difference on this Australian release, compared to the US one. They actually changed the dreadful “Low Feeling” with the classic “Johnny B. Goode”.
I didn’t see this when doing CBID Vol. 4. But what an intelligent thing to do.
Of course Chess should have done exactly the same thing since the song and album came out in the US at the same time, March 1958. The actual album could even have hit the charts. The front cover is the same as the US one but the back is different, just the titles on side 1 and 2 and a survey of other Philips albums (no rock’n’roll though).
This means actually that Johnny B. Goode first appeared on an LP in 1958, in Australia. Unfortunately we don’t know for sure when this album came out in 1958.
Thanks to Thierry Chanu for making me aware of this fact.

POLAND / EU

CHUCK
Decca 00602557682472 (86) • 2017

I just came across another issue of the «Chuck» album, namely from Poland.
It comes in a CD Jewel case (plastic) with booklet and is on Decca 00602557682472 (86). The front cover is a little bit different because of the white line going all around. It’s printed in very small lettering: ZAGRANICZNA PLYTA – POLSKA CENA, repeated over and over again on the white line. This is also printed on the inside of the back cover visible when you look at the CD itself. I have scanned the front, back, inside cover and label. The CD label says made in the EU but the cat.no is different from the UK one although the label look exactly the same except for the number.
The shrink wrap has a red/white/black sticker on it.

CBID is the Chuck Berry International Directory, a 2.200 page pile of Chuck Berry records information published in four volumes between 2008 and 2013. For details see the bibliography section of this site.

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: Some observations and yet another list of cover versions to be added to the chapter on Chuck Berry covers in Volume 3:

There’s lot of versions of Johnny B. Goode on the net but many of them are for download only. I am glad that I am not doing the books now (especially Vol. 3) as there would have been a complete mess finding out if the actual songs are available on any CDs.

I also found a duo calling themselves Johnny B. Goode (yes) and a girl quartet named The Maybellene’s, both seem to be from the US.

Note: “Back In The USA” by Starbyrd we will have to place in the NO Chuck section, it’s not Berry’s!

Also, “Run Rudolph Run” by Chuck is featured in many films, as we know. A more recent movie from 2015 titled “A Christmas Melody” has this played when the family is driving from one place to another. Cast Lacey Nicole Chabert and Brennan Elliott. Directed by Mariah Carey who also has a role in this movie.

DONALD FAGEN (USA)

Donald Jay Fagen from New Jersey, born in 1948, is a singer and keybord player and probably best known for being a co-founder of the 1970s pop-rock/jazz band Steely Dan.

Viva, Viva Rock & Roll (2:42) 2007 (live)

CD: Morph The Cat [Reprise 43325-2] • USA, 2007
5-CD box: Cheap Xmas: Donald Fagen Complete [Rhino/Warner Bros. 812279328 2] • USA, 2017

Interesting to see that he covers an obscure Berry rocker. He does a great job of it, and you can even find a performance on You Tube.

ADAM DOUGLAS (USA/Norway)

Born in the USA (Oklahoma), but now living in Norway (Harestua . Hadeland). Born in 1981. He’s a very versatile artist performing rock’n’roll/soul/blues type of music, and released his debut album in 2015, “I May Never Learn”. He competed in the Norwegian TV-show Stjernekamp (=Starfight) in 2017 and won.

Run Rudolph Run (4:01) 2017

CD: An American Holiday [Reva Records CA-19] • Norway, 2018

Recorded live in Nordstrand Kirke, Oslo, Norway. (Kirke = Church) This was also a TV-programme. This version of the Berry classic doesn’t run so much and the guitar solo is more 60s/70s lacking the most.

JOHNNY FRITZ (Canada)

Country singer/songwriter , born 1961 in a small town just outside of Toronto.

Johnny B. Goode (4:02) 2015

CD: No End In Sight [J Fritz 234639] • Canada, 2015

ERIN HARPE And The DELTA SWINGERS (USA)

Run Rudolph Run (3:33) 2018

CD: Christmas Swing [Vizz Tone CD-VTJJ-003] • USA, 2018

WALLIS LAKE & The Surfin’ Guitars (USA)

Brown Eyed Handsome Man (2:03) 1963
Let It Rock [as ‘Rocking On The Railroad’] ( : ) 1963

45: 4 Sons Records 4106 • USA, 1963

Label out of Paris, Tennessee. Again interesting to see a double sided Berry cover 45. There’s no year printed on the label, but because of the mistitle of “Let It Rock” it’s probably taken from the Berry “On Stage” Chess LP from August ’63. I haven’t heard it but it should be interesting to hear if they by any chance used the new arrangement of “Brown Eyed Handsome Man” which was also included on the “On Stage” album.

RONNIE LANE (UK)

See Volume 3, page 1305 for biographical info.

You Never Can Tell (9:57) 1980 (live)

CD: Live At Rockpalast 1980 [MIG Music 90542 CD] • Germany, 2012

Recorded on 19 March 1980 in Cologne, West Germany. This is okay but nothing more, even though he has Ian Stewart with him on piano. Almost 10 minutes, I still feel it doesn’t swing enough.

SCORPIONS (UK)

See volume 3, page 1492 for biographical info.

Guitar Boogie (instr) (2:20) 1959
Rock At The Philarmonic [as ‘Rockin’ At The Phil’] (instr) (3:52) 1960

CD: The Scorpions: Anthology 1959-1965 [Wooden Hill WHCD-004] • UK, 1996

When Vol.3 was published I didn’t have this particular CD. I was quite certain that it was the same version and nobody told me that “Guitar Boogie” was actually a Berry cover and not Arthur Smith’s. Anyway, it turns out that the numbers here were recorded in November 1959 and December 1960 respectively. AND the version of “Rockin’ At The Phil” is a totally different take, going much slower and stretched out to almost four minutes. However, it doesn’t have the fire and power of the released fast and shorter version. “Guitar Boogie” is not in the same league, it’s messy and in poorer sound quality.
The CD contains 32 tracks, many instrumentals.

SHIVAREE (USA)

Alternative pop/rock band formed in 1997 and consisted of Ambrosia Parsley (vocals), Danny McGough (keyboards), Duke McVinnie (guitar). Probably best known for “Goodnight Moon”, a song used in both Dawson’s Creek and Volume 2 of Kill Bill. The band separated officially the same year the album below came out.

I Want To Be Your Driver [as ‘ I Wanna Be Your Driver’] (2:29) 2007

CD: Tainted Love: Mating Calls And Fight Songs [Zoë Records ZOE 01143-1092-2] • USA, 2007

This is quite okay, but too much noise for me, and the guitarist is no rock’n’roller to say the least.

RON WILLIAMS (USA)

Country singer/songwriter in the traditional style. Son of country singer/songwriter Leona Williams.

Nadine (3:18) 2013

CD: Foolproof [Loveshine CD-4261] • USA, 2013

A solid rendition of this Berry classic, with fiddle, steel and a horn section.

CBID is the Chuck Berry International Directory, a 2.200 page pile of Chuck Berry records information published in four volumes between 2008 and 2013. For details see the bibliography section of this site.

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 18 in Volume 2 has a complete discography, full session information and everything else of interest about Johnnie Johnson, Berry's great pianist. Here's an addition to the Johnnie Johnson discography:

SESSION WORK and GUEST APPEARANCES

Kentucky Headhunters With Johnnie Johnson (USA)
MEET ME IN BLUESLAND
CD: Alligator Records ALCD-4965 • USA, 2015

Stumblin’ / Walking With The Wolf / Little Queenie / She’s Got To Have It ◊ / Party In Heaven / Meet Me In Bluesland / King Rooster / Shufflin’ Back To Memphis / Fast Train / Sometime / Superman Blues

11 tracks, recorded 26-28 January 2003 at Barrick Recording Studio, Glasgow, Kentucky. Johnnie plays piano on all tracks and does vocals on one song marked ◊. Two of the songs have typical Berry guitar and beat, “Stumblin’, a very goode one, and “Party In Heaven”. For some strange reason this album was never released when Johnnie was alive. They say that the session was actually a spontaneous one and therefore no immediate plans to release an album. Luckily it became a reality in 2015. Three more songs were later featured on an album by the Kentucky Headhunters in 2019 (see below). See also cover versions for extra comments on “Little Queenie”.
This album should be in every Berry fan’s collection. It has drive and the piano of Johnnie is spot on. Play It Johnnie…!

Kentucky Headhunters (USA)
LIVE AT THE RAMBLIN’ MAN FAIR
CD: Alligator Records ALCD-4988 • USA, 2019

Rock Me Baby / Rock-N-Roller / Hi-Heel Sneakers

Johnnie does not play on other tracks. The three tracks were recorded 26-28 January 2003 (see “Meet Me In Bluesland” above). Johnnie really shines on “Rock-N-Roller”. The other 10 tracks on the album were recorded live in 2016 at the Ramblin’ Man Fair in Maidstone, UK (it was part of an European tour). They even do a couple of Johnnie Johnson co-written songs, “Shufflin’ Back To Memphis” and “Walking With The Wolf”. They also do “Stumblin’ “. However, the band sounds different on stage, much more rock and heavier and therefore I feel they lose a lot of their integrity and individual style.

CBID is the Chuck Berry International Directory, a 2.200 page pile of Chuck Berry records information published in four volumes between 2008 and 2013. For details see the bibliography section of this site.

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 covering Chuck Berry and Johnnie Johnson, CBID also has chapter 19 containing a session discography as well as record releases by the Berry-inspired US artist Eddy Clearwater. Here's another CD containing an Eddy performance:

CDs

BLUES TO BOP LUGANO

CD: Altri Suoni (Casino Lugano) AS-058 • Switzerland, 1999

Don’t Steal My Blues

12 tracks. This was recorded at the annual festival in Lugano, Switzerland called Lugano Blues To Bop, 2-5 September 1999, It’s a very long stretched out slow blues, clocking in at 12:46, written by Eddy himself. The other performers on the CD are Ian Siegel, Mike Stresser & Ed Gents, John Crampton, Captain Luke, Judith Emmeline, John Carter Cash a.o. I have tried to check what happened during the festival and who backed Eddy on the show but with no luck. There’s no such info on the album. However he is augmented by both tenor saxophone and organ in addition to bass and drums.

CBID is the Chuck Berry International Directory, a 2.200 page pile of Chuck Berry records information published in four volumes between 2008 and 2013. For details see the bibliography section of this site.

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: a 2018 vinyl single

Back In The USA / Memphis, Tennessee
Chess TMR-529 (UMG Recordings Inc.) • 2018
[Manufactured by Universal Music]

This was released on Black Friday November 2018. The label is a replica of the Chess silver top, which is kinda silly as the original single came out in 1959 on the blue label with vertical silver Chess logo. It comes in a new designed Chess sleeve, printed in 2017. The sound is very good. Great for old jukeboxes. This is also out in brown vinyl in case you got to have everything (unfortunately I do).

CBID is the Chuck Berry International Directory, a 2.200 page pile of Chuck Berry records information published in four volumes between 2008 and 2013. For details see the bibliography section of this site.

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: Cassette tapes contributed to a large part of worldwide sales of prerecorded music throughout the 1970s to 1990s. The first commercial MCs were produced by Phillips/Mercury in 1966. Most MCs were duplicates of LP albums, which is why collectors typically go for the original. This one here is an exception.

UK

FROM ST. LOUIE TO FRISCO
MC: Mercury CMP-7029 • 1968

Side 1: Louie To Frisco / Ma Dear / Misery / I Love Her, I Love Her / Little Fox
Side 2: Soul Rockin’ / I Can’t Believe / The Love I Lost / My Tambourine / Rock Cradle Rock / Oh Captain / Mum’s The Word

Now here is a rarity. It’ s the first time we write about a certain cassette, since it was only issued like this in the UK. Why they chose to ignore an LP is anyone’s guess. I have collected Berry records since the mid ‘60s and have never seen a copy. I actually wondered if what I heard back then was just a fabrication, since it never showed up anywhere. UNTIL 14 days ago (mid September 2018) it suddenly turned up on eBay in all its glory(?). I should have loved to see my face when I spotted it. I bid so high (bidnapper - £ 171,-) that absolutely no-one would beat me. I ended up paying £ 26,- + postage for a cassette which is really somethin’ else, all things considered.
I have written the sequence of the songs as they are a little bit different than on the LP because of the length of the individual songs. As you can see the MC cover is just an extract from the original album cover. The stereo sound is the usual Mercury without depth.
Anyway, my UK Berry collection is finally complete(?) except for a few promos. Not bad after over 50 years.