CBID - Some new and some old covers of Johnny B. Goode

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 is the Berry song of which I have found the most cover versions so far - and it never ends.

Regarding “Johnny B. Goode” of which there are several new cover versions this time: Check out You Tube and you will find a lot of versions which are not released on record. Larkin Poe is a good example, Shut Up & Kiss Me and The Rebel Road are others. And much more…
So it begs the question. How do we count the amount of cover versions? At the time being I have 845 versions listed. If you add all the versions online not featured on any specific recording (CD or LP) I think we are at over 1000 versions. Just live versions are featured so many times on You Tube it’s really amazing. I think I found some 10 different versions just by Geraint Watkins.

ANONYMOUS ARTISTS (South Africa)

According to Discogs: The Springbok Hit Parade series from South Africa was masterminded by Ken Talbot and started out in 1970 and continued up to around 1987. The reason was to give people an access to the hits of the day, played on the Springbok Radio Top Twenty, broadcasted on Friday nights. The songs were recorded by various unknown studio musicians and singers.

Back In The USA (3:01) 1978

LP: Springbok Hit Parade 42 [Music For Pleasure MFP-54857] ● South Africa, 1978

It says on the cover S.A. Top 14. This is featured because of Linda Ronstadt’s hit version in 1978. I tried to find “Roll Over Beethoven”, around 1972, because of the Electric Light Orchestra’s hit version, but it was not featured.

OLLY DOBSON (UK)

Singer and actor best known for his work in musical theatre. He was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best Actor regarding the entry below. The West End production began 13 September 2021 at the Adelphi Theatre (located on the Strand in the City of Westminster, central London). He has also appeared in the original productions of “Bat Out Of Hell” (2017) and “Just For One Day” (2024).

Johnny B. Goode (2:23) 2022

Various CD: Back To The Future – The Musical [Masterworks Broadway 19439917602] ● Europe, 2022
Various 2-LP: Back To The Future – The Musical [Masterworks Broadway 19439942041] ● Europe, 2022

Original West End cast recording. Dobson played the role of Marty McFly.

MICKY DOLENZ (USA)

Already on this blog.

Johnny B. Goode (2:58) 2024 (live)

CD: Live at The Troubadour [Dolenz Productions Inc 95269 33767] ● USA, 2024

Recorded live 5 April 2024. It was a sold out concert. Ahead of this cover, something called “Berry Goode”, Dolenz is talking about his life before the Monkees and the cover bands he played in. He said that the Berry tune he’s going to perform was his audition piece for the Monkees. So now we have this established as a fact. Goode to know.

GARYBALDI (Italy)

Heavy psychedelic progressive band of the early ‘70s. It was fronted by guitarist, singer, songwriter “Bambi” Pier Nicolò Fossati. They had 2 singles and 2 albums out in the early ‘70s. Fossati reformed the band in 1990. Born 1949, died 2014.

Johnny B. Goode (2:38) 1993 (live)

CD: Bambi Comes Alive! [Mellow Records MMP-174] ● Italy, 1993

Album recorded live in Bologna, Genoa and Rome during the 1993 Garybaldi tour.

GRUNGBLAVERS (Belgium)

All star band of famous Belgians of an advanced age from Antwerpen. I have found 1 single, 2 albums and a DVD.

Johnny B. Goode (2:45) 2019

CD: Pannen Van 'T Dak [Boxs 002] ● Belgium, 2019

Using Belgian lyrics.

JEFF HEALEY BAND (Canada)

Rock band formed in 1988, disbanded in 2001. Healey (vocals, guitar), Joe Rockman (bass, vocals), Tom Stephen (drums). Jeff Healey was born 1966 in Toronto as Norman Jeffrey Healey. At one year old he became blind. Later on he taught himself to play the guitar and became a well known blues and rock musician. He died of cancer in 2008 at the young age of 41.

Around And Around (2:21) 1988
Back In The USA (2:34) 1988

CD: Road House: The Lost Soundtrack [MGM/ Arista/ Sony 19658800331C] ● USA, 2024
2-LP: Road House: The Lost Soundtrack [MGM/ Arista/ Sony 19658800331] ● USA, 2024

«Back In The USA» recorded at Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, 7 April 1988. «Around And Around» recorded at Sunset Sound, Los Angeles, 15 April 1988.
Here we get all 12 songs featured in the movie «Road House» from 1989. 8 of which were previously omitted from the original soundtrack. Plus 7 unissued additional tracks from the original sessions.

HUNGÁRIA (Hungary)

Rock and roll/beat band from Budapest, formed in 1967. At that time they were a male quintet, however, in 1980 and the live album below they were a sextet featuring also a girl singer.

Johnny B. Goode (1:42) 1980

I have tried to find this recording by the group from 1980, which is the one that pops up twice on You Tube, but no luck. In 1980 they released an album titled Rock’n’Roll Party but Johnny B. was not on it (?), and the picture on one of the You Tube entries says Hai Hai Rock’n’Roll and Pepita Records, looks like an album or 45 sleeve. Anyway, they have at least done a version or two.

Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 2024 (live)

LP: Rock And Roll Koncert az Ifiparkban [Kept Alive Records KAR LP-039] ● Hungary, 2024

Sometimes I feel it’s kinda hopeless and very difficult to search and collect Berry covers. Many years ago I bought almost everything I came across just to be sure. Now that train has gone and I will have to rely on what I can find online. And I tell you, it’s often complicated with the lack of information, as the two entries above by this group proof.

MAVI IŞIKLAR (Turkey)

Beat cover band from Istanbul. Formed 1964. Released several singles during the ‘60s. Various line-ups, disbanded in late 1970 but has reformed now and then, like 1971 and 1976. And in the year 2000, they performed once again in an organization by an Internet community.

Johnny B. Goode (1:53) 1966

45: Odeon 45-LA 724 ● Turkey, 1966

MEAN GENE KELTON & THE DIE HARDS (USA)

Haven’t the slightest idea ? However, I think I know how the music sounds…

Memphis, Tennessee ( : ) 2007
Promised Land ( : ) 2007

CD: Going Back To Memphis: A Biker Band Tribute To Elvis [Jambone Records 07 0026 12228 1 3] ● USA, 2007

MASONICS (UK)

Beat/rock’n’roll trio from Medway, called The Kings Of Medway Beat. Active since 1991. Featuring Mickey Hampshire, Bruce Brand and John Gibbs who have references to bands like Thee Milkshakes, Thee Headcoats (both featured in the Berry covers survey) and others. They have released some 12 albums and several singles and EPs.

I’m Talking About You (1:45) 2022

7” EP: Talkin’ About… The Masonics Vol. 1 [Spinout Nuggets SN-068] ● UK, 2022

Limited to 500 hand numbered copies.

CD: You Can Tell It’s The Masonics [Spinout Nuggets ] ● UK, 2026

This album contains four EPs by popular demand plus a couple of new tracks.

Thirty Days (2:24) 2022

7” EP: Talkin’ About… The Masonics Vol. 2 [Spinout Nuggets SN-069] ● UK, 2022

Limited to 500 hand numbered copies.
According to Discogs both EPs above were released 27 January 2023. 2022 is printed on both EPs.

CD: You Can Tell It’s The Masonics [Spinout Nuggets ] ● UK, 2026

This album contains four EPs by popular demand plus a couple of new tracks.

NEITA And THE DRIFTERS (USA)

Dance band from Lawrence, Kansas, active from the 1970s to the 1990s. Neita Bahnmaier (vocals, piano, organ), Mickey Penny (vocals, lead guitar), David Cloud (vocals, lead guitar), Bill Smith (vocals, rhythm guitar), Leo McMullen (harmonica), Lynn McKenzie (bass, vocals), Harvey Boyd (drums). Not the best of enthusiasm and feel for the music, but nevertheless.

Johnny B. Goode (2:58) 1976
Memphis, Tennessee (as “Memphis”) (2:53) 1976

LP: Introducing Neita And The Drifters [Audio House AHK-18 F76] ● USA, 1976

14 tracks. Various popular songs ranging from Hank Williams and Wilson Pickett to Creedence Clearwater Revival and Anne Murray. And again Berry is the only one with 2 songs.
Neita is singing on Johnny B. and Lynn on Memphis.

OXCENTRICS (UK)

An eight piece Dixieland band founded in 1975 at Oxford University.

Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 1988

CD: Oxcentromania! With The Oxcentrics [Eccentric Records ECCD-001] ● France, 1988

According to Discogs: Eccentric was a Jazz label from France created for The Oxcentrics. Album recorded at Arkantide Studios in North of London. Sometimes just credited as Ark Studios.
But how come France was involved?

REFRESHMENTS (Sweden)

See volume 3, pages 1444-45 for biographical info, and page 2082.
However, on the album below the band consisted of: Jonas Göransson (guitar, backing vocals), Johan Blohm (vocals, piano) Joakim Arnell (vocals, bass), Mats Forsberg (drums), guest Thore Berglund plays saxophone.

Go, Go Go (2:48) 2023

CD: A Stiff One [Wild Kingdom KING-123CD] ● Sweden, 2023
LP: A Stiff One [Wild Kingdom KING-123LP01] ● Sweden, 2023

Pretty much a copy of the original…

SPEAKEASY (Canada)

Canadian punk rock quintet from Montreal, QC.

Johnny B. Goode (2:32) 2024

LP: The Speakeasy [Thousand Islands Records TIR-125LP] ● 2024, Canada

More of a heavy rock version.

SPECTRUME (Canada)

Rock band from Edmonton, Alberta, active late ‘70s to early ‘80s.

Johnny B. Goode (3:04) 1981

LP: Spectrume [New Creative Records Spec-81] ● Canada, 1981

TEN CENT SHOOTERS (Australia)

Blues-Rock trio featuring Peter Woodward, Scott Wise and Sean Diggins from Western Australia.

No Money Down (4:53) 2003

CD: Crooked Roots [Black Market Music 10CD-04] ● Australia, 2003

About the Berry number in the booklet: Long a favourite dancefloor number at hour shows, this is a Chuck Berry piece about all the things you might like on a Cadillac which now come standard on a Daewoo…

GERAINT WATKINS And The MOSQUITOES (UK)

Geraint Meurig Vaughan Watkins, singer, songwriter born in Abertridwr, South Wales 1951. Plays piano, organ, guitar, and cajun/zydeco accordion. Known both for his solo albums and session work for many major artists. He’s represented on many entries in the Berry covers survey, both in Vol.3 of CBID and on this blog.

Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 2024 as Warent Atkins Trio

CD: Arse In Gear [Ball and Chain Records BACCD-0012024] ● Sweden, 2024

Recorded in Sweden at Studio Rock Around The Clock in Sandby. Featuring Geraint Watkins (vocals, piano), Jamnes Oliver (guitar), Micke Finell (Saxophone, bass, vocals), and Peder Sundahl (drums).

Johnny B. Goode (5 :23) 2023 (live)

10” LP: Here And There [The Last Music Company LMLP-239] ● UK, 2024

Recorded at The Bedford Hotel, Balham by Tucker Nelson on 12 March 2023. Album limited to a 1000 copies. Featuring Geraint Watkins (vocals, keyboards), Oliver Darling (lead guitar, vocals), Martin Winning (tenor sax, clarinet), Bob Loveday (fiddle), Paul Riley (bass, vocals), and Malcolm Mills (drums).

WILD ANGELS (UK)

See Volume 3, page 1603 for biographical info. And also on this blog.

Sweet Little Sixteen ( : ) 1972 (live)

LP: Radio Broadcast [Louisiana Records LR-12014] ● Germany, 2024

According to info on the back cover of this album: It was recorded onto a reel-to-reel tape recorder from a Swedish radio show, somewhere in Sweden, 2 February 1972. The result became the vinyl LP above. Released in various vinyl colors, blue, white, black and gold. Wild Angels 1972: John Hawkins (guitar, backing vocals), Bill Kingston (piano), Keith Read (vocals, bass, guitar), Geoff Britton (drums).

Nadine ( : ) 1987 (live)

LP: 1-2-3-4-5 Rock’n’Roll Is Still Alive – Live In Brixton [Louisiana Records LR-12015] ● Germany, 2024

Recorded live in Brixton, South London, 18 February 1987. Various vinyl colors. Wild Angels 1987: Rob “Rooster” Little (vocals, lead guitar), Phil Donoghue (lead guitar), Bill Kingston (piano), Charlie Nolan (bass), Bob Burgos (drums).

PETE YORK (UK)

Drummer, born 1943 in Middlesbrough, North Yorkshire. Member of The Spencer Davis Group and Hardin & York. And a whole lotta other groups.

Johnny B. Goode (4:50) 1991 (live)

CD: SuperBlues [Koch International 341 182] ● Europe, 1994

Recorded live at the Zelt Music Festival in Freiburg, Germany 19 June 1991. Featuring Chris Farlowe, Spencer Davis, Tony Ashton a.o.