CBID - The Never Ending Story - pt. 2

CBID is never complete as new records and CDs appear and some old rarities are discovered. This section presents interesting additions and corrections to CBID.

Today: We continue with our list of new cover versions which came to our attention recently. Again a few a digital-only, but worth to be listed here.

BELAIRES (USA)

Blues-rock trio from Columbia, Missouri, formed in 1981. David Pruitt, Dick Pruitt and Michael Cherry.

Nadine ( : ) 1991

CD: Dangerous Curves [Borrowed Records BORO CD-01] ● USA, 1991

I’ve seen a You Tube clip of the band performing this Berry classic, clocking in at (4:19).

MIKE BLOCK (USA)

Singer, songwriter, cellist from Boston, Massachusetts. Grammy-Award winning musician. It’s the first cellist entry we have here in this Berry Cover survey. Hail! Hail!

Johnny B. Goode (2:53) 2018

Digital: Final Night At Camp [Bright Shiny Things BSTD-0125] ● USA, 2018

Recorded al Dimension Sound Studios in Jamaica Plain, MA. Released June 2018. You can listen and watch the performance at Bandcamp. The album above is a deluxe edition with three bonus tracks.

Roll Over Beethoven (5:14) 2019

Digital: Walls Of Time [Self released] ● USA, 2019

Recorded at Dimension Sound Studios, Jamaica Plain, MA. Released November 2019. When a guy plays a cello and records “Roll Over Beethoven” for over 5 minutes, you are guaranteed a place in this survey. Really excellent performance. Listen to this at Bandcamp !!!

CHAR-MAN (USA)

Punk band (quartet) from Ojai, California, formed 2003.

Roll Over Beethoven (2:53) 2005

CD: Char-Man [self released] ● USA, 2005

Released October 2005.

LP: Char-Man [Music Sucks Records MSR-001] ● USA, 2016

STEPHEN R. CHENEY (Australia)

Country and folk singer, guitarist.

Johnny B. Goode (1:56) 2012

CD: Hound Doggin’ [self released CDGSL-30009] ● USA, 2012

20 rock’n’roll covers, several from Elvis. As I have said before, when you record a popular song that’s over 30 seconds shorter than the original, something is missing along the way.

CHRISTOFF (Belgium)

Christoff de Bolle. He’s regarded as a pop/schlager singer. Born 1976 in Ninove. Has released a lot of singles and albums since the early ‘90s.

You Never Can Tell (C’est La Vie) (2:50) 2013 feat. Robby Longo

CD: Christoff & Vrienden 2 [ARS 06 0253 74060 6 7] Belgium, 2013

The first and last verse are sung in Dutch and the rest in English (!)

See also ROBBY LONGO

COAD SISTERS (Australia)

A multi-talented folk and country duo, sisters Virginia and Lynette Coad. Started out in the late ‘80s. However, they have also performed as a trio with brother Peter Coad, and being members of the Runaway Dixie group.

Johnny B. Goode (3:26) 1998

CD: Talk Of The Town [Coad Sisters COA-900723] ● Australia, 1998

A slower version with the harmonica being the prominent instrument. Virginia plays keyboards, fiddle, steel guitar, lead and rhythm guitars, mandolin and piano. Lynette plays banjo, harmonica, bass and drums. In addition to doing harmony vocals together with brother Peter. And of course they both sing. Produced and arranged by the sisters. I really like this one.

CORNET CHOP SUEY (USA)

Jazz Band from Florissant, Missouri. Vocals by Brian Casserly. The band has been around since the late ‘90s and they usually play jazz tunes.

Johnny B. Goode (4:00) 2018 (live)

CD: Ten [CCS (self released) 58150 2] ● USA, 2018

“Johnny B. Goode” the Dixieland way. Interesting concept of songs, as you get tunes from the likes of Fats Waller, Louis Jordan, Duke Ellington, Elmore James a.o.
I have seen a couple of versions of this Berry classic done live by the Cornet Chop Suey (You Tube) and it’s quite different than others. This is a proper CD release.

BILLY COWSILL (USA/Canada)

William Joseph Cowsill Jr. Singer, songwriter, guitar player. Born 1948 in Middletown, Rhode Island, USA, died 2006 in Calgary Alberta, Canada. Lead singer of the ‘60s hit group The Cowsills. He moved to Calgary Alberta in the mid ‘70s.

Roll Over Beethoven (3:22) 1985 (live)

LP: Live From The Crystal Ballroom, Calgary AB, July 1985 [Indelible Music Inc. NIRC-0007] ● Canada, 2004

Recorded live 5 July 1985. Cowsill and his band was warming up for k d lang in the Crystal Ballroom at the Palliser Hotel in Calgary Alberta.

See also Co-Dependents on this blog and on page 1131 in Vol.3.

CRAZY CRACKERS (Germany)

Seven piece rock’n’roll band. In addition to the three albums below they have also released an Elvis tribute album (2002).

Maybellene [as “Maybelline”] ( : ) 1996

CD: Last Walk [Foresttown Recordings ABCD-73007] ● Germany, 1997

Again a bunch of covers, 18 to be exact, from the likes of Elvis (several), Little Richard, Fats Domino, Johnny Cash, John Denver and even Bob Seger.

Promised Land ( : ) 2010

CD: Lock, Stock & Barrel [CR (self released) 1000102] ● Germany, 2010

Several Elvis related songs and other rock’n’roll/country tracks.

Too Much Monkey Business (2:56) 2015

CD: Twenty5 [CR (self released)] ● Germany, 2015

There are 15 tracks on the album.

CHARLIE CUCCIA (USA)

Singer and guitarist from New Orleans.

Nadine (5:02) 2005

CD: Cuccia [Sound Of New Orleans SONO-1066] ● USA, 2005

Soul arrangement and therefore a little different. Pretty cool !

PÉ DAALEMMER & ROIE RINUS (Netherlands)

Musical comedy duo from Groningen. Peter de Haan and Frank Den Hollander.

Maybellene [as ”Baukelien”] (2:50) 1982 (live)

LP: Op Verziede In Waskemeer! [Telstar TAR-19002] ● Netherlands, 1982
CD: Op Verziede In Waskemeer! [Telstar TCD-10128 2] ● Netherlands, 1992

Johnny B. Goode [as ”Jelle (Gaat Lekker)”] (2:16) 1982 (live)

CD: Op Verziede In Waskemeer! [Telstar TCD-10128 2] ● Netherlands, 1992

Both songs recorded live in the little village of Waskemeer.
When this album was reissued again in 2010, Maybellene was not included.

DAVINA & THE VAGABONDS (USA)

Singer and pianoplayer Davina Sowers and 4 guys on trumpet, trombone, bass and drums. Formed in 2006 and based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Back To Memphis (3:02) 2008 (live)

2-CD: Live @ The Times [Self released ] ● USA, 2009

Recorded live at The Times Bar and Cafe 6 and 7 July 2008. Jazzy and bluesy version. Pretty different from Chuck’s.

Run Rudolph Run (2:51) 2020 (live)

CD: A Lovenest Holiday [Self released ] ● USA, 2020

Recorded live during “Holiday At The Hook” show 5 December 2020.

BOBBY DAVIS (New Zealand)

Rock’n’roll singer from Christchurch.

Dear Dad (1:46) 1966

45: Zodiac Records Z45 1247 ● New Zealand, 1966

Apart from Australian band Master’s Apprentices who covered this in 1966, so the above was also an early cover version. Most of the covers came in the ‘90s and 2000s.

CD: Rave Up (Zodiac Heritage Series Vol. 16) [Stebbing Recording Centre ] ● New Zealand, 2017

Have a feeling that the above CD is for downloading only.

FREEK & DE JONGES (Netherlands)

Frederik Jan Georg de Jonge was born in 1944. Singer, songwriter and comedian. First album in the mid ‘70s. Has released numerous since then.

Come On [as “Kom Op”] ( : ) 2017

CD: Koffers [V2 Records Benelux VVNL-32032] ● Netherlands, 2017

DEMOLITION GIRL & THE STRAWBERRY BOYS (Germany)

Punk quintet.

Too Much Monkey Business [as “Too Much Punky Business”] ( : ) 2001

LP: Sexclusive Mastery [Rockin’ Bones RON-047] ● Italy, 2001

“16 S-M Hits For Multi Socialised Kids”.
It seems this album was also available in Germany on a limited edition CD, probably self released. It says it is a medley with Brown Eyed Handsome Man but I haven’t heard it so I can’t verify.

WAYNE DENTON (UK)

Singer, guitarist. He’s done tribute shows to both John Denver and Neil Diamond.

Johnny B. Goode (3:01) 2003

CD: More Beautiful [WDA Ltd. CD-0006T] ● UK, 2003

21 covers of well-known hits during several Decades.

D. C. & THE CRUISERS (Germany)

Rock and roll-rockabilly-rhtyhm & blues quartet.

Memphis, Tennessee ( : ) 2003

CD: Never Far From A Bar [DC Records CD-02] ● Germany, 2003

TOMMY DELL (South Africa)

Country singer from Cape Town, born 1942, and is called a country music legend in South Africa. He has 11 gold albums under his belt.

Memphis, Tennessee ( : ) 1989

LP: Forever [Select Musiek SELB-119] ● South Africa, 1989

I haven’t heard this, but there’s a live version on You tube which doesn’t catch me at all, running too fast and the standard Rivers/Mack arrangement.

DOLLYROTS (USA)

Pop punk band (trio) from Los Angeles. One lady and two guys. They have released many albums and singles since 2004. Arrested Youth is their own label.

Run Rudolph Run (2:32) 2015

Digital single: Run Rudolph Run [Arrested Youth Records ] ● USA, 2015

The “sleeve” proclaims: Living Stereo. (RCA used that expression back in time.)

CD: A Very Dollyrots Christmas [Arrested Youth Records CD-41306 2 3] ● USA, 2015

As the Master once said: Nothing new under the sun. It sounds like a punk-rock version should.

PAT DONOHUE (USA)

Singer, songwriter and one eminent guitar player from Minnesota. He plays, country, jazz, folk and blues. Has released some 14 albums so far. One of the albums is with Mike Dowling who’s already in the Berry covers (page 1167).

Maybellene (2:15) 2016

CD: Blue Yonder [BlueSky Records 77545 2 2] ● USA, 2016

Good acoustic guitar version.

JOHNNY DOUGLAS And HIS ORCHESTRA (USA)

Born 1920 and died in 2003. English composer, pianist, musical director, string arranger for orchestras. He provided music for 36 films. He was also the man behind The Living Strings and Living Guitars albums. It seems he recorded over 80 albums!!! for RCA. How come I have never heard of him before?

Rock And Roll Music (3:06) 1965

LP: Dance Party Discoteque [RCA Camden CAS-883] ● USA, 1965

This is a bit different version in the way that it sounds like an instrumental but half way the singing starts. The vocals are based on the Beatles’ version, in case you wondered(?)

DUKES OF SEPTEMBER (USA)

Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs with a band consisting of seven members and two background vocalists.

You Never Can Tell (3:36) 2014 (Live)

DVD & Blu-ray: Dukes Of September Live [429 Records FTN-17946] ● USA, 2014

You wonder why I have suddenly included a DVD, well it seems like a supergroup to me and it’s always interesting when famous artists/musicians pick a Berry song among so many others to chose from. And the show was transmitted on public TV. Filmed and recorded live at the Philharmonic Hall at the Lincoln Center, New York City. This version is very much like so many others with a horn section.

ELECTRIC SOUL PARADE (USA)

Rock trio from California. Travis Lee Stephenson (vocals, guitar), Josh McClanahan (bass) and Phillip Major-Willis (drums).

Johnny B. Goode (3:52) 2023

Digital single: self-released ● USA, 2023

Recorded and mixed in North Hollywood. Yeah, I know, but recording and releasing this classic as a single in 2023 is pretty special, considering how many versions there are out there! But all credits to the guys for doing a very goode job, so they deserve to be here, I think. And pretty nice “sleeve” they made too.

EXILE (USA)

Country-rock group from Richmond, Kentucky. In the ‘60s they called themselves Exiles. As Exile they were very big on the country charts from 1983-1991. They had 10 #1’s 1984-1988. There’s been some changes in the line-up throughout the years but five of the original members are featured on the album below.

Run Rudolph Run (3:08) 2016

CD: Wrapped Up In Your Arms For Christmas [BFD Records BFD-069] ● USA, 2016

Credited to Chuck Berry. Thank you.

JOHNNY FARNHAM (Australia)

See Volume 3, page 1183 for biographical info.
However, here is a little addition to the already text and also another cover version. As you will see in Vol.3 “Memphis” is already in there but on a different album.
His first single, “Sadie (The Cleaning Lady)” was released in 1967 and became the biggest selling single of the ‘60s in Australia. His album “Whispering Jack” from 1986 is said to be the biggest selling album ever by an Australian artist.

Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 1973
Memphis, Tennessee ( : ) 1973

LP: Hits Magic & Rock’n Roll [EMI EMC-2502] ● Australia, 1973

CHARLIE FEATHERS (USA)

See Volume 3, page 1184 for biographical info.

Roll Over Beethoven (2:42) 1982 (unreleased demo)

45 EP: Goofin’ Records GREP-240 ● Finland, 2022

Featuring daughter Wanda Feathers. This EP was part of a release by the Finish group Hi-Fly Rangers and their 10” album tribute to Charlie Feathers titled “Go Feathers!” Goofin’ Records GRLP-61028 (2022).

DOUG FERONY (USA)

See Volume 3, page 1186 for biographical info.
I know this is in Vol.3 but if you haven’t listened to it, you just have to. Check it out on You Tube, if you dare?

Run Rudolph Run (2:30) 2002

CD: It’s Christmas [Ferony Enterprizes CD-51005 2 6] ● USA, 2002

All I want for Christmas is a swinging saxophone... And he added a couple of new verses.

FIETSEFREEM (Netherlands)

Rock band (quartet) from Borgharen, Limburg, who started out in 1984. The band dispanded in 1996.

You Never Can Tell [as “Trow Daan Wetste ‘T Wel”] (3:24) 1985

LP: Fietsefreem [Marlstone MARL-98517] ● Netherlands 1985

Rock And Roll Music [as “Dans de Rock en Roll Mét Miech”] (2:36) 1991

LP: Fietsemanie [Marlstone 099107 CD] ● Netherlands, 1991

This is a copy of the Beatles version (!) In 1991?

FIVE STATE DRIVE (Japan)

Ska Punk band from Nagoya.

Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 2020

Various CD: Cheap Covers [No Cigar Records NCRD-0003] ● Japan, 2020

FJELLIS (Sweden)

Jan-Eric Fjellstrõm, born in 1955 and died in 1999. Studio and live guitarplayer who’s actually played with so many Swedish artists throughout the years. Most notably Bjõrn Afzelius, Mikael Wiehe, Peps Persson and Thomas Wie. He was a blues-fan to the bone.

Bye Bye Johnny (3:13) 1990s (live)

Various 2-CD: Till Och Från En Blå Man [Playground Music PGMCD-3] ● Sweden, 1999

Previously unissued. CD-1 is a tribute album to Fjellstrõm by people like Sven Zetterberg, Louise Hoffsten, Ulf Lundell, Mats Ronander, Peps Persson and many others. CD-2 featuring performances by Fjellis himself in the form of 16 unreleased tracks.

FLOORWALKERS (USA)

A rock’n’roll sextet from Columbus, Ohio. They have released several EPs and albums since 2005.

Run Rudolph Run (4:38) 2019

CD EP: All These Things And More! [Hip Like a Belt Records CD-08 8829 59689 3 5] ● USA, 2019

It starts very slow with a prominent piano playing and after 30 seconds starts rockin’ with a solid beat, horn section and saxophone solo. Then at about 2:30 suddenly slows down and at 3:55 starts rockin’ again with great piano playing and keeps rockin’ until the end. A lot of energy and really different. You can also download this 6 track EP.

FOGHAT (UK)

See Volume 3, page 1197 for biographical info.

Promised Land (3:14) 2023

CD: Sonic Mojo [Foghat Records FHR-0022] ● USA, 2023

Recorded at Boogie Motel South, Deland, Florida. They have made it a more boogie version which is unusual.

LP: Sonic Mojo [Foghat Records FHR-0023] ● USA, 2023

Purple vinyl, limited edition.

LOCOMOTIONS (Netherlands)

“Shadows” band (quintet) from Gemert, Noord-Brabant who was active in the ‘60s, however, since the ‘90s they have reunited several times and done recordings of new material.

Johnny B. Goode - in a rock’n’roll Medley (5:36) early 2000s (live)
Reelin’ And Rockin’ [as “Reeling And Rocking”] (2:08) early 2000s (live)

CD: Select [HCD Music Prod. HCD-505045] ● Netherlands, 2004

Thirty Days [as “Forty Days”] (2:41) 2009

CD: ‘E’Motions [Zebra Music ZE-3017302] ● Netherlands, 2009

They have also a DVD (probably 2007) were they perform a.o. Brown Eyed Handsome Man, Sweet Little Sixteen and Forty Days.

ROBBY LONGO (Belgium)

Country singer born 1981 at Genk. The album below seems to be his debut.

You Never Can Tell (C’est La Vie) (2:52) 2013

CD: Country Man [ARS Ent. / Universal 3751255] ● Belgium, 2013

This sounds very much like the version he did with Christoff. Although this above is sung in plain English.

See also CHRISTOFF