Tuesday, September 2. 2025
The very first Chuck Berry LP album
What was the very first 33rpm LP album containing Chuck Berry?
Now write down your answer, then scroll down ...
If your answer was "After School Session", you know your Berry quite well. Indeed, this album from May 1957 was the very first 33rpm LP containing just Chuck Berry recordings. Released by CHESS under the catalog number LP-1426 this album contains most of Berry's first seven CHESS singles (except four tracks) plus two previously unissued instrumentals.
However, this was not the first 33rpm LP album containing Chuck Berry.
If your answer was the CHESS sampler "Rock Rock Rock", you know your Berry very well. Yes, as the number LP-1425 indicates, this album was released before LP-1426 "After School Session" und it was the very first 12" LP album published under the CHESS label name.
In case you wonder why the first CHESS album was already numbered at 1425, you'll find the answer in Nadine Cohodas's great book "Spinning Blues into Gold": The Chess brothers' first home in the U.S. after immigrating from Poland was at 1425 South Karlov Avenue, Chicago. The number 1425 was also used for the first 45rpm single issued under the CHESS label name: Bless You b/w My foolish heart by the Gene Ammons Sextet in June 1950.
"Rock Rock Rock" is the title of a music film starring Alan Freed. The film was released December 7th, 1956 to the movie theaters in the U.S. (though some sources say December, 5th). On the very first days, Alan Freed, Chuck Berry, and Connie Francis were on stage in a couple of New York theaters for a few minutes each to promote the film. Record labels such as CHESS, whose artists performed in the film, were allowed to promote their records at the cinemas showing the movie. CHESS took this opportunity to concurrently (i.e. December 1957) create an album of same title which looks like a soundtrack album but instead contained only those artists under contract by CHESS: the Moonglows, the Flamingoes, and Berry.
CHESS LP-1425 contains the four songs performed by CHESS artists in the movie:
- "I Knew From The Start" - The Moonglows
- "Would I Be Crying" - The Flamingos
- "You Can't Catch Me" - Chuck Berry
- "Over And Over Again" - The Moonglows
- "Maybellene" - Chuck Berry
- "Sincerely" - The Moonglows
- "Thirty Days" - Chuck Berry
- "The Vow" - The Flamingos
- "Roll Over Beethoven" - Chuck Berry
- "I'll Be Home" - The Flamingos
- "See Saw" - The Moonglows
- "A Kiss From Your Lips" - The Flamingos
However, this was not the first 33rpm LP album containing Chuck Berry.
The very first Chuck Berry album has no title and no catalog number. All it says is "These are the new record hits from the motion picture Rock, Rock, Rock". And here's its story:
The movie "Rock, Rock, Rock" was a project by well-known New York disk jockey Alan Freed. And he wanted to get as much money from it as he could. First he owned 10 per cent of the film outright. Second he played a leading role. And third he planned to cash on the music presented therein. So Freed talked the executives of the six record companies whose artists perform their songs in the movie to pass over the publishing rights for the songs to his own Snappner Music Inc. company. He succeeded with 15 of the 20 songs.
Next, in return for allowing the record companies to display their disks in all theaters where the film plays, Freed got himself permission to use the songs on a DJ long-playing album. This was a brand-new idea! There was a growing market for 12" albums, so-called "packaged records", but only in the areas of classical music, Broadway shows, or jazz. There was no LP album from CHESS or any other rock-related company.
Freed sampled the 20 songs onto a single 33rmp record and had the film producing company DCA send this "Disc Jockey Sample - Not For Sale" LP out to more than 600 disk jockeys around the country. Here's a quote from DCA's marketing material:
Something completely new by way of exploitation is being tried on ROCK, ROCK, ROCK; an L.P. record containing all twenty-one songs from the picture has been pressed.We don't know how many DJs followed this advice. Alan Freed himself "world-premiered" this compilation on October 20th, 1956 on WINS. So it's safe to assume that the album was sent out by the end of October or early November 1956.
This record is going to every disc-jockey in the country with a letter asking him to set aside one evening in which to play the complete musical score from the picture. We further suggest that you contact your local disc-jockey and have him send out a press release stating that a premiere on disc will take place and have him mention the time and place.
Even though more than 600 copies of this very first Chuck Berry album have been pressed and distributed, very few seem to have survived. Most recipients probably either threw it away or played it to death.
The original album is extremely rare. Even the most detailed discography of Berry, Morten Reff's "The Chuck Berry International Directory" fails to show an image as does all of the Internet.
So here, for the first time on the net, images of cover and label of Chuck Berry's very first 33rpm LP album:
As you can see, there is an image of Berry as well as the line "SEE the inimitable Chuck Berry - HEAR him sing You Can't Catch Me". There is no back cover. That side is blank. There is no label nor any kind of catalog number. My best guess for a label name is the film company DCA. Morten Reff lists it under Roost, because the name of that record company is etched into the wax, as you can see on the high-resolution images. My guess is that Roost produced the album for DCA.
And there's even more: It seems that DCA included an 8 page, double letter-sized booklet with the promotional album. At least the copy I was lucky to get had this insert. The complete contents of this booklet is available as a PDF file here: http://www.alanfreed.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/063-King-Of-RockRoll-1956.pdf [If this link doesn't work, try http://www.alanfreed.com/wp/archives/archives-rocknroll-1951-1959/mp-rock-rock-rock/]. What the PDF misses is the original color of the title page as shown here:
If you want to know more about Freed and DCA marketing the movie, check out the other documents at alanfreed.com: http://www.alanfreed.com/wp/archives/archives-rocknroll-1951-1959/mp-rock-rock-rock/
The complete contents of this DJ sampler is as follows - with original label, composer, and publisher according to the film's music cue sheet. Some spellings differ from the album labels. Interestingly there are only 20 songs while the cover talks about 21.
- "Tra La La" - La Vern Baker (Atlantic Records, Johnny Parker, Snapper)
- "Ever Since I Can Remember" - Cirino and The Bowties (Roost Records, Ben Weisman and Aaron Schroeder, Tarpon)
- "The Big Beat" - Jimmy Cavallo's House Rockers (Coral Records, Glen Moore and Buddy Dufault, Snapper)
- "Over and Over Again" - The Moonglows (Chess Records, Ben Weisman and Al Weisman, Snapper)
- "Right Now, Right Now" - Alan Freed's Rock 'n Roll Band (Coral Records, Al Sears and Charles E. Calhoun, Sylvia & Bonita)
- "Thanks to You" - Teddy Randazzo & The Three Chuckles (Vik Records, Glen Moore, Snapper)
- "Baby, Baby" - Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers (Gee Records, Glen Moore and Milton Subotsky, Snapper)
- "Lonesome Train" - Johnny Burnette Trio (Coral Records, Glen Moore and Milton Subotsky, Snapper)
- "We're Going to Rock Tonight" - The Three Chuckles (Vik Records, Glen Moore and Milton Subotsky, Snapper)
- "I Never Had A Sweetheart" - Connie Francis (MGM Records, Glen Moore and Milton Subotsky, Snapper)
- "You Can't Catch Me" - Chuck Berry (Chess Records, Chuck Berry, Snapper)
- "Little Blue Wren" - Connie Francis (MGM Records, Glen Moore and Milton Subotsky, Snapper)
- "Rock, Rock, Rock" - Jimmy Cavallo's House Rockers (Coral Records, Glen Moore and Milton Subotsky, Snapper)
- "The Things Your Heart Needs" - Teddy Randazzo (Vik Records, Glen Moore and Milton Subotsky, Snapper)
- "Rock, Pretty Baby" - 6-year old Ivy Schulman (Roost Records, Glen Moore and Milton Subotsky, Snapper)
- "Would I Be Crying" - The Flamingos (Checker Records, Glen Moore, Snapper)
- "Rock'n Roll Boogie" - Alan Freed's Rock 'n Roll Band (Coral Records, Freddie Mitchell and Leroy Kirkland, Sylvia & Bonita)
- "Won't You Give Me A Chance" - The Three Chuckles (Vik Records, Glen Moore, Snapper)
- "I Knew From The Start" - The Moonglows (Chess Records, Glen Moore and Milton Subotsky, Snapper)
- "I'm Not A Juvenile Delinquent" - Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers (Gee Records, George Goldner, Kahl & Adt.)
In the original blog post from 2014 I had assumed that Milton Subotsky just like Alan Freed did not write any of these songs but just made a deal to get a share of the songwriter fees. This is incorrect!
Milton Subotsky indeed wrote the lyrics and sometimes the melodies to these and some other songs used in his films. Another example is Gene Vincent's Spaceship to Mars from It's Trad, Dad.
Courtesy of Subotsky's son Dmitri we are able to show some of the sheet music specifically written for this movie:
I'm sorry that I did disservice to the late Milton Subotsky by assuming that he was part of the dishonest industry around these early rock'n'roll films.
On a final note, there is a 1980s bootleg copy of this album on the Reel'n'Rock label (JN 5703) from Australia.
In contrast to the original album, the bootleg comes in a gatefold cover. It has a back cover with liner notes and a track listing, both of which are missing on Chuck Berry's very first LP album.
[Edit 17-07-2018: Links to alanfreed.com updated]
[Edit 11-08-2025: Corrected information about Milton Subotsky thanks to his son Dmitri.]
Monday, July 28. 2025
CBID - Chuck Berry covers online, live, and on record
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: YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music and the like allow bands and artists to release recordings which never made it to Vinyl or CD. Therefore we start this blog entry with various non-releases until we get to the usual part of newly discovered Berry cover versions.
Cover band BERRY B. GOODE from Austria has several Berry songs on You Tube, like Almost Grown, No Money Down, Sweet Little Rock And Roller, You Can’t Catch Me and Wee Wee Hours.
Another band called ONE DOZEN BERRYS from Finland is also on You Tube with songs like Carol, Oh What A Thrill, Sweet Little Rock And Roller, and Sweet Little Sixteen, the latter one live. They were active from 2009 to 2011.
A Swedish group called The Pendeltones has recorded at least three Berry covers: “Dear Dad” and “Promised Land” on the album Just Because in 2022, and “You Never Can Tell” on the album Just Passin’ Thru, also 2022. All on Spotify through Hans Edler Music AB.
Bruce Springsteen has a new album coming out: Tracks II: The Lost Albums box set, available at the end of June 2025, this time unveiling “Repo Man”, a track from the country-inspired Somewhere North of Nashville that he recorded at the same time as 1995’s The Ghost of Tom Joad.
This sounds like something Berry could have written in the ‘70s. However, the media is calling this Repo Man rockabilly. Well folks, it has nothing to do with rockabilly, it’s pure (Berry) rock’n’roll. I wish people could learn the difference.
If one checks out YouTube and searchs for various Berry titles there will pop up versions that you won’t find on any ordinary record release, at least I haven’t located them. Try The Fulminators with «Little Queenie», BlindPink with «It Wasn’t Me», Marty Stokes with «Oh What Thrill», and especially The Runaway Grooms with «Let’s Do Our Thing Together», live from New Years Eve 2024, a Berry song that’s never been covered on record, so far. Strange isn’t it? However, there’s actually another cover of this Berry track by The Dusty Angels. It’s on an "EP" titled «Old Friends» on Boondock Records from 2024. They are a seven piece country group from Augusta, Georgia. Listen and download on Apple Music. Also on YouTube. Checking further, there’s really more covers of this Berry song on YouTube, from live shows but with various picture and sound qualities.
Bob Dylan performed Berry’s «Little Queenie» on stage 16 May 2025 among several other ‘50s songs at the summer Outlaw Music Festival at Ameris Bank Amphitheater in Alpharetta, Georgia. And the day before in California he even sang Rick Nelson’s «Garden Party» (1972), which by the way name-checks Berry as Johnny B. Goode in the lyrics. As I have told before, Dylan has performed Berry’s «Nadine» on stage at various occasions.
An American trio of musicians from Austin, Texas, Chip Dolan, Danny Britt and Marvin Dykhuis (also known as Marvin Denton), had an album out in 2018 titled «Grouchy Like Riley» (self-released). One of the songs are a tribute to Chuck Berry titled «Ain’t No Berry» (3:16). Written by Steve Calif. Also live performance on YouTube. Pretty goode. I like strawberry, I like blueberry… but there ain’t no Berry like a Chuck Berry song. All 11 songs on the album are originals. A little info: Chip Dolan (piano, hammond, vocals), Danny Britt (el. guitar, vocals), and Marvin Dykhuis (el. guitar, slide guitar, vocals). Recorded at Moonhouse Studio, and additional tracks at Dawg Trax Studio, both Austin, Texas. They have help from Chris Cage (piano) on the Berry tribute, Brad Houser (bass) and Robb Kidd (drums). Although self-released, the product looks very professional. Well done guys.
An American singer, songwriter and blues-rock guitarist from California, Marc Ford, wrote and recorded a song in 2007 titled «Bye Bye Suzy» which sounds like, you guessed it, Chuck Berry, and similar to Tulane. The opening guitar riffs are Berry school and the beat throughout with a lot of Berry riffs. Unfortunately, it gets too heavy after a while. Taken from the 2007 album «Weary And Wired» [Blues Bureau Int. BB-20562]. It’s on YouTube.
BARNESTORMERS (Australia/UK/USA)
Pretty varied group of musicians, Jimmy Barnes [Australia] (lead vocals), Chris Cheney [Australia] (guitar), Jools Holland [UK] (piano), Ron Dziubla [USA] (saxophone), Thomas Lorioux [USA] (bass), Slim Jim Phantom [USA] (drums), and Kevin Shirley [South Africa/USA] (percussion and producer); global all-stars.
Dear Dad (2:14) 2023
CD: The Barnestormers [Bloodlines BLOOD-107] ● Australia/New Zealand, 2023
CD: The Barnestormers [Bloodlines 0190296454028] ● Worldwide, 2023
LP: The Barnestormers [Bloodlines 0190296454011] ● Worldwide, 2023
Pretty goode rockin’ version. Check YouTube. The worldwide distribution was under exclusive license to Warner Music UK Limited. See also Jimmy Barnes on this blog.
However, the only negative thing about this release is that the Berry cover is credited to some none rock’n’rollers, Jack Fishman and Joe Henderson. Excuse me?
BURT BLANCA (Belgium)
See Volume 3, page 1080 for biographical info.
Burt Blanca has released sooo many albums, also compilations, throughout the years, it’s hard to keep track and know for sure when the various songs were recorded or originally released. The Ronnex single below is said to have come out in 1970 according to a blogger. On discogs it says 1972.
Betty Jean ( : ) 1977
LP: Rock And Roll Is Good For The Soul [Music For Pleasure 4M024-99513] ● Belgium, 1977
Both the cover and label says written by Ch. Berry. However, see below.
45: Ronnex 1438 ● Belgium, 1970 (PS)
LP: Vol. 3 [Tea Records 7011] ● Belgium, 1972(?)
On the Ronnex 45 it says written by Archie/Hawkins and the lyrics are written on the back sleeve. Although it’s very much in the Berry mood it’s not Berry’s lyrics, so … Are we talking about two different songs? It’s not on YouTube.
Carol [as “Carole”] (2:53) 1976
I’m A Rocker [as “C’est Un Rocker”] (3:21) 1976
Thirty Days [as “Rien Que Huit Jours”] (2:44) 1976
LP: C’est Un Rocker [Musidisc (Collection Variété) 30 CV-1374] ● France, 1976
“I’m A Rocker” is from Eddy Mitchell’s répertoire, and the other two are from Johnny Hallyday’s.
Nadine (2:50) 1977 (?)
School Day [as “School Days”] (2:32) 1977 (?)
LP: Vol. 19 [President TED-7033] ● France, 1977 (?)
Not sure about 1977 as there is no info about when this album was recorded or released.
KARL S. BLUE AND HIS MAGIC QUELLS (Germany)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist. A rock quintet.
No Particular Place To Go (2:58) 1993
LP: Rowdy [String Records STR #230293] ● Germany, 1993
Recorded and mixed in February 1993 at Alien Soundwarp in Hamburg.
JIMMY BOCK (France)
Rock’n’roll singer and pianist. He’s played with a.o. Johnny Halliday, and even Mr. Chuck Berry in July 1993, European tour.
Johnny B. Goode (2:00) 1984 (live)
No Particular Place To Go (3:12) 1984 (live)
Roll Over Beethoven (0:54) 1984 (live)
LP: En Concert [Omega Studio OM-67052] ● France, 1984
BRINSLEY SCHWARZ (UK)
See Volume 3, page 1098 for biographical info.
Run Rudolph Run (3:25) 1975 (live)
CD: Live At Rockpalast 1975 [MIG Music MIG-91002] ● Germany, 2025
TV concert, recorded live 6 March, 1975 at WDR Studio-L, Cologne, Germany. When this was recorded the line-up was as follows: Brinsley Schwarz (vocals, guitar), Ian Gomm (vocals, guitar), Bob Andrews (keyboards, vocals), Nick Lowe (vocals, bass), and Billy Rankin (drums).
DAVE DAVIS (UK)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist, most famous as leader of The Kinks. Who, by the way, recorded a few Berry covers. See CBID Vol.3. Also on this blog.
Beautiful Delilah (3:28) 1997 (live)
CD: Rock Bottom (Live At The Rock Bottom) [Koch Records KOC-CD-8087] ● USA , 2000
CD: Rock Bottom (Live At The Bottom Line) [Sanctuary SANCD-098] ● UK, 2001
Album recorded live at the Bottom Line, NYC, 26/29 November, 1997.
2-CD: Rock Bottom (Live At The Rock Bottom) [Red River Entertainment RRE-CD-047] ● USA , 2020
20th anniversary limited edition deluxe.
FOGGY MOUNTAIN ROCKERS (Germany)
Teddy boy rock’n’roll band (sextet) from Bonn. Founded in 1992. They have released some 10 albums including the one below.
It Don’t Take But A Few Minutes (2:23) 2017
CD: Ein Herz Für Teds Vol. 2 [Part Records 627.012] ● Germany, 2017
Pretty good combination of country and rock’n’roll.
FRATERNITY featuring BON SCOTT (Australia)
Rock band from Sydney, formed in 1970, later relocated to Adelaide. Featuring singer Bon Scott who would later be the lead singer of AC/DC. Fraternity’s biggest success was the song “Seasons Of Change” in 1971, but the original version by Blackfeather became the biggest hit.
Little Queenie ( : ) early ‘70s
No Particular Place To Go ( : ) early ‘70s
3-CD Box: Seasons Of Change (The Complete Recordings 1970-1974) [Lemon Recordings CDLEMBOX-240] ● Australia, 2021
Previously unissued.
GEARS (USA)
Punk quartet from Northeast Los Angeles, California.
Sweet Little Sixteen ( : ) 2009 (?)
10” LP: Four On The Floor [Wondercap Records WCR-07005] ● USA, 2009
4 tracks with the songs on the A-side just repeated on the B-side (!) Not quite sure when this was recorded.
JOHN HAMMOND (USA)
See Volume 3, page 1230-1231 for biographical info.
No Money Down (3:42) 1973 (live)
3-CD: You’re Doin’ Fine [Owsley Stanley Foundation CD-85327 8] ● USA, 2024
Bear’s Sonic Journals series. Album recorded live in San Francisco «Blues At The Boarding House» 2 & 3 June, 1973. The Berry cover was recorded on 3 June.
JADE HURLEY (Australia)
John Anthony Patrick Hurley, country and rock'n'roll singer, songwriter and pianist, born 1943 in Sydney, New South Wales. He had his first record, a single, out in 1965. Although he wrote some of his earlier hits he later became more of a cover artist.
Sweet Little Sixteen ( : ) 1975
LP: King Of Country Rock [(J O’K Productions) Festival L-35705] ● Australia, 1975
Johnny B. Goode (2:29) 1979 (live)
CD: Jack Hurley’s 20 Golden Oldens [Festival L-27041] ● Australia, 1979
Recorded live on the Mike Walsh TV Show.
No Particular Place To Go (1:45) 1980
LP: Solid Gold [Festival L-29004] ● Australia, 1980
Recorded at Festival Studios, Sydney.
Memphis, Tennessee [as “Memphis”] ( : ) 1983
2-LP: Rockin’ On [K-Tel NA-647] ● Australia, 1983
HURRIGANES (Finland)
See Volume 3, page 1260 for biographical info.
Little Queenie in a medley with “Slippin’ And Slidin‘” (3:46) 1973 (live)
Sweet Little Sixteen (2:54) 1973 (live)
CD: Live In Hamina 1973 [Love Records LXCD-677] ● Finland, 2011
Recorded live at Hamina Työväentalo 21 March 1973.
I’m Talking About You [as “Talkin’ ‘Bout You”] ( : ) 1975 (live)
Recorded live at Ynnin Suurhalli, Oulu 24 November 1975
I’m Talking About You [as “Talkin’ ‘Bout You”] ( : ) 1976 (live)
Recorded live at Riihikedon Koulu, Pori 2 January 1976.
4-LP Box: Crazy Days On The Road [Svart Records SRE-678BOX] ● Finland, 2023
2-CD Box: Crazy Days On The Road [Svart Records SRE-678CD] ● Finland, 2023
I’m Talking About You [as “Talkin’ ‘Bout You”] (4:01) 1977 (live)
MC: Live In Stockholm 1977 [Fazer Records 0630-15871-4] ● Finland, 1996
CD: Live In Stockholm 1977 [Fazer Records CD 0630-15871-2] ● Finland, 1996(?)
This album has been reissued several times on cassette, LP and CD.
JOHNNY IGUANA (USA)
Singer, songwriter, pianist from Chicago.
You Never Can Tell (3:20) 2025
LP: At Delmark [Delmark Records 888] ● USA, 2025
Chicago style, solo piano, played on a 1917 Steinway B piano, Delmarks very own.
ALVIN LEE & TEN YEARS AFTER (UK)
See Volume 3, page 1553-1554 (under Ten Years After) for biographical info. However, he died 6 March 2013.
Roll Over Beethoven (3:25) 1978 (live)
Sweet Little Sixteen (3:31) 1978 (live)
DVD+CD: Live At Rockpalast [Repertoire Records REP-5285] ● Germany, 2013
2-LP: Live At Rockpalast [Repertoire Records REP-2256] ● Germany, 2016
Recorded live Grugahalle, Essen 15 September 1978. It was a live music TV show hosted in Germany by the WDR channel and was first broadcast in 1974.
JEFF LYNNE (UK)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist, best known for his involvement and leader of Electric Light Orchestra, formed in 1970. Jeffrey Lynne was born 1947 in Birmingham, Warwickshire. ELO is featured in CBID Vol. 3 pages 1174-1175.
Let It Rock (1:52) 2012
CD: Long Wave [Frontiers Records FRCD-569] ● Italy, 2012
Pretty good rock version. On the album he gathered songs from various sources, really. Classics like “Smile”, “Love Is A Many Splendored Thing”, “At Last”, “Beyond The Sea”, “Running Scared”. You get the picture? The English and American songbooks. However, the sound is not up to standard and I wonder what happened when the songs were mastered?
MANGROVE BOOGIE KINGS (Australia)
Rock quintet from Mangrove Creek, New South Wales.
Dear Dad (1:27) 1978
EP: 1974-79 [Mullet 13149] ● Australia, 1981
Good rockin’ version, however, covering a short song and making it even shorter is not the best thing. Something is missing. The EP contains 5 tracks, recorded 1976-1978. Then the title is misleading and also when on the back sleeve it says that the band was founded in 1975 (?)
MATADORS (Czechoslovakia/Czech Republic)
Garage rock and rhythm & blues group, formed in early 1965. Operating as a quintet and as a quartet.
Beautiful Delilah (2:02) 1966 (live)
CD: Live 1966 [Oftis – ISBN 978-80-86845-91-3] ● Czech Republic, 2007
Live recordings from Club Olympik, Prague, Monday 20 June 1966. Previously unissued. As a bonus CD with a 176-page hard cover book.
Note: There was also at the same time a Danish group called Matadorerne or rather when having a record released in West-Germany as The Matadors doing «Memphis, Tennessee». Not the same group.
MILK MEN (UK)
Rhythm & blues quartet.
No Particular Place To Go ( : ) 2016
CD: Full Phat [Raging Horse Music RH-0316] ● UK, 2016
GARY MOORE (UK)
See Volume 3, page 1373 for biographical info.
And he’s already on this blog with another live version of “Thirty Days” from 2007.
Thirty Days (3:15) 2008 (live)
2-LP: Live From Baloise Session [Provogue (Artone Label Group) PRD-77451] ● 2025
8 tracks. Recorded live 13 November, 2008 in Basel, Switzerland. Limited edition on blue vinyl. Previously unissued.
LOUIS EDWARD SMITH (USA)
Haven’t the slightest idea. Probably a country singer.
Nadine (3:10) late 1960s
45: World 2273 ● USA, late 1960s
Produced by Jimmy Busby. Record label and distribution out of Memphis, Tennessee. The ‘60s are just because the label looks from that period of time. The flip side has a cover of a Roger Miller tune which was on an album by him in 1965.
TEEN ANGEL And THE ROCKIN’ REBELS (Canada)
Rockabilly band based in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Sweet little Sixteen ( : ) 1973
LP: Teen Angel Lives [Hellroaring Records HRS-401] ● Canada, 1973
Rock And Roll Music ( : ) 1974
LP: 12 Inches Of Teen Angel [Hellroaring Records HRS-402] ● Canada, 1974
HANS THEESSINK (Netherlands)
See volume 3, page 1557 for biographical info. Also on this blog
Maybellene (5:05) 2013 (live)
LP (180 gr): Live At Jazzland [Sommelier Du Son SDS-0016-1] ● Germany, 2014
Recorded live on Saturday 2 February, 2013 at Jazzland, Vienna, Austria with Theesink on vocals, guitar and harmonica.
EDDIE VORTEX AND THE CUPID STUNTS (UK)
Rockabilly trio. Popular in the 80s and 90s. Steve Gibbons Band recorded a song titled “Eddy Vortex” in 1978, but I don’t know if there are any connection here(?)
No Particular Place To Go ( : ) 1980s
LP: Nothin’ Better To Do [Just Another Normal Guy Records JANGR-039] ● UK, 2023
This album came out in black vinyl, in purple/white splatter, and in orange/grey mix.
Wednesday, April 23. 2025
CBID - Maybellene versions and other covers
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: Among this list of newly found Chuck Berry hit covers are some notable "Maybellene"s.
An American singer, songwriter, guitarist Michael Krassner recorded in 1999 a song titled «Maybellene» which is NOT the Berry classic but something he wrote himself. But I guess he liked the name!
APOSTLES (USA)
1960s rock group from Andover, Massachusetts, consisting of 8 members. Probably a high school band.
Nadine (2:25) 1964
Roll Over Beethoven (2:30) 1964
LP: On Crusade [TA Self released MG-79909/10] ● USA, 1964
“Nadine” must be a very early cover version of this to become a Berry classic de luxe. They got the beat and the feeling. However, they mess up Beethoven completely. But the album cover looks very professionally made, especially the back cover. They also made an album in 1965.
ART 314 (France)
Blues-rock band (quintet), later becoming a quartet, from Bordeaux.
Maybellene (2:18) 1986
LP: Art 314 [Black Bird Records DKF-3900] ● France, 1986
Well, this version sounds like rockabilly. However, on the album they also have a song titled “Chuck And Bo” written by one of the band members, bassplayer Jean-Claude Desseignet, which is a tribute to the two legends. Although I can’t understand a word.
BAD SIGN (Finland)
See Volume 3, page 1055 for biographical info.
It’s My Own Business (3:03) 1986 (live)
10” LP: Sherwood [Talsti Records EDLP-2433] ● Finland, 2024
CD: Sherwood [Talsti Records EDCD-2433] ● Finland, 2024
Recorded live at Kestihovi, Kerava 21 November 1986, previously unissued.
LOREN BECKER With Orchestra (USA)
He was the lead singer of several big bands, like Glen Miller, Enoch Light and the Dorsey Brothers. Many albums released with covers of popular hits at the time. He was featured on several albums on Waldorf Music Hall Records which was one of the labels associated with Enoch Light.
Maybellene (2:05) 1955
78: His Masters Voice E.A.51015 ● Australia, 1955
I have tried to find this release on a US 78 but no luck.
However, If you look at page 1169 (CBID 3) you will notice Jerry Duane with Enoch Light Orchestra doing «School Day» in 1957 on a Top Hits EP and a Waldorf EP. And I have also spotted Vincent Lopez doing «Maybellene» on a 6 track 78rpm 8 Top Hits. On the latter Loren Becker is also included with «Over The Rainbow». And finally on another LP on Waldorf «Maybellene» by Loren Becker is featured with Vincent Lopez Orchestra(?) Still confused? Well maybe too much monkey business…
BILLY BREMNER’S ROCKFILES (UK/Sweden)
Already on this blog.
Oh What A Thrill (3:56) 2019 (live) as The Rockfiles
CD: Live At Musikkhuset Gävle 15/4-2019 [Ball And Chain Records BACCD-0052019]
● Sweden, 2020
Here the Rockfiles are: Billy Bremner (guitar, vocals), Mikael Finell (bass, vocals), Peder Sundahl (drums, vocals), supported by Bonne Löfman on guitar and vocals.
Let It Rock (2:54) 2024
CD: I Fought The Law [Ball And Chain Records BACCD-0042024] ● Sweden, 2024
17 tracks. Album recorded at various studios in Sweden and England. Billy Bremner (guitar, vocals), Mikael Finell (bass, vocals, guitars), Ingemar Rogefeldt (guitars, vocals) and Peder Sundahl (drums, vocals). However, there are a lot of additional musicians featured, like Robert Wells (Sweden), Janne Lucas (Sweden), Graham Parker, Albert Lee, Geraint Watkins etc. but no specific information.
DAVE EDMUNDS (UK)
See Volume 3, page 1184 for biographical info.
On the album below he’s supported by: Mickey Gee (guitar), Geraint Watkins (keyboards-accordion-vocals), John David (bass-vocals) and Dave Charles (drums).
Dear Dad (2:20) 1982 (live)
It’s My Own Business (3:54) 1982 (live)
Let It Rock (2:41) 1982 (live)
Sweet Little Rock And Roller (2:38) 1982 (live)
2 LP: Live At The Capitol Theater May 15, 1982 [Renaissance Records RDEG-LP-845] ● USA, 2023
CD: Live At The Capitol Theater May 15, 1982 [Renaissance Records RMED-845] ● USA, 2023
Concert in Passaic, New Jersey. 22 tracks.
Previously unissued.
See also Rockpile on this blog
EIGHTBALL BOPPERS (Netherlands)
Rockabilly quartet. Bert Damink (lead guitar), Willy Cornelissen (guitar, vocals), Henk Honing (bass, vocals), Martijn Willems (drums, vocals). They have five albums out, the first from 2005.
Jaguar And The Thunderbird (1:57) 2013
CD: Let The Engines Roll! [8BB Records 8BB-003] ● Netherlands, 2013
Pretty dull version, unfortunately.
ELECTRIC AMISH (USA)
Parody rock band (trio) from Indiana. They do rock standards and recast them into a heavily Amish perspective. They are Dean Metcalf (vocals, guitar), brothers Barclay Grayson (vocals, bass), Kyle Grayson (vocals, drums), however, they are using fictional names like Graeber Goodman, Carl Goodman, and Barry Goodman respectively.
Johnny B. Goode (as “Graeber Be Good”] (2:59) 1996
CD: Milkin’ It [Donkey Monkey Corp EA2-1996] ● USA, 1996
Of course this is Johnny B. with updated lyrics the Amish way.
Johnny B. Goode (as “Graeber Be Good”] (7:33) 1999 (live) with Jonny Lang
CD: A Hard Day's Work [Donkey Monkey Corp EA3-1999] ● USA, 1999
This is more hard rockin’.
JUMPERS (Belgium)
See page 1281 for this entry. I didn’t have much info at the time, except that it was included on a various artists CD “Collectors Items From Belgium” in 1994. Below is more info about the original release in 1965 not ‘64.
Almost Grown (2:05) 1965
45: Week End WE-18.032 ● Belgium, 1965 (PS)
As I have said so many times before the ‘60s music usually didn’t have a clue about rock’n’roll. This almost sounds like a joke.
PAUL LAMB & ROOSEVELT HOUSEROCKERS (UK/Austria)
Paul Lamb is an English blues harmonica player and singer from Blyth, Northumberland, born 1955. Roosevelt Houserockers is a Chicago blues based trio from Austria.
Wee Wee Hours (8:07) 2019 (live) featuring Chad Strentz on guitar
CD: Keep On Walking Live 2019 [Plan 9 Trash Records P)C-190] ● Austria, 2020
Recorded live 25 May 2019 in Zašová, Czechoslovakia. A very slow and solid version. Great performance.
See also Volume 4, page 1834 (Soundalikes) for more info on Paul Lamb.
LES MISTRALS (France)
Rock quartet from Reims area. However, when their EP “Watch Your Step” came out in November 1964 they were a quintet.
Nadine (2:47) 1965
EP: Les Souvenirs Resteront [Diapason JH-170] ● France, July 1965
Discogs says that their genre was rock/pop and their style was rockabilly/surf. Sorry but that’s nonsense. Four music genres which are pretty different if you ask me.
MATT LUCAS (USA)
See Volume 3, page 1335-1336 for biographical info.
Nadine ( : ) 1972
LP: I’ve Paid My Dues! [Kanata KAN-9] ● Canada, 1972
It’s not on You Tube, so sorry no information. However, according to Wikipedia, a Canadian composer and editor of Down Beat had started a new record label, Kanata, and offered Lucas a record deal to cut a blues album. It was recorded at Sound Canada Studios. It produced a single “I’m Movin’ On/”The Old Man” which became a double sided hit in Canada.
MIDNITE BLUES (USA)
Blues-rock band consisting of Jimmy Peyton (lead vocals, guitar), Ted Peyton (lead guitar, vocals), John Consoli* (sax), Al Simmons** (sax), Bill Tarsha* (harmonica), Brian Trimmer** (harmonica), Thom Morgan (bass, vocals), Roger Rotoli* (drums), Jimmy Litwin** (drums).
It’s My Own Business (2:51) 1980 *
LP: In The Middle Of The Nite [Big 12 Records BIG 12-602] ● USA, 1980
Havana Moon (4:47) 1982 **
LP: Let’s Do It [Big 12 Records 603] ● USA, 1982
Special guest Hans Olson plays harmonica on this one.
Also see Buddy Reed & The Rocket 88s on this blog for more on Bill Tarsha.
PHILOSOPHERS (Ireland)
Pop group (sextet) led by pianist Dermot 'Der' Ward. I have found 12 singles by them, but no albums.
Reelin’ And Rockin’ ( : ) 1970 (live)
EP 45: Live Rock [Honey Records COMB.7] ● Ireland, 1970
No info on where, when or what. And nothing on You Tube!
RHYTHM BOMBS (Belgium)
Blues rock quintet.
Jaguar And The Thunderbird (5:07) 2008 (live)
CD: Better Be Ready [Naked Productions NP-015] ● Belgium, 2008
Now these guys really made the most out of the song, turning it into a rockin’ blues number. There is also a live clip on You Tube from 2009 where the guys are doing an almost 6 minutes version.
ROACHES (USA)
According to discogs this a mid ‘60s novelty rock act. A quintet to be exact. They have three singles listed by them.
Almost Grown (2:30) 1964
45: Guyden Records 2109 ● USA, 1964
TOM SHARPLIN (New Zealand)
Rock’n’roll and country singer from Auckland.
Almost Grown (2:18) 1978
LP: Rock Around The Clock [Music World EMS-1044] ● New Zealand, 1978
LP: Rock’n’Roll [Music World MALPS-503] ● New Zealand, 1978
Strange that the same company released the album with two different covers, catalog numbers and in the same year. The song itself is pretty ordinary. A little confessin’ as I have never been too thrilled about the vocal group on the original and it doesn’t help on any covers either.
Nadine (3:06) 1989 with The Cadillacs
LP: Rockulator [RCA VPL1 0833] ● Australasia, 1989
CD: Rockulator [RCA VPCD 0833] ● Australasia, 1991
SIR ALBERT DOUGLAS (UK)
See Volume 3, page 1167 for biographical info.
Remember him with the Tribute album to Chuck in 1976 titled “10 Succes de Chuck Berry” (France) and “Strings, Licks And Things” (West Germany), same album but different titles, labels and covers. Now another variation of the album has turned up titled
LP: “Les Folles Années Du Rock“ [Vygson VYG-10260] ● France, 1979 (reissue)
Now they have even a picture of Douglas on the front cover.
As told there are 9 Berry covers plus “Blue Suede Shoes” from Mr. Carl Perkins.
LOUIS EDWARD SMITH (USA)
Haven’t the slightest idea. Probably a country singer.
Nadine (3:10) late 1960s
45: World 2273 ● USA, late 1960s
Produced by Jimmy Busby. Record label and distribution out of Memphis, Tennessee. The ‘60s are just because the label looks from that period of time. The flip side has a cover of a Roger Miller tune which was on an album from 1965.
TARQUIN (UK)
Rock trio who consisted of Tim Chatfield, Ralph Worman and Geoff Farndell. No more info available.
Nadine (3:17) 1980s
45: Dude DUD-7 ● UK, 1980s
Pretty ordinary. The flip is the instrumental “Nivram”. I have said 1980s because of the sound as it does not feel ‘60s or ‘70s(?) The members above I got from the video on You Tube.
HANK THUNANDER (USA)
From Michigan, moved to St. Paul, Minnesota. Accordion and polka bandleader, owner of HT Records. Has released several albums and singles since 1976. For his contributions to music, Hank has been honored by the Ironwood Hall of Fame, the Michigan Polka Music Hall of Fame, and the Minnesota Accordion Club. He received the Lifetime Award from the Mid-America Music Hall of Fame.
School Day (2:50) (as “School Days”) 1980s (?)
LP: Reminiscing…With Hank Thunander [HT Records HT-1005] ● USA, 1980s (?)
CD: Reminiscing…With Hank Thunander [HT Records HT-1005] ● USA, 2002
Not sure about when this was originally released. And the LP cover looks very late 70s , early ‘80s. The CD has 2002 printed on both label and cover However, does it really matter?
TRIPWIRES (USA)
This is already on the blog with a cover of “Tulane” of which I was not too favourable.
Almost Grown (2:39) 2023
CD: Are Knife, Fork, Spoon and Plate, In Good Party Tape [Folc Records FOLC-195] ● Spain, 2023
This is better and follows a traditional arrangement like most other versions.
J. WUNDERLE (USA)
Jim Wunderle, singer, songwriter from Springfield, Missouri. Front man of several punk-rock bands of the ‘70s and ‘80s. Did production work for record and video labels. He died 18 October 2012 at the age of 59.
Almost Grown ( : ) 1979
EP 45: Ayatollah Records PSHA 001 ● USA, 1979 (PS)
“Dedicated to Chuck Berry (let him out soon)” printed on the back of the sleeve.
Saturday, March 15. 2025
CBID - More Berry Covers and other things…
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: Before we list a couple of old, recently discovered or re-released cover versions, let's have a look at recordings which look as they were covers but aren't.
Punk-rock band Green Day from East Bay, California recorded a song titled «Back In The USA» featured on an album «Greatest Hits: God’s Favorite Band» in 2017. It's NOT the Berry track.
Rock band Wild Horses from England recorded a tune titled «Back In The USA» in 1981 featured on the album «Stand Your Ground». NOT the Berry song. Written by band members Jimmy Bain and Brian Robertson.
A British heavy metal band called Cloven Hoof recorded a song titled «Back In The U.S.A.» in 1982, written by Lee Payne, bass player in the band. So it is NOT the Berry classic.
And another one in the NO Chuck section: Greg Copeland (USA) «Brown Eyed Handsome Man» CD: Brown Eyed Handsome Man [GC (self-released) 701467] Germany, 2019. Recorded in Italy. It’s a slow blues song.
In 1967 two guys from Greece, George Ressiness and Gus Georgiou, released a single on RCA Victor 50g-4022 (W.Germany), titled “Always With You / Oh! Sweet, Little Sixteen”, calling themselves Gus And George. Both songs written by the two. The B-side is a pop song with harmony singing and has nothing to do with Berry’s.
In 1969, in Belgium, a girl called Linda recorded a single titled “Bye Bye Johnny” on Monopole S. 033 sung in Belgian. This is NOT the Berry tune but a song written by J. Blenco & N. Lambre. It’s an ordinary sweet pop tune.
Coming to covers, let's begin with a few that won't be included in the covers list but which you might want to know about:
An obscure British ‘60s group called The Four Teens made an album (acetate) of 15 tracks in 1966 that was not released. It included a version of “Too Much Monkey Business”. Sorry to say, but pretty awful with no feeling as in the UK ‘60s tradition.
Then there are so many covers of “Run Rudolph Run” you wouldn’t believe it. Every year around Nov./Dec. they turn up. Several are just MP3, Flac or whatever for downloading/streaming only. The strange thing is that many have made a professional “cover” to attract your attention. I found a video on You Tube of the US Army Field Band called The Jazz Ambassadors performing a rockin’ version, with Staff Sgt. Sarah Polinski on lead vocals. Pretty goode.
Fine, now let's look at covers I recently learned about:
On page 1061 under Javier Bátiz (Mexico) I was wondering if the cover of «Memphis» was an instrumental? It’s not, it’s a vocal version. So now we know.
BLACKWELL (USA)
I haven’t the slightest idea except that he is singing and playing an acoustic guitar, that’s all... in a folk blues style.
Johnny B. Goode (3:06) 1970s
45: Omni Records 1000 ● USA, 1970s
The A-side is called “Jamacian Sun” written by one D. A. Blackwell. And both tracks produced by him. Probably self-released.
CHANTILLY LACE (UK)
Not quite sure. A rock’n’roll revival quintet. They have two albums and one single released. All on different labels.
No Particular Place To Go ( : ) 1978
LP: Chantilly Lace [Great Western Records Bristol DM-004] ● UK, 1978
Bye Bye Johnny ( : ) 1979
Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 1979
Tulane ( : ) 1979
You Never Can Tell ( : ) 1979
LP: Chantilly Lace [Firebrand Records DM-1023] ● UK, 1979
Sweet Little Sixteen (3:04) 1983
45: Freeway Records FRW-1 ● UK, 1983
CHAPARRAL BROTHERS (USA)
Country duo, John and Paul Chaparral, from Southern California. I found two albums and nine singles by them, 1968 – 1970.
Brown Eyed Handsome Man (2:16) 1970
LP: Just For The Record [Capitol ST-551] ● USA, 1970
Thank you, it’s not a Waylon Jennings copy.
COUNTRY RAMBLERS (USA)
Studio musicians. Album below recorded at RCA Studios in Nashville. There were several of these Country Ramblers albums on RCA in the early ‘70s featuring cover versions of popular country songs at the time.
Brown Eyed Handsome Man (2:05) 1970
LP: Honey Come Back / If I Were A Carpenter And Other Country Favorites [RCA Camden CAS.2413] ● USA, 1970
This sounds like Waylon Jennings version from 1968 although a little different in the way of more harmony singing.
DRIFTWOOD (USA)
1970s pop/rock band from Kentucky, maybe Lexington (?) Very little info here, sorry.
Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 1975
45: Lemco 750104 ● USA, 1975
Record label out of Lexington, Kentucky.
JASON & THE SCORCHERS (USA)
Cajun singers Jay Chevalier and Shelley Ford. They had two singles out on Creole Gold in 1978.
Johnny B. Goode (3:52) 1979 as “The Ballad Of Johnny B. Goode”
45: Creole Gold CG-1115 ● USA, 1979
The Ballad thing is because Jay is talking about when Johnny was 10 years old he got a guitar from his mama...
Lead guitar played by Phil Baugh.
KING STINGRAY (Australia)
Surf-rock quartet from Yirrkaia North-East Arnheim Land. Founded in 2020. They have a couple of albums and singles out.
Run Rudolph Run (3:15) 2022
Digital: Stingray Music ● Australia, November 2022
2022 King Stingray. Under exclusive license to Civilians. Publisher: King Stingray - Sony Music Australia.
It’s a good surf version with harmonies like the Beach Boys and Jan & Dean, although with a more up to date sound. It was recorded exclusively for Apple Music’s Christmas Covered playlist.
NEW JORDAL SWINGERS (Norway)
See Volume 3, page 1388 for biographical info.
Except for “Maybellene” all the following songs have been out before and are dealt with on the page mentioned. However, I wanted to let you know about this particular CD release from the greatest Norwegian rock’n’roll band of all time.
Johnny B. Goode (2:36) 1975 (live)
Live at Ski Rådhusteater, Ski. Previously released on CD in 2009.
Maybellene (3:04) 1983 (live)
Live at Oslo Konserthus, Oslo. Previously unissued.
Sweet Little Sixteen (2:32) 1992 (live)
Live 1992. Previously released on cassette only in 1992.
Promised Land (3:12) 1984 (live)
Live at Oslo Konserthus, Oslo. Previously released on CD in 2007.
No Particular Place To Go / School Day (3:50) (live)
Live 1992. Previously released on cassette only in 1992.
2-CD: NJS Live [Norske Albumklassikere NACD-547 1-2] ● Norway, 2024
Compiled by Eigil Berg from his personal collection. CD-1 =24 tracks. CD-2 =23 tracks.
Except for “Maybellene” all tracks have been out before but nowadays some are hard to get. So this is a good compilation of New Jordal Swingers and how they sound live on stage. 3 Decades of NJS live with 15 of the tracks previously unissued. They have just finished a long farewell tour around Norway (Autumn 2024) after 50 years in the business, playing small and big venues for the fans. Therefore a very rational release. And further more, there are Berry soundalikes in there too, like “Stand On It”, “Fyrrige Damer”, “Old Time Rock And Roll” and “From Small Things”.
KENNY PRICE (USA)
Singer, songwriter James Kenneth Price, born 1931 in Florence, Kentucky. Died in 1987. Had his first single out in 1955. In 1966 he had his first hit, “Walking On New Grass”, reaching #7 on the country charts. He scored many hits throughout the ‘60s and ‘70s. Released also many albums from 1967 up until 1980.
Brown Eyed Handsome Man (2:21) 1970
LP: Northeast Arkansas Mississippi County Bootlegger [RCA Victor LSP-4373] ● USA, 1970
This was almost a cover of the Waylon Jennings version from 1968 (!)
RAIN (USA)
An obscure hard rock & blues rock band from Rochester, New York. Brad Morse (vocals), Helmut Getto (guitar), Ted Paris (bass) and Mick Guerin (drums). They also got an album out in 2020, titled «1971…The Lost Album» on Jargon Records.
Tulane (3:22) 1971 (live)
LP: Live, Christmas Night [Whazoo! Records USR-3046] ● USA, 1971
This album has been reissued several times, e.g. in 2005 on CD in the UK on Radioactive RRCD-110. No songwriting credits on the album. But you can listen to it on You Tube.
SEARCHERS (UK)
See volume 3, page 1493 for biographical info.
Sweet Little Sixteen (1:55) 1965 (live)
2-CD: BBC Sessions [Castle Music CMEDD-938] ● UK, 2004
Recorded live 7 May 1965 on Saturday Swings. Previously unissued.
TERRY THOMPSON (USA)
Terry Jene Thompson born 1943 in McCallsburg, Iowa. In 1977 he moved to Hanford, California. Apart from having his own band and playing throughout Iowa, as far as I can tell he only recorded just one record (below) coupled with “Shadow In The Window”. He died in 2020, at the age of 76.
Johnny B. Goode (2:29) 1973
45: Ven-Jence No. 7 ● USA, 1973
Record label out of Carlisle, Iowa.
NOTE: According to discogs regarding the single above, they are talking about a different artist, namely Curtis T. Thompson, singer, guitarist and songwriter, born 1941 in Amory, Mississippi, died 1965. Besides playing with various bands on the road he was a studio musician at Rick Hall’s Fame Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
And they state that the single would be from 1963. But the Ven-Jence record above IS from Iowa and it sounds more ‘70s than ‘60s. So I’ll stick with the above Terry Thompson.
JOHN TORV (Australia)
Jaan Torv. Radio founder, Programme Director at 2SM, DJ, Hot Tomato co-founder,” singer”, and credited for inventing Rocktober. Born 1946, died 2022. I have found three singles by him.
Too Much Monkey Business (3:56) 1974 as "Too Much Funky Business"
45: RCA Victor 102575 ● Australia, 1974
Funky cover with a different approach but credited solely to Berry. Very unusual but not so much to my taste and kinda boring in the long run. It’s on You Tube in case you wanna listen(?)
TRASH (Netherlands)
Rock quintet from Dordrecht. The music is called nederbeat or nederpop. However, this should have been nederrock.
Johnny B. Goode (3:27) 1973
45: Trash 6802 108 ● Netherlands, 1973 (PS)
Recorded at Phonogram Studio, Hilversum, 3 February ’73. This was a self-released single but it looks very professional, both sleeve and label. The music is pretty straight forward. The rhythm becomes a little monotone.
UPSTARTS (USA)
1960s rock band from Madisonville, Kentucky. At least that’s where the record label was located.
Sweet Little Sixteen (2:23) 1966
45: M’Ada 100 (Century Records) ● USA, 1966
Printed on the label: Vocal - Bassett, Tony & Dennis Brown
Thursday, January 16. 2025
CHUCK100 Tribute EP Series
Each EP, produced by Grammy nominated Carl Nappa at the Saint Louis Recording Club, will deliver four or five covers of Chuck’s iconic hits.
The main attraction is What The Chuck consisting of Charles Berry Jr. -son (vocals, guitar), Charles Berry III -grandson (vocals, guitar), Jahi Eskridge -grandson (vocals, horns), Antonio Foster (piano), Terrence Coleman (bass) and Keith Robinson (drums).
However, it’s sometimes difficult to figure out who’s doing the vocals on the recordings by them. There are no actual EPs or CDs, only for streaming and downloading.
”YOU NEVER CAN TELL” #1 - 5 tracks
What The Chuck (4:07) rock’n’roll
Mattie Schell (3:49) soul
Playadors featuring Steve Ewing (vocals) (4:55) reggae
Fat Pocket (4:52) funk
Mark Hochenberg (2:58) classical (instrumental)
Released: 28 September 2024
What The Chuck
Pretty ordinary but goode rockin’ version. Has a trumpet solo, guitar solo and at the end a piano solo (but not like Johnnie). What The Chuck is also contributing in some way on the other tracks below.
Mattie Schell (Compass Records) feat. Nathan Gilberg, Jackson Stokes, Ben Bicklein.
A slow soulful version. Well, it’s quite different, but becomes a little monotonous. Although she has a powerful voice.
Playadors with Steve Ewing feat. Dave Grelle, Dee Dee James, Kevin Bowers, Cody Henry, Ben Reece, Adam Hucke.
A reggae version spiced with a New Orleans touch, far from common but it works fine, and you get the feeling that everybody is having a good time.
Fat Pocket feat. Jahi Eskridge, Dan Ficocelli, Jason Hansen, Bill Henderson, Peter Shankman, Christopher Jones, Ryan Murray, Jeff Simpher, Kalonda Kay.
Don’t know what it is with me and funk. It doesn’t click. However, this is pretty different from any other version I have heard through the years. It has a solid beat and variations in the arrangement. Jahi Eskridge is doing the vocals.
Mark Hochberg
Now here is another treat for You Never Can Tell. The very first classical version, by the St. Louis violinist. Although at the very start it almost sounds like country(!) Different and unusual. It would have been interesting to have a whole album like this from Berry’s catalog.
“RUN RUDOLPH RUN” #2 - 4 tracks
Fat Pocket – Run Rudolph Run (4:06) funk/soul
What The Chuck – Spending Christmas (3:30) blues
Karin Bliznik – Run Rudolph Run (4:14) smooth jazz (instrumental)
What The Chuck – Run Rudolph Run (4:39) rock’n’roll
Released: Early December 2024
Fat Pocket
A soulful rendition with a funky sound.
Karin Bliznik
A trumpet player in the jazz field. Pretty unusual version with a few vocal lines in between. I always enjoy when people are finding their own approach to the tune. And this IS different.
What The Chuck
rocks pretty goode on the last track even using the same ending as the original, although not faded.
And interesting to have a version of the obscure Berry song “Spending Christmas”, originally recorded 15 December 1964, a song also known as My Blue Christmas. (Berry's version was first released in 2009 on the Hip-O Select box-set “You Never Can Tell – His Complete Recordings 1960-1966”.) But unfortunately the vocals are pretty uninspired. Okay, it’s following the original in that sense but it becomes a little boring anyway, unfortunately like Chuck’s own.
(To give you an idea, on the 15 December ’64 session 8 track were recorded: Lonely Schooldays (slow version), His Daughter Caroline (slow version), Dear Dad, I Want To Be You Driver, Spending Christmas (2 versions), The Song Of My Love and Butterscotch.)
Another project for the Chuck100 is a special Tribute album by national and international artists which should see the light of day in 2026. Also an upcoming collaboration with the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra.
The Berry family is also working with Revelations Entertainment, a production company founded by Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary, which optioned the rights to Chuck Berry’s Life Story. They are developing a drama series that would trace Berry’s progress from St. Louis to worldwide stardom.
So it seems we have a lot to look forward to in the coming months of 2025 and 2026.
Friday, January 10. 2025
CBID - Corrections, Additions, New Covers
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: This time we have a couple of small corrections, an addition, and of course several new cover versions.
“It Wasn’t Me” (recorded by Chuck September 1965) was featured in an Amazon Prime commercial (July 2021): Ripe Tomatoes – Prime 2 hour grocery delivery
This is an edited and remixed version – 30 seconds.
The version used is the stripped down one, released in 1986 on “Rock’n’Roll Rarities” Chess CH6-80001, without the harmonica of Paul Butterfield and guitar by Mike Bloomfield.
Turning you to page 292 (Vol.1 of CBID) regarding France 45s:
ROCK REVIVAL (Volume 2)
Memphis, Tennessee / Brown Eyed Handsome Man
Chess [CED] 169513 ● 1968/69
It says overdubbed audience noise and 1961 on the B-side, but that happens to be wrong. “Brown Eyed Handsome Man” is not the alt.version from 1961. It’s the ordinary studio version from 1956 without any audience noise.
On page 200 (CBID Vol.1) regarding the UK 9-CD box from Charly “The Chess Years” (1991), the correct Cat.no should be CDRED BOX-2.
The following entry should perhaps have been under Tributes but has actually nothing to do with Berry except for the title of the song.
Pharrell Williams “Chuck Berry”
Various CD: Despecable Me 3 [Universal 88985450212] ● USA, 2017
From the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack.
Original songs and themes by Pharrell Williams. (You’ll find it on You Tube.) On discogs the music is characterized as Hip Hop, Funk/Soul, Pop, Classical, Stage & Screen. Take your pick. Maybe Pop Rap (?) You see a title like “Fun Fun Fun” and you think Beach Boys and Berry soundalike, but NO. It’s a Williams original.
Besides 8 tracks by Williams the album also features people like Madonna, Michael Jackson, A-Ha, The Minions, Nena, and Heitor Pereira.
Randy Edelman is a name that sometimes turns up when you search for “Roll Over Beethoven” from the soundtrack of the Beethoven movie from 1992. Edelman was the original music composer, conductor and producer for the film, except Beethoven, which actually was performed by Paul Shaffer & The World’s Most Dangerous Band (page 1498).
Would you believe! English artist Billie Myers recorded a pop song titled “Roll Over Beethoven” (Billie Myers-David Tyson) for the album Vertigo (Universal) in 2000. On the album the title is written with quotation mark just to be sure it’s not a cover of the classic Berry song. Well, the question is still why?
And here we go with our "new" Berry covers:
MARK AMBOR (USA)
Mark Gregory Damboragian, singer, songwriter, born 1997 in Pleasentville, New York. Best known for his single “Belong Together” from 2024. In August 2024 he had an album out titled “Rockwood” on Virgin Records (Hundred Days).
Run Rudolph Run (2:35) 2024
Digital: Spotify Singles Holiday [Hundred Days] ● USA, 2024
This Xmas single (part of a series since around 2017) was released on 15 October 2024. It’s been played a lot on Spotify Top 50, also together with Chuck’s original.
ATCHAFALAYA (USA)
Quintet founded 1978 in Lafayette, Louisiana. They play cajun and swamp pop music and had 3 albums and 5 singles out in the ‘80s. In 2018 they were still performing although with a small change in the line-up.
Nadine (3:28) 1984
LP: Defined [Nijik Records NR-202] ● USA, 1984
Cajun influenced version. Pretty good.
BITTERSÜESS (Switzerland)
Pop-rock group. There is a female vocalist on the Berry number. The album has 10 tracks and I recognize three oldies covers, Folsom Prison Blues, Johnny B. and House Of The Rising Sun.
Johnny B. Goode (3:18) 2023
LP: One [Duophonic GmbH B1TT3R5U3550N3] ● Switzerland, 2023
SANDY BULL (USA)
See Volume 3, page 1104 for biographical info.
Memphis, Tennessee (5:31) 1969 (instr. live)
CD: Still Valentine’s Day 1969 [Water 179] ● USA, 2006
2-LP: Still Valentine’s Day 1969 [No Quarter NOQ-092-1] ● USA, 2023
Album recorded live at The Matrix, San Francisco, February & April 1969. Previously unissued. This is quite different than the studio version from 1965 and way shorter. (The studio version lasted almost 10 minutes.) The sound is not particularly good either.
Memphis, Tennessee (5:09) 1969 (instr. live)
LP: Live In San Francisco Late 1969 [Trading Places TDP-54111] ● UK, 2023
I haven’t been able to listen to this album or tracks. It contains only four instrumentals, two on each side. The record company is actually from the UK as follows: UK trading company of Radiation Records UK Ltd., and located in London.
KELLYLEE EVANS (Canada)
Black jazz and soul singer, born 1975 in Scarborough, Ontario. Her first album came in 2006 “Fight Or Flight!” which was nominated for a Juno Award. She has won a few Awards like Female Jazz Vocalist of the Year in 2007 and Vocal Jazz Album of the Year in 2011 for “Nina”, an album inspired by the life and music of Nina Simone.
Run Rudolph Run (2:44) 2024
Digital/CD: Winter Song [Enliven! Media 55561 4] ● USA, 2024
Sounds okay, a little soul in there but the song drags a bit, I feel. I could have wanted a little more jazz arrangement to the tune.
GROUP FIRE (USA)
A gospel/soul quintet based in Newark, New Jersey, formed 2009, consisting of brothers Terelle, Juwan and Justin Cooper, and Tajohn and Al Hill. They had their first album release in 2012 titled “It Takes A Village”. In 2019 they appeared on the Billboard Gospel Airplay chart with “Again”, and in 2020 with “More Than Friends”.
Run Rudolph Run (3:22) 2023
Digital/CD: The Gift – Deluxe Edition [Jet Records North/East 70129 2] ● USA, 2024
Soulful version with a big band touch. In 2023 they released a 6 track Xmas EP which did not feature the Berry classic.
MARIAN AAS HANSEN & ŽELIMIR (Norway)
Norwegian pop singer, songwriter, music producer, born 1975. Želimir Kulišić, Serbian born in 1977 now living in Norway, pop, rock, blues, country singer, songwriter, guitarist.
Rock And Roll Music (3:50) 2016 (live)
CD: Made In America [Made In America Prod. CD2016SUES001] ● Norway, 2016
Taken from a show “Made In America” (mostly ‘50s and ‘60s music) performed at Chat Noir theatre in Oslo in 2016 with special guest Chan Romero who had the original of “Hippy Hippy Shake” in 1959. They have also done “Run Rudolph Run” as a digital single (not counted for).
KALEVALA (Finland)
Prog-rock group founded in 1969 by Juha “Lido” Saionen. First album came in 1972.
Sweet Little Sixteen (2:18) 1970 (live)
CD: Live At Turku International Pop & Rock Festival 1970 [Ainoa! AOPCD-2303] ● Finland. 2023
Previously unissued. Limited edition of 500 copies. Also released as limited edition LPs, black and red vinyl.
TONY MAC (USA)
This is already on the blog, but now the year is correct, time and a little info on the song itself.
Johnny B. Goode (2:26) 1966
45: Jewel Records 806J-0928 ● USA, 1966
Record label out of MT Healthy, Ohio. Strange version in a country way, sounds unfinished.
MARC MARTEL (Canada)
Christian rock singer. Born 1976 in Montreal, Quebec (now living in Nashville, Tennessee, USA). In 1999 he formed his first band Downhere before he went solo in 2013. He is also known for his Queen covers and the vocal similarity to Freddy Mercury. Marc has released several albums and singles (EPs) mostly on his own label.
Run Rudolph Run (2:59) 2019 featuring Reese Wynans
CD: The Christmas Collection Vol. II [Marc Martel Music] ● Canada, 2019
LP: Christmas Duets [Marc Martel Music] ● Canada, 2024
Green vinyl.
Reese Wynans is a keyboard player from Florida (born 1947) who has done a lot of session work, and was a member of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s Double Trouble from 1985-1990. He’s also later played with Joe Ely and Lee Roy Parnell. The tune sure rocks!
JONI MITCHELL (Canada)
Folk singer, songwriter and painter. Nice to finally have Joni Mitchell on this survey. Born 1943 in Fort Macleod, Alberta as Roberta Joan Anderson. She married singer, songwriter Chuck Mitchell (USA) in 1965, divorced ’67 but kept his name. First time I heard about her was with “Big Yellow Taxi” in 1970. It was a much bigger hit in Europe than in the USA. Regarding James Taylor she did background vocals on his million seller “You’ve Got A Friend” in 1971.
You Never Can Tell (0:25) in a medley (3:59) 1972 with James Taylor
4-LP: Archives – Volume 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) [Rhino 603497834310] ● USA, 2023
5-CD: Archives – Volume 3: The Asylum Years (1972-1975) [Rhino 603497834303] ● USA, 2023
“For the Roses” Early Sessions, 16-21 April 1972. Previously unissued. Featuring James Taylor on vocals and guitar. There are more tracks on the 5-CD set. The medley: Bony Moronie, Summertime Blues, You Never Can Tell. Well to be quite honest. “Bony Moronie” is the main cover and “Summertime Blues” is short and Berry’s is even shorter. But they are talking about a Chuck Berry riff James played during Bony Moronie. Anyway, the whole thing is just a studio jam from the two. “For The Roses” album with 12 tracks came out in December‘72 and became a Gold album in 1973.
OSAMA (Japan)
Singer, guitarist born 1960 in Nishinomiya City. Also known as Jiro Osama. A visual voice actor (the Batman of Japan). The name, “Osama”, could roughly be translated as “King”.
Roll Over Beethoven (2:45) 2005
CD: Kabutomushi Gaiden [Victor Entertainment VICL-61832] ● Japan, 2005
A tribute album to The Beatles. However, it’s a little peculiar when over half of the 12 tracks are not written by Lennon-McCartney.
Roll Over Beethoven (2:45) 2014 (live)
CD: Kabutomushi Gaiden Live [King Of Rock KRNK-1411] ● Japan, 2014
Live at Cavern Beat, Fukuoka 22 May, 2014. 8 tracks of covers recorded by The Beatles in their earlier days.
JUDITH OWEN (UK)
Contemporary jazz singer, songwriter and keyboard player from Wales. She has released quite a lot of albums way back since 2003. Twanky Records is her own label.
Run Rudolph Run (2:56) 2024 feat. The J. O. Big Band
Digital/CD: Judith Owen Swings Christmas [Twanky Records 50 5603 23929 1 5] ● UK, 2024
Finally a jazzy arrangement on this Xmas classic. Pretty unusual to these ears. I really do like it. She also does a very good blues/jazz rendition of “Merry Christmas Baby”. You can watch a live version on You Tube.
KIRBY ST. ROMAIN (USA)
See Volume 3, page 1486-87 for biographical info.
BUDDY & THE HEARTS (USA)
See Volume 3, page 1102 for biographical info. This is not an addition but just info to let you know that these two versions are now available on a Kirby St. Romain CD release (July 2024). As Buddy & The Hearts actually were Kirby St. Romain in disguise.
Let It Rock (2:04) 1964
Thirty Days (2:20) 1964
CD: The Complete Diamond Records Recordings [Diamond - Certron Music Group 2024] ● USA, 2024
The album above contains 11 songs.
SICK ROSE (Italy)
Garage rock quintet from Torino, formed in 1983.
Around And Around (3:17) 1990
CD: Floating [Synergy Records SYNCD-9001] ● Italy 1990
Sounds very much like the Stones version, and pretty good. The CD has 26 tracks(!). However, also released as LP with 12 tracks and cassette with 14 tracks but neither one includes the Berry cover. On an album in 2021 “Hang On - The Lost Tapes” (an unreleased 1993 album) there’s a title called “Oh Maybelline” which was written by two band members, Alberto Fratucelli and Luca Re.
NICK TSIAMTSIKAS (Greece)
In Greece: Νίκος Τσιαμτσίκας. Rock and blues singer, songwriter. He has a raw voice and the Greece musicians can play the blues too.
Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 2005
CD: Messing With The Blues [Legend Records 2202353912] ● Greece, 2005
A couple of original songs and further from the pens of Bruce Springsteen, Leiber & Stoller, John Lee Hooker, Berry etc.
UGLY GUYS (UK)
Country-rock quintet. I’ve seen 7 albums by the group, the first in 2007. There’s a video of the Berry cover on You Tube.
Johnny B. Goode (4:12) 2022
CD: Cover Your Tracks [Conquest Music CNQ-014CD] ● UK, 2023
A little groovie and slower version but without any surprises.
VIEW (UK)
Scottish indie rock band from Dundee. Formed in 2005.
Roll Over Beethoven (2:43) 2013
Various CD: Mojo Presents: We’re With The Beatles [June 2013] ● UK, 2013
Again this is a Beatles Tribute album (14 tracks) given away with MOJO Magazine #237 (2013). Celebrating 50 years since release of the Beatles album “With The Beatles” from November ’63. I haven’t been able to find this track on any of their releases.
WEEKLINGS (USA)
New Jersey based rock/pop group (quartet) regarded as a Beatles Tribute band as they often cover the band's material..
Run Rudolph Run (2:54) 2024
CD: The Weeklings Christmas [Jem Records 2028 62448 9] ● USA, 2024
Pretty good rockin’ version, and they even have the fade-out as on Berry’s original with the same riff ! But The Beatles never covered this song.
KOE WETZEL (USA)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer, born 1992 in Pittsburg, Texas. He incorporates many styles in his music like grunge, country, and Americana.
Run Rudolph Run (3:08) 2024
Digital/CD: Presents…Wetzel’s Wonderland Chapter 2 [Columbia 26700 7 3] ● USA, 2024
A little heavy rock version but he has some different approaches throughout.
Sunday, December 22. 2024
Rhythm and Rhyme - Chuck Berry’s poetic heartbeat
“I tried to use (or make up) words that wouldn’t be hard to decipher by anyone from the fifth grade on. I hadn’t received any kickback about using ‘motorvating’ in ‘Maybellene,’ so why not compete with Noah Webster (of dictionary fame) again?”Troubles became botherations in another early classic ‘Too Much Monkey Business’. In ‘You Can’t Catch Me’ he invents an air-mobile he dubbed a ‘Flight DeVille’, mimicking the famous Caddy, later to become his favourite wheels. Chuck always carefully selected his words, why use refrigerator when coolerator was – well much cooler? (incidentally coolerator isn’t a Berryism – it was the trade name for a fridge made from 1948 by the Gibson Refrigerator Company.)
As a child, Chuck's father Henry would recite poetry to him, while his mother Martha’s singing of Baptist hymns also helped instilled a love of words, rhyme and metre in the boy.
Poetry was commonplace, the works of Edgar Allan Poe, Paul Laurence Dunbar and Theodore Tilton were lingua franca in the Berry household. As a child, he memorised and would recite verbatim long, multi-versed epics such as Theodore Tilton’s ‘The King’s Ring’ (also known as ‘Even This Shall Pass Away’). Tilton, newspaper editor, poet, and abolitionist, wrote the poem in 1867 and a century or so later Chuck recorded it as 'Pass Away', the last track on his 1979 Atco 'Rockit' album. In 2006 the box-set DVD of the movie ‘Hail Hail Rock And Roll’ was issued. The final part of Disc 3 is ‘Chuckisms’ focusing on Berry’s vocabulary and poetry which includes a lengthy, word perfect recital of the poem accompanied by Robbie Robertson on acoustic guitar. (The Led Zeppelin fan reading this may also be interested to know Robert Plant recorded ‘Even This Shall Pass Away’ in 2010 set to a funky beat!). In a 2016 interview with Peter Guralnick published in Rolling Stone magazine, Chuck discussed poetry and ‘Even This Shall Pass Away’ in particular. Asked about the poem Berry said he first heard it recited by his dad around the age of six or seven. Peter continues:
With very little prompting, Chuck recited the poem, and as he did, he got more and more choked up. "My dad," he said, "was the cause of me being in show business. He was not only in poetry but in acting a bit. He was Mordecai in the play A Dream of Queen Esther. He was very low in speech and music, and he came out onstage, he came out to tell the king, 'Sire, sire, someone is approaching our castle.' And I knew his voice. I'm five years old right now. I knew his voice and I hollered out in the theater, 'Daddy!' I don't remember it, but they tell me I did. His position in the choir was bass. Mother's was soprano and lead. That's all there was in our house, poetry and choir rehearsal and duets and so forth; I listened to Dad and Mother discuss things about poetry and delivery and voice and diction – I don't think anyone could know how much it really means." Who were some of his favorite poets as a kid? I ask. Edgar Allen Poe, he said after some consideration "I can't think of them [all], my memory's really bad", and Paul Laurence Dunbar was his mother's. On second thought, he offered, Dunbar was his favorite, too.In an earlier 1969 Rolling Stone interview Chuck talked of a 45-minute poem he had composed called ‘Vagabond's Horse’. This is a miss-transcription and what he said was ‘Vagabond’s House’ which in fact, wasn’t his composition but a 1928 poem by Donald Benson Blanding (dubbed the poet laureate of Hawaii) about an idealised, yet to be built, dream house. Chuck clearly found resonance in the poem due to his building skills and knowledge developed from working pre-fame with his carpenter dad. He wrote his own version of the poem called ‘My Dream’.
‘The roof of it will have peak lines / And contours that dip / And form shadowy eaves / Where the little raindrops can drip’might be called doggerel by some but the sincerity of delivery cannot be denied. ‘My Dream’ featured on Berry’s 1971 San Francisco Dues album as a six-minute tone poem recited over a background of bass, guitar and drums well down in the mix, overlaid with Chuck's own free-form piano playing. Chuck had cut an alternative version with completely new words titled ‘My Pad’ in 1970 which remained unheard until issued on ‘Have Mercy: His Complete Chess Recordings 1969 To 1974’ the third Hip-O Select box-set in 2010. This was slightly longer than ‘My Dream’ and had no instrumentation whatsoever, just Chuck’s dulcet voice reciting words that clearly meant so much to him.
One of the most idiosyncratic songs of his whole recorded works was Chuck’s 1955 ‘Down Bound Train’. Chuck claimed to have written the song and no doubt the musical accompaniment, with its racing rhythm and jagged guitar, is all his but the weird and wonderful lyrics have had a much longer life. ‘Downbound Train’ started life as the poem ‘Tom Gray's Dream’, by Retta M. Brown (born September 18, 1893). This came about due to her uncle Tom Gray’s experience, who in a drunken stupor had a nightmare dream that caused him to quit the demon drink. The theme was embraced by alcohol abstentionists (Chuck’s lay preaching dad maybe?) under various titles, ‘Drunkard’s Dream’, ‘Stranger’s Dream’ and ‘Texas Cowboy’s Dream’ amongst others, and perpetuated by oral transmission. In his book 'Long Steel Rail', Norm Cohen describes an old cowboy song titled 'Hell Bound Train' collected by John A Lomax and included in his book 'Cowboy Songs' (1910). It is said to be written by J W Pruitte (or Pruitt), the 'Cowboy Preacher' in 1909, but I think it is from the turn of the century, developed from earlier versions, as a poem titled 'A Drunkard's Dream' by John Andrew Howell, a blind poet of Scottish extraction from Webster County, West Virginia. One thing's for sure, some of the verses are virtually identical to those in Chuck's ‘Downbound Train’, even to the brimstone lamp and the boiler filled with lager beer. Perhaps, quite sensibly, Chuck did however amend the couplet ‘The passengers made a motley crew / church member, atheist, gentile and Jew’ to the more banal ‘The passengers were most a motley crew / Some were foreigners and others he knew’. The song / poem has been recorded many times in various styles. As ‘Hell Bound Train’ Berry acolyte, George Thorogood waxed it as ‘Downbound Train’ as did slide guitarist Steve James, both rocking versions. The Cuck-A-Lucks, a pretty dire white vocal trio, cut it as ‘The Devil’s Train’. Don Edwards’ version was pure country, as was working cowboy Glenn Ohrlin’s. In 1945 gospel group Sunset Jubilee Singers recorded it in sacred style. On a 1970’s Memphis based Marble Hill 45, Marie Robertson recites the composition, containing additional verses excluded from other versions, over a chunky country rhythm and in addition to Chuck, claims composer credit.
Following the release of his ‘Rockit’ album, Chuck more or less gave up recording and jumped aboard the rock and roll oldies touring treadmill. The money was good and money counted highly in Berry’s life but his active mind must have felt stupefied singing his oldies but goodies. To relieve this somewhat he would sometimes add new lyrics to his compositions and at the opening concert of the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Museum in Cleveland in September 1995 (bootlegged) he introduces some new lyrics reflecting on a life well spent in ‘Rock And Roll Music’. ‘Sometimes it's loud and gets out of control / Can't even understand the story told / But if you love it, you ain't never too old / To cut the mustard with rock and roll!’ and again later on, ‘Some people say rock and roll is dead / It's forty years since that remark was made / I'm here to show it's live and well / And all‑American like ringing a bell.’ (incidentally this recording is dire!)
Chuck Berry’s idiosyncratic musings can be heard in many recordings
(vis. Milo Venus was a beautiful lass, she had the world in the palm of her hand / But she lost both her arms in a wrestling match to win a brown eyed handsome man)and also in his prose as can be read in his autobiography containing many quirky expressions including the introductory poem
‘To the many who never knew / And to any who’ve wanted to / Know what is true praised or taboo / here are a few things that I do exposed to you for your review’ .This trait continued all his life and his last, posthumously released, album simple titled ‘Chuck’ contains two such delights for your attention.
In 'Eyes Of Man', he gets all metaphysical; it’s a philosophical manifesto to the innate power of woman which he declares 'is seldom seen in the eyes of man'. A text in praise of womanhood which transcends that of man. Chuck cites lines from an ancient Persian proverb collected by Sir Richard Burton (he of the Kama Sutra, The Perfumed Garden and other saucy works and not Liz Taylor’s other half) published by his wife Isabel in 1893 in 'The Life Of Captain Sir Richd. F Burton'. Chuck freely adapts the Persian lines to suit his style but the meaning of the original assertions are maintained.
Persian :- He who knows not, and knows not that he knows not, is a fool; shun him.In counterpoint to all this esoteric pontification the half sung, half spoken words are supported by an easy loping bluesy melody containing some fine Berry guitarisation.
Chuck :- Those who do not know, and do not know that they do not know. Are fools. Avoid them.
Persian :- He who knows not, and knows they do not knows not, is a student; Teach him.
Chuck :- Those who do not know, and know that they do not know. Are children. Adopt them.
Persian :- He who knows, and knows not that he knows, is asleep; Wake him.
Chuck :- Those who know and do not know that they know. They are asleep. Awake them.
Persian :- He who knows, and knows that he knows, is Wise; Follow him.”
Chuck :- Oh those who know and know that they know, are wisdom. Acclaim them.
'Dutchman' is cut from coarser cloth, a cautionary tale recited by Chuck. The scene is a bar-room full of drinkers including the enigmatic Dutchman who are interrupted by a tall dark dude who the patrons initially wish to see off, siccing a Great Dane on the guy. However, for the price of drink offered by the Dutchman the stranger imparts his story of fame and fortune now lost all because of his unrequited love for a femme fatale, a Cleopatra with luxurious hair who, when she allowed him to kiss her, near petrified his heart. The tension of the tale is intensified by the sparse grungy blues rhythm, just guitar, bass and drums, that accompanies Chuck's perfectly enunciated narration. A great vignette beautifully told.
Later in life the tributes and awards to Chuck came thick and fast including the American Music Award of Merit in 1981, his induction into the Nashville Songwriters Association International Hall of Fame in 1982, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1985 (accepted on Chuck’s behalf by Berry acolyte Dave Edmunds) and his induction into the inaugural Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1985 plus the later American Music Masters Award from the same organisation in 2012. In 2002 he got an ICON award from the BMI performing rights organization. His star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame appeared in 1987 and a similar star rose on Delmar Boulevard in his home-town St. Louis in 1989, not to forget the unprepossessing statue opposite Blueberry Hill restaurant / bar where Chuck performed 207 times. He was honoured at the Kennedy Center Honors for performing arts 2000. More relevant to Chuck’s poetic prowess was the PEN Literary Award he received at John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in 2012 and the Polar Music Prize 2014, the so called ‘Nobel Prize for Music’ with the added $100,000 bounty that must have undoubtable pleased Chuck.
In addition to the institutional awards, literary luminaries also praised Chuck’s way with words. Paul Simon, who presented Chuck with his PEN medal, said how much Chuck’s songwriting had influenced him and read the lyrics of ‘Maybellene’, ‘Too Much Monkey Business’ and ‘Johnny B Goode’ as though they were poems. Simon was no mean poet himself, forget ‘Hello darkness my old friend’ but dig
‘Just slip out the back, Jack / Make a new plan, Stan / You don't need to be coy, Roy / You just listen to me / Hop on the bus, Gus / You don't need to discuss much / Just drop off the quay, Lee / And get yourself free’– worthy of Chuck don’t you think?
Bob Dylan messaged to the proceedings:
‘To Chuck, the Shakespeare of rock and roll, congratulation on the Penn award – that’s what ‘To Much Monkey Business’ gets you. You’ve written the book with a capital B’.Poet and wordsmith Leonard Cohen, who was the joint recipient of the PENN award, also voiced his appreciation:
‘If Beethoven hadn’t rolled over, there wouldn’t have been room for any of us.’Cohen’s award was presented by renowned novelist Salman Rushdie, who said,
‘I’ve wanted for a long time PENN to understand that literature moves with the times, literature doesn’t remain poets, essayists and novelists, new forms grow, new art is made in new ways, and some of the greatest art, certainly in my lifetime, has been made in the form of the song lyric. It’s way, way overdue that we recognise this is a contribution to literature at least as important as that of poets, playwrights and novelists and two of the great exponents of that are honorees today.’We all know the famous John Lennon quote on the Mike Douglas TV Show in 1972:
‘If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry.’but he also said in relation to Chuck’s lyrics:
‘He's the greatest rock'n'roll poet. When I hear rock, good rock of the calibre of Chuck Berry, I just fall apart and have no other interest in life.’Lennon’s partner in rhyme, Paul McCartney added
‘Chuck Berry is one of the greatest poets America has produced. His songs hit us like a bolt of lightning.’In a 2016 Rolling Stone article ‘Why Chuck Berry Is Even Greater Than You Think’ Peter Guralnick recalled a conversation with Allen Toussaint:
‘Perhaps the most persuasive tribute I ever encountered was delivered by the highly cerebral New Orleans singer, songwriter, arranger and pianist extraordinaire, Allen Toussaint. I was trying to get at some of the reasons for the dramatic expansion of his own songwriting aspirations (musically, poetically, politically) in the seventies, when he graduated from brilliant pop cameos like ‘Ride Your Pony’ and ‘Mother in Law’ to more ambitious, post-Beatles, post-Miles, post-Civil Rights Era work. Was it the influence of Bob Dylan, say, that allowed him to contemplate a wider range of subjects, a greater length of songs? Oh, not at all, Allen replied in his cool, elegant manner; he wished he could agree with me, but his single greatest influence in terms of lyrics and storytelling from first to last was Chuck Berry. And with that he started quoting Chuck Berry lyrics, just as you or I might, just as Elvis Presley, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis do on the fabled “Million Dollar Quartet” session. “What a wonderful little story that is,” he said of “You Never Can Tell,” Chuck’s fairy-tale picture of young love in Creole-speaking Louisiana, “how he lived that life with that couple, you know. Oh, the man’s a mountain,” said Allen unhesitatingly.’A very astute reflection of Chuck’s poetic skills, one that could only be made by a poet about a poet, came from the peoples’ punk poet, the bard of Salford himself, Dr. John Cooper Clarke. Discussing enjambment (the continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza) the good doctor said:
‘A great exponent of enjambment was Chuck Berry, one of my lyric-writing heroes. If you read Chuck Berry's lyrics, you're singing the song, there's no other way to go. He writes them that way. You can take away all the music and recite it as poetry, and it will still sound like a song. Check it out with any Chuck Berry song. Another great example of his enjambment is in the song, ‘Brown Eyed Handsome Man’, where it says ‘Way back in history, three thousand years, in fact, ever since the world began’. Now that ‘in fact’, tells you that's the point of Chuck's expertise, everybody else in the rock and roll world would have said ‘Way back in history, three thousand years, ever since the world began’. But that, ‘in fact’, which shouldn't really work, makes it more conversational. He’s recounting a story, trying to prove a point, and that, ‘in fact’, gives it the personal touch. That's what they call enjambment. It shouldn't work but it does. There are too many words for the space, the rhythmic space, to allow but it makes the song’.Incidentally, those who enjoy anarchic poetry, should check out Clarke’s ‘Evidently Chickentown’ – it’s bloody good.
In the spring of ‘62, on the way to forced incarceration for the second time to the Federal Medical Facility in Springfield, Missouri, ‘Somewhere near the Ozarks of Misery’, Chuck’s poetic muse arose. He wrote, ‘I was thirty-five years old, really set back, feeling more black but still intact’ and composed this plaintive poem,
‘Down from stardom, then I fell, to this lowly prison cell / Far from fortune, far from fame, where a number quotes my name / I among these men in grief, must be firm in my belief / That this shall not be the end, but my chance to rise again / So with patience day by day, I will move to prove a way / Back to freedom. Maybe fame, clearing my encumbered name’.He didn’t altogether wipe his plate but while in that ‘rotten funky jail’ he did write a quartet of his most vivid and literate songs.
Nadine:
‘I saw her from the corner when she turned and doubled back / Started walkin' toward a coffee coloured Cadillac / I was pushin' through the crowd tryin-ta get to where she's at / I was campaign, shouting like a southern diplomat.’No Particular Place To Go:
Ridin' along in my calaboose / Still trying to get her belt a-loose / All the way home, I held a grudge / But that safety belt it wouldn't budge.You Never Can Tell:
They furnished off an apartment with a two room Roebuck sale / The coolerator was crammed with tv dinners and ginger ale / But when Pierre found work, the little money comin' worked out well / C'est la vie, say the old folks, it goes to show you never can tell.The Promised Land:
Sure as you're born he bought me a silk suit / Put some luggage in my hand / And I woke up high over Albuquerque / On a jet to the promised land.Interviewed by Rolling Stone reporter Patrick Doyle, when life was a little closer to the bone, Chuck said he was hard of hearing and wondering about his future, but still had the presence to recited a little poetry about his condition,
‘I'll give you a little piece of poetry’ he said. ‘Give you a song? / I can't do that / My singing days have passed / My voice is gone, my throat is worn / And my lungs are going fast.’Finally to return to the start – ‘Maybellene’. The song’s success led to seemingly endless touring, and within twelve months, most likely to break the monotony of singing his two hits verbatim night after night, Chuck added new lyrics to the classic composition as good as the original verses:
‘I peeped in the mirror at the top of the hill / ‘Twas just like swallowing a medicine pill / First thing I saw was that Cadillac Grille / Doing a hundred and ten dropping over that hill / Uphill curve, downhill stretch / Me and that Cadillac was neck and neck’.More variation to the song came in Chuck’s 1987 autobiography where he added a whole new set of lyrics to Maybellene’s frame with scansion that suited her to a tee:
As I was watching from the windowsill / I saw pretty girls in my dream De Ville / Riding with the guys, up and down the road / Nothin’ I wanted more’n be in that Ford / Sittin’ in class while they takin’ rides / Guys in the middle, girls on both sides.I’m surprised some Berry disciple hasn’t recorded this but it’s proof, if proof be needed, that poetry is truly Chuck Berry’s élan vital.
Oh pretty girl, why can’t you be true / Oh pretty girl, that it’s me with you / You let football players do things I want to do.
Girls in my dream car, door to door / My Ford bogged down wouldn’t hold no more / Ring goes the last school bell of the day / Hurrying outside, see ‘em pulling away / Backseat full even sittin’ on the hood / I knew that was doing my motor good.
Oh pretty girl, why can’t you be true / Oh pretty girl, that it’s me with you / You let football players do things I want to do.
The guys come back after all that fun / Walking with pretty girls, one by one / My heart hangin’ heavy like a ton of lead / Feelin’ so down I can’t raise my head / Just like swallowin’ up a medicine pill / Watching them girls from the windowsill.
Friday, November 1. 2024
CBID - 6034 and counting ...
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: In July I finished listing my stack of additional Chuck Berry cover versions and came up with a total of 6034 recordings. But still new covers turn up, this time even from famous names such as the Dire Straits, Jim Reeves, or the Police.
GILDAS ARZEL (France)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist, born 1961. Has released several singles and albums since 1991.
You Never Can Tell (C’est la Vie) (3:32) 2015
CD: Greneville [self-released GA1961/1/1] ● France, 2015
I haven’t heard the actual recording but seen a live performance from 2017 on You Tube. And I must say it was pretty amazing. Tight rockin’ band too.
BABY BÁTIZ (Mexico)
See Volume 3, page 1061, for biographical info. However, I had very little info back then so here’s an update and also adding "Rock And Roll Music" to the list.
Real name Maria Esther Medina Núñez, born 1949 in Tijuana, Baja California. Blues, soul and rock’n’roll singer. She has released several singles and albums since her start in the mid ‘60s. She even had an Anthology CD out in 2008. She’s the sister of Javier Bátiz (see page 1061).
Johnny B. Goode (2:40) 2003
Rock And Roll Music [as “Musica De Rock”] (2:21) 2003
CD: De Veras Me Atrapaste [Discos Y Cintas Denver CD-DSD-6274] ● Mexico, 2003
The lady has a great voice on these two Berry covers and the music is straight rock(’n’roll).
BIG BAG Of BLUES (Sweden)
Blues band from Halmstad.
Back To Memphis (as “Going Back To Memphis”) (4:18) 2011
CD: “III” [BBB 90 0879 87932 5 9] ● Sweden, 2011
Probably self-released. But it’s a good version and I reckon it was taken from The Tottas Blues Band repertory since they have used the same misspelling of the title.
BLUESAHOLICS (Switzerland)
Blues-rock band consisting of four musicians, Benno Riis (guitar, blues harp), Levi Bo (keyboards, guitar, vocals), Willi Basler (bass), Marcus Keller (drums), and two vocalists Monika Schär and Rene Zobrist. The band had a maxi single out in 1993 and 8 albums since 1995, the first 5 on the Phonag label. They tour as an acoustic version and as an electric version.
Oh What A Thrill (3:52) 2021
CD: Closed Doors [Bluesaholics self-released] ● Switzerland, 2021
This is arranged a little slower than Berry’s.
KEL-ANNE BRANDT (Australia)
Country singer, songwriter from Umina Beach, New South Wales. Nicknamed “The Little Dynamo”. She has released five albums and three EPs since her start in 1998. Has received music Awards and has had National hit singles. In 2020 she had a Top Five hit with the title song from the album below.
Back In The USA (3:05) 2019
CD: Let The Music Give You Wings [KAB self-released] ● Australia, 2019
I am sure she’s been listening to the Linda Ronstadt version from 1978. But still good work.
CAJUN ROOSTERS (Germany etc.)
Etc. means that the band is a mixture of musicians from different countries like France, Germany, Belgium, Scotland and England. But both albums below were recorded in Germany and released in Germany.
Brown Eyed Handsome Man (2:37) 2016
CD: Hell Yeah [Whoopee WR-61527] ● Germany, 2016
A good uptempo cajun version. Unfortunately with a little Buddy Holly twist.
Promised Land (3:42) 2006
CD: Crank It Up [Whoopee WR-61493] ● Germany, 2006
Ordinary cajun version.
JUNE CARTER with Jim Reeves (USA)
See Volume 3, page 1116 for biographical info.
Thirty Days (2:46) 1959 (live)
DVD: The Jim Reeves Anthology [H&H Music HHDVD-815 ] ● UK, 2014
Yes I know, but this is so special that I wanted to have it in here. Recorded live at the Ozark Jubilee TV-show 15 August 1959. 50th Anniversary Commemorative Edition. Reissue and remastered in Stereo, The original release of the DVD came in 2009, but this is a better version. It includes the very last concert of Jim Reeves performed in Oslo, Norway, 1964. The timing above also includes the introduction of June by Jim and the outro. The song itself lasts a little under 2 minutes, and Jim is only singing in harmony with June on the Thirty Days title. I thought that the 1960 performance from Louisiana Hayride 4 June 1960 was unusual, but this is even more special as it includes Jim Reeves, finally getting him in the Chuck Berry Cover survey.
I am saying unusual and special which has nothing to do with the performance itself which is neither.
NANCY CARTWRIGHT (USA)
See Simpsons page 1507 CBID Vol. 3.
I am mentioning it since this lady’s name pops up on secondhandsongs under “School Day”. She is the vocalist but performed under Simpsons.
TONY CASPAR (UK)
Pop singer, songwriter from Oxford.
Memphis, Tennessee [as “Memphis”] (2:48) 1981
LP: Take It Easy [Ellie Jay Records EJSP-9573] ● UK, 1981
Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 1978
LP: Bed Of Roses [Ellie Jay Records EJSP-8628] ● UK, 1978
COPPSUS JURIS (Norway)
Big band that in 1976 celebrated their 13th Anniversary. So they released an album with 5 songs from the actual concert and the rest of the tracks were recorded at Arne Bendiksen Studio in Oslo, including the medley below.
Johnny B. Goode (1:10) 1976 (medley) as Crossnash, Stillby, Hermansen & Tom
LP: Vi Spiller Opp [Coppsus Jupis CJ-110177] ● Norway, 1977
The “medley” (recorded October/November 1976) consists of ”Oh Lonesome Me”, “Johnny B.” and “Burning Love”. It’s printed medley on the cover, however, they are separate recordings actually. Performed by Sverre Lunde (vocals, banjo), Odd Rustad-Nilssen (vocals, piano), Tom Danielson (vocals, bass) and Svein Hermansen (drums). It’s Sverre who sings on the Berry cover.
DIRE STRAITS (UK)
As told before on this blog. Dire Straits sometimes performed “Nadine” on stage, but so far no legally released version has appeared. But finally in November 2023 a box-set came out including a cover of this Berry classic.
Mark Knopfler is Dire Straits, singer, songwriter and eminent guitarist. One of the most popular British rock bands of all time. Formed in 1977. Mark Knopfler, David Knopfler, John Illsley and Pick Withers. They split up in 1988, reunited in 1991 and disbanded in 1995. Songs like “Sultans Of Swing” (1978), “Money For Nothing” (1985), “Walk Of Life” (1985) are just three of their greatest hits.
Nadine (3:47) 1979 (live) feat. Phil Lynott and Tony De Meur
8-CD box: Live 1978-1992 [Mercury/Vertigo (Universal) 5553922] ● Europe, 2023
Live at The Rainbow 21 December ’79. The sound is not good, the vocals are almost drowned in the music.
Also released as a 12-LP box-set (180 gram), Mercury/Vertigo (Universal) 5540596.
MASON EMBRY TRIO (USA)
He’s a jazz pianist based in Nashville.
Run Rudolph Run (3:30) 2015 (instr)
CD: Martinis & Mistletoe – Christmas Jazz [Green Hill GHD-6070] ● USA, 2015
Swingin’ piano music with not a rockin’ beat in sight. You will have to listen carefully to find the Berry melody in this one. Very unusual indeed.
FLAMES (UK)
See Volume 3, page 1190 for biographical info.
Tulane (3:15) 1990
45 EP: Twang FL-002 ● UK, 1990
Pretty good cover of this which features the original line-up from 1988.
CD: The Versatile Flames [Lone Rider Records LLR Flames 022] ● UK, 2010
Contains 29 released and unreleased tracks. Only Tulane is from Berry.
GADABOUTS (USA)
See Volume 3, page 1206 for biographical info.
Too Much Monkey Business (1:47) 1956
78rpm: Mercury 70978 ● USA, 1956
It came to my attention that the 78 version of this differed from the 45 regarding the monkey sounds which are missing on the 78.
BARRY HAY & JB MEIJERS (Netherlands)
Barry Hay, musician and singer who was born in India in 1948. He was the lead singer of the Dutch rock band Golden Earring from 1967-2021. Jan-Bart Meijers is a multi instrumentalist, singer, songwriter born 1972. He currently resides in Bonaire (Dutch island near Venezuela) where he operates a studio. Besides work with his band and solo work he has played with a lot of famous Dutch bands.
You Never Can Tell (3:18) 2022
CD: Fiesta De La Vida [Zip Records ZIP-293] ● Netherlands (Europe), 2022
The song is performed pretty ordinary, a little dull actually which is kinda strange considering the backgrounds of the two. To be quite honest it sounds like a dance band version (!) but with organ and guitar instead of the saxophone.
HOU-LOPS (Canada)
1960s pop quintet from Québec. Also known as Les Hou-Lops.
Nadine (3:03) 1966
LP: Off [Apex ALF-71591] ● Canada, 1966
Sorry guys, but this is awful in all due respect. But still a very early cover though.
INSENSIBLE EGGS (Italy)
Garage punk quartet from Cagliari. Again, they come up with some strange band names!
Around And Around (2:32) 1993
EP 45: Psych-Out Records PO-45008 ● Italy, 2000
500 hand-numbered copies. Also available on a one-sided 6-track self-released cassette in 1993 titled “Here Are The Insensible Eggs”. Pretty wild version.
KA-NIVES (USA)
Garage rock trio from Houston, Texas: Will Adams (guitar, vocals), Tony Hall (bass, vocals), Matt Murillo (drums, vocals). Apart from the single below they also have an album out (LP & CD) on Lance Rock titled “Get Duped!” but the two songs mentioned below are not on it.
Dear Dad ( : ) 2009
45: Lance Rock Records LRR-037 ● Canada, 2009
The Berry cover is the B-side. The A-side is titled “Weasel”.
KIT KATS (USA)
This group is already on the blog with a version of “Sweet Little Rock And Roller”.
Little Queenie (3:30) 1969 (live)
LP: The Kit Kats Do Their Thing Live [Jamie LPS-3032] ● USA, 1969
To me the ‘60s music, especially after ’65 was kind of rubbish. What became of the beat, the beat, the beat?
LATCHES (Netherlands)
Six piece rock’n’roll group. Formed in 1963 as The Blue Rhythms but was changed to The Latches in ‘65.
Johnny B. Goode (3:00) 1973 (live)
Sweet Little Sixteen (2:26) 1973 (live)
LP: Long Tall Sally [Northern-Productions PDO-0173 SJ] ● Netherlands, 1973
Okay versions, unpolished and raw but still having that rock’n’roll beat.
LES BOURGEOIS DE CALAIS (France)
Beat/pop/instrumental quintet, later became Les Fleurs De Pavot.
I’m Talking About You (as “Je Veux Parler De Toi”) (2:02) 1964
CD: French ‘60s EP Collection [Magic Records 522702] ● France, 1995
16 tracks plus 8 bonus. I don’t know but can’t find this Berry cover on any of their records so this might be a previously unissued cut. It was included as a bonus track on the above CD together with 7 others.
LES ENNUIS COMMENCENT (France)
Rockabilly/rock’n’Roll/surf quartet from Decazeville, en Aveyron. Formed 1995.
Come On (2:25) 2010
CD: Superfriends [Buzz Buzz Records BBR-120 609] ● France, 2010
10” LP: Superfriends [Buzz Buzz Records BBR-160 877] ● France, 2010
GÖSTA LINDERHOLM & The Trad Brothers (Sweden)
Singer, songwriter, born 1941 in Stockholm, died 2020. He played clarinet in a Dixieland band in 1958 and up to 1973-74 sang and played in various jazz bands until he went solo. Has released a lot of albums.
Run Rudolph Run [as “Spring, Rudolf Spring”] (2:56) 2002
CD: Nu Är Det Jazz Jul Igjen! [Blå Ton BT CD-210] ● Sweden, 2002
Not much jazz here on this one, this is a rockin’ little tune with Swedish lyrics following Berry’s.
LOS DRACS (Spain)
Beat sextet already on this blog.
Carol (2:34) 1965
EP: En Tus Brazos [Alma 4008-XC] ● Spain, 1965
Sung in Spanish. Pretty ordinary beat version but they probably did their best.
TONY MAC (USA)
This is already on the blog but correction and additional info regarding time and year and a little extra comment at the end.
Johnny B. Goode (2:26) 1966
45: Jewel Records 806J-0928 ● USA, 1966
Record label out of MT Healthy, Ohio. Strange version in a country way, sounds unfinished.
MACH KUNG-FU (Japan)
Rock’n’Roll trio. Also known as The Fabulous Mach Kung-Fu.
Come On (2:17) 2001
CD: Teach A Chick To Dance! [Telstar Records TR-039] ● USA, 2001
Okay version with a solid bass work; more in the Berry way than most others.
NEY MATOGROSSO (Brazil)
Real name Ney de Sousa Pereira, born 1941 in Bela Vista. Singer known for his uncommon soprano or countertenor voice as Wikipedia puts it. Not quite sure what it means but he was ranked by Rollin’ Stone as the third greatest Latin American singer of all time. Has released a ton of albums since the mid ‘70s.
Johnny B. Goode [as “Jonny Pirou”] (3:32) 1982
LP: Mato Grosso [Ariola 201 648] ● Brazil, 1982
Strange version but still different from others.
EDDY MITCHELL (France)
See Volume 3, page 1367 for biographical info.
I’m A Rocker [as “C’est Un Rocker”] (4:24) 2019 (live) w/ Johnny Hallyday & Jaquez Dutronc
2-CD: as Les Vieilles Canailles - Le Live [Sony Music 0190295380618] ● France, 2019
3-LP: as Les Vieilles Canailles – L’Album Live [Sony Music 0190295382063] ● France, 2019
This is not one of the best versions by Eddy, maybe because there are three singers who fight for attention (?) But the French musicians know how to play rock! You can also buy it with a DVD, and a DeLuxe numbered Edition in a box-set with 2-CDs, 3-LPs, DVD and Bluray.
MYSTIC EYES (Germany)
This group is already on the blog with Memphis, Tennessee.
Beat band from Regensburg; active in the late ‘60s but reunited in 1997.
Around And Around ( : ) 1998 (live)
CD: Back To The ‘60s [GVR Records CD-005] ● Germany, 1998
Album recorded live at The Star Club in Hamburg.
CD: Flashback [GVR Records CD-006] ● Germany, 2001
TRACY NELSON (USA)
Singer, songwriter, born December 1944 in Madison, Wisconsin. She sings blues, r&b and country. She fronted the US rock band Mother Earth from 1967 to mid ‘70s. She’s recorded around 20 solo albums since her start in 1965.
Brown Eyed Handsome Man (2:25) 2023
CD: Life Don’t Miss Nobody [BMG – 538870092] ● USA, 2023
A little slower, laid back good version. Featuring Marcia Ball, Irma Thomas, Reba Russell, and Dianne Davidson.
The album also features people like Willie “I sing with everybody” Nelson and Charlie Musselwhite. Voted Best Tradional Blues Album 2023. This is Tracy’s own Great American Songbook. Featuring songs from the likes of Hank Williams, Willie Dixon, Allen Toussaint, Doc Pomus, Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Stephen Foster, Berry… The title song is a brand-new own composition.
Tracy: I haven’t made a record in over 10 years. I’ve been wanting to do every one of these songs for a really long time.
DOUG PARKINSON (Australia)
Douglas John Parkinson, born 1946, died 2021. Pop and rock singer, songwriter. Besides being a solo performer he has also been involved in several bands since the mid ‘60s. He had a powerful voice.
Reelin’ And Rockin’ ( : ) 2010
Sweet Little Sixteen (as “Sweet Little 16”] ( : ) 2010
CD: Not Fade Away – ‘50s Rock [Roy Boy Records RBR-4000] ● Australia, 2010
PETER ROSS OLIVER (Three’s Company) (UK)
Don’t know much, there’s three guys, Peter, Ross and Oliver who got together around 1966. It seems like Peter is a singer and guitarist (maybe bass?), Ross is also a singer and guitar player and Oliver plays the drums. They have at least three albums out, two in 1968 and one in 1969, and one EP in 1968.
Sweet Little Sixteen ( : ) 1968
LP: A Portrait Of Peter, Ross & Oliver [P.R.O. Records PRO-103] ● UK, 1968
POLICE (UK)
Very famous pop/rock band from London, active between 1977 to 1984 and back again from 2007-2008. Led by bassplayer and singer, songwriter Gordon Sumner aka Sting, who by the way has its own career.
Rock And Roll Music (1:55) 1983
4-CD: Synchronicity [A&M Records 554 192-1] ● UK, 2024
This is a reissue of a single album which came out originally in 1983. Very special slow version where the music is focused on the bass playing. Previously unissued. Not sure exactly about 1983, it could well be 1982 or 1984. Don’t have the actual album set.
PROF. WASHBOARD & DR. HARMONICA (USA)
Prof. Washboard = Scott Alexander from Arkansas. Dr. Harmonica = Lance Wakely from Chicago.
Maybellene (2:38) in a medley with “Shake Rattle And Roll” (4:18) late 1970s (live)
LP: Prof. Washboard & Dr. Harmonica [Sartory 1] ● USA, late 1970s
Recorded live at Venice Beach, Los Angeles. There’s a 30 seconds introduction to the medley were he speaks of Berry’s influence on American music both musically and as a poet. And I bet you’ve never heard an acoustic version were the two solos are harmonica and washboard respectively.
RAAM (Ecuador)
Heavy metal/hard rock band (quintet) from Cuenca, Azuay, founded in 2012.
Johnny B. Goode (2:39) 2012-2015
MC/Flac: The Raam Rock’n’Roll Blues Tribute Vol.1 [Steel Hammer Records self-released)] ● Ecuador, 2016
“The Garage Rehearsals 2012-2015”. 5 tracks. Available on Bandcamp 20 June 2016.
School Day (2:27) 2012-2015
MC/Flac: The Raam Rock’n’Roll Blues Tribute Vol.2 [Steel Hammer Records self-released] ● Ecuador, 2016
“The Garage Rehearsals 2012-2015”. 5 tracks. Available on Bandcamp 27 November 2016.
JIM REEVES (USA)
See June Carter.
STEVE RIGO (USA)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist from Ilion, a village in Herkimer County, New York, located in the Mohawk Valley region.
Carol ( : ) 2023
CD: Surf And Turf [Steve Rigo self released] ● USA, 2024
ROCK HOTEL (Estonia)
Rock quintet formed in 1978.
Anthony Boy (as “Mängudemaa”) (2:50) 1987
LP: Ansambel “Rock Hotel” [Melodija C60 24421 009] ● Estonia,1987
Pretty good rockin’ version, and there aren’t many. This is actually (so far) the third cover version found.
MICHAEL SCHENKER (West Germany)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist, born 1955 in Sarstedt. He’s been a member of the Scorpions in the early ‘70s, and UFO later on in the ‘70s. In the ‘80s and up have had his own group The Michael Schenker Group (MSG). But has been in and out of UFO several times. Trivia: the album below was a product of recording by Father Schenker and administration by Mother Schenker, a solid Schenker family product.
Bye Bye Johnny (2:56) 1966 (live)
Oh Baby Doll [as “Baby Doll”] (1:46) 1966 (live)
CD: “Live” At Age 11 With The Enervates [Positive Energy Records POS-148CD2] ● USA, 1996
Recorded live 13 September, 1966 at Beat Club Elze. The Enervates were Norbert, Rolf, Achim and Michael. They all do turns in singing, Michael on Bye Bye Johnny and Norbert on Oh Baby Doll. I haven’t been able to listen to this so can’t comment. However, there are source comments to each song, and in 1966 they got Bye Bye Johnny from The Rattles and Oh Baby Doll from The Pretty Things who both had done covers at the time of these Berry songs.
SUGAR TRADITION (USA)
Psychedelic blues/rock quartet from Detroit, Michigan formed in 2017.
Come On (1:54) 2023
12” 45: More Sugar [Feel It Records FEEL IT-115] ● USA, 2023
They have followed the Stones version but with much more noise. 6 tracks.
SUNDOWNERS (USA)
Garage/beat quintet from Lake George, New York. In the ‘60s they had 6 singles out, 4 on Decca. Also one album on Decca in 1969.
Around And Around (2:13) 1965
45: Coed CO-603 ● USA, 1965
Think about it. This just happened to turn up on 24 September 2024 when searching the net. We are talking almost 60 years and I didn’t know about this, and nobody told me either. So how does it sounds? Well like most of the ‘60s beat versions, a little messy and the guitar player was no rock’n’roller.
MASAYOSHI TAKANAKA (Japan)
Rock guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer. Collaborated with various bands in the early ‘70s and also worked as a studio musician. He released his first solo album ”Seychelles” in 1976. Has recorded many albums since then. Is also known for his flashy guitars. Lagoon Records is/was his own label.
Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 2013
CD: Takanaka Sings [Lagoon Records LAG-0014] ● Japan, 2013
Friday, July 5. 2024
CBID - 6034 cover versions of Chuck Berry songs
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: It's time to update the summary pages of CBID which showed the number of artists who covered a certain Chuck Berry song as well as the top list of Berry songs most often covered.
As of May 2024, Morten Reff's counting results in this top list of Berry songs covered. Included are only those cover versions which have been released on Vinyl or CD to the public more than one hundred times. Other recordings such as those from live performances, TV shows, bootlegs or Berry's multiple own recordings do not count in this regard.
Rank | Chuck Berry Song | Cover Versions Count |
|---|---|---|
1. | JOHNNY B. GOODE | 814 |
2. | MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE | 536 |
3. | ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN | 438 |
4. | SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN | 317 |
5. | MAYBELLENE | 273 |
6. | YOU NEVER CAN TELL | 268 |
7. | RUN RUDOLPH RUN | 248 |
8. | ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC | 243 |
9. | PROMISED LAND | 220 |
10. | LITTLE QUEENIE | 157 |
11. | NADINE | 156 |
12. | TOO MUCH MONKEY BUSINESS | 150 |
13. | CAROL | 148 |
14. | NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO | 145 |
15. | THIRTY DAYS | 143 |
16. | BYE BYE JOHNNY | 142 |
17. | AROUND AND AROUND | 141 |
18. | SCHOOL DAY | 133 |
19. | BROWN EYED HANDSOME MAN | 126 |
20. | LET IT ROCK | 122 |
21. | I’M TALKING ABOUT YOU | 116 |
22. | REELIN’ AND ROCKIN’ | 109 |
In comparison with page 1030 in Vol. 3 of the Chuck Berry International Directory (2012), except for #1 - #6 who are still at the top with the highest numbers of covers there are several changes to the rest of the above list. “Run Rudolph Run” especially! “Let It Rock” and “Reelin’ And Rockin’“ are new entries.
“I’m Talking About You” didn’t have that many covers at the time of publishing Vol. 3 in 2012, but it was included back then as 20 song titles sounded better than 19 (!).
Lesser known Chuck Berry songs, even the most obscure ones have been covered as well. Here is the complete list as of May 2024 which once again proves the importance of Chuck Berry’s lyrics and melodies to the evolution of pop and rock music throughout the decades.
'Run Rudolph Run' (Marvin Brodie-Johnny Marks), 'Too Pooped To Pop' (Billy Davis) and “Mad Lad” (Billy Davis) are included in this survey because they are Berry originals, even though they were not written by him (at least, that's what the composer credits say). Conversely, although Berry's versions of 'I Got To Find My Baby' (1960) and 'Too Late' (1975) were both credited to him, they were actually covers of originals by Little Walter and Jimmy Wakely respectively. In addition there’s a lot more cover versions of 'My Ding-A-Ling', but this is not an original song by Berry in the first place. Written by Dave Bartholomew and recorded by him in 1952, although Berry changed some of the lyrics and added new ones.
Song title | original year | no. of artists | no. of covers |
|---|---|---|---|
ALL ABOARD | 1961 | 8 | 8 |
ALMOST GROWN | 1959 | 46 | 58 |
ANTHONY BOY | 1958 | 2 | 2 |
AROUND AND AROUND | 1958 | 116 | 141 |
BACK IN THE USA | 1959 | 76 | 79 |
BACK TO MEMPHIS | 1967 | 15 | 18 |
BEAUTIFUL DELILAH | 1958 | 41 | 44 |
BETTY JEAN | 1959 | 10 | 10 |
BLUE FEELING (instr) | 1957 | 2 | 2 |
BLUES FOR HAWAIIANS (instr) | 1958 | 1 | 1 |
BROKEN ARROW | 1959 | 2 | 2 |
BROWN EYED HANDSOME MAN | 1956 | 115 | 126 |
BYE BYE JOHNNY | 1960 | 120 | 142 |
CAROL | 1958 | 125 | 148 |
CHILDHOOD SWEETHEART | 1959 | 2 | 3 |
CHRISTMAS | 1970 | 1 | 1 |
CLUB NITTY GRITTY | 1966 | 2 | 2 |
COME ON | 1961 | 35 | 36 |
COUNTY LINE | 1959 | 3 | 3 |
DARLIN’ | 1994 | 1 | 1 |
DEAR DAD | 1964 | 17 | 18 |
DEEP FEELING (instr) | 1957 | 5 | 5 |
DOWN BOUND TRAIN | 1955 | 23 | 26 |
DRIFTING HEART | 1956 | 3 | 3 |
FORTY DAYS (see THIRTY DAYS) | |||
GO, GO, GO | 1961 | 4 | 4 |
GO BOBBY SOXER | 1964 | 2 | 2 |
GOOD LOOKING WOMAN | 1969 | 1 | 1 |
GUITAR BOOGIE (instr) | 1957 | 17 | 18 |
HAVANA MOON | 1956 | 28 | 29 |
HAVE MERCY JUDGE | 1969 | 1 | 1 |
HELLO LITTLE GIRL, GOODBYE | 1973 | 1 | 1 |
HOW YOU’VE CHANGED | 1957 | 4 | 4 |
IF I WERE | 1979 | 1 | 1 |
I GOT A BOOKING | 1965 | 2 | 2 |
I LOVE YOU | 1972 | 1 | 1 |
I’M A ROCKER | 1970 | 6 | 18 |
I’M TALKING ABOUT YOU | 1961 | 102 | 116 |
I STILL GOT THE BLUES | 1961 | 1 | 1 |
IT DON’T TAKE BUT A FEW MINUTES | 1958 | 11 | 11 |
IT’S MY OWN BUSINESS | 1965 | 14 | 14 |
IT WASN’T ME | 1965 | 8 | 11 |
I'VE CHANGED | 1958 | 1 | 1 |
I WANT TO BE YOUR DRIVER | 1964 | 17 | 17 |
JAGUAR AND THE THUNDERBIRD | 1960 | 14 | 14 |
JO JO GUNNE | 1958 | 4 | 4 |
JOHNNY B. GOODE | 1957 | 697 | 814 |
LA JUANDA | 1957 | 2 | 2 |
LET IT ROCK | 1959 | 100 | 122 |
LITTLE MARIE | 1964 | 3 | 3 |
LITTLE QUEENIE | 1958 | 141 | 157 |
LOUIE TO FRISCO | 1968 | 3 | 3 |
MA DEAR | 1968 | 2 | 2 |
MAD LAD (instr) | 1960 | 1 | 1 |
MAN AND THE DONKEY | 1961 | 3 | 3 |
MAYBELLENE | 1955 | 242 | 273 |
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE | 1958 | 484 | 536 |
MOVE IT | 1979 | 2 | 2 |
MY DING-A-LING | 1972 | 29 | 30 |
MY LITTLE LOVE LIGHT | 1965 | 3 | 3 |
MY MUSTANG FORD | 1965 | 3 | 4 |
NADINE | 1963 | 149 | 156 |
NO MONEY DOWN | 1955 | 60 | 65 |
NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO | 1964 | 126 | 145 |
OH BABY DOLL | 1957 | 14 | 16 |
OH LOUISIANA | 1957 | 1 | 1 |
OH WHAT A THRILL | 1979 | 12 | 13 |
OH YEAH | 1958 | 1 | 1 |
OUR LITTLE RENDEZVOUS | 1960 | 6 | 6 |
PROMISED LAND | 1964 | 170 | 220 |
RAMONA SAY YES | 1966 | 3 | 3 |
REELIN’ AND ROCKIN’ | 1957 | 101 | 109 |
ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC | 1957 | 228 | 243 |
ROCK AT THE PHILARMONIC (instr) | 1957 | 3 | 4 |
ROLL OVER BEETHOVEN | 1956 | 376 | 438 |
RUN RUDOLPH RUN | 1958 | 242 | 248 |
SCHOOL DAY | 1957 | 115 | 133 |
SOUL ROCKIN’ | 1967 | 1 | 2 |
STOP AND LISTEN | 1960 | 2 | 2 |
SWEET LITTLE ROCK AND ROLLER | 1958 | 71 | 80 |
SWEET LITTLE SIXTEEN | 1958 | 282 | 317 |
THE LITTLE GIRL FROM CENTRAL | 1963 | 1 | 1 |
THIRTEEN QUESTION METHOD | 1958 | 12 | 12 |
THIRTY DAYS | 1955 | 128 | 143 |
TOGETHER (WE’LL ALWAYS BE) | 1955 | 1 | 1 |
TOO MUCH MONKEY BUSINESS | 1956 | 131 | 150 |
TOO POOPED TO POP | 1959 | 2 | 2 |
TRICK OR TREAT | 1961 | 1 | 1 |
TULANE | 1969 | 22 | 25 |
VACATION TIME | 1958 | 3 | 3 |
VIVA, VIVA ROCK & ROLL | 1966 | 4 | 4 |
WEE WEE HOURS | 1955 | 53 | 56 |
WHY SHOULD WE END THIS WAY | 1965 | 1 | 1 |
WUDEN’T ME | 1979 | 1 | 1 |
YOU CAN’T CATCH ME | 1956 | 59 | 61 |
YOU NEVER CAN TELL | 1964 | 255 | 268 |
YOU TWO | 1960 | 1 | 1 |
Comparing this report to the same list of covers on pages 1635 to 1675 (Vol. 4) plus the additions on pages 2074-2085 and of course all the CBID Updates on this blog, there are 11 new Berry titles added to this survey. Which mean that a total of 96 titles have been recorded by various artists and groups. A total number of 6034 versions! And if you look at page 1675 you will see that in 2013 we had just 4556 versions, which means the total number has increased by some 1500 versions. Pretty amazing!
For those readers who don’t want to search the complete Volumes 3 and 4 as well as the updates in this site's blog for a specific cover version, we provide here a PDF file containing an update to the corresponding chapter in the book. It lists all the artists and recording dates which make up for the No. of Artists column in the table above. For more details about the corresponding album such as label and release date, read the books and the updates on this site's blog.
As mentioned so many times before, this survey of Berry covers will never be completed in full since his catalog is always interesting for various artists without regard to musical genre. And also there will be covers that we still don’t know about.
Monday, June 10. 2024
CBID - The Never Ending Story - pt. 9
CBID is never complete as new records and CDs appear and some old rarities are discovered. This section presents interesting additions and corrections to CBID.
Today: This is the ninth and ultimate post in our list of newly found cover versions.
First I have to give prominence to Bjørn Knudsen of Norway for all the work he’s done of finding Berry covers in the most unusual places. He has been of invaluable assistance.
A US singer, songwriter and guitarist James McMurtry has a song titled “Choctaw Bingo” (2002), you can listen on You Tube, which sounds like an extraordinary long slower version of You Can’t Catch Me, with new lyrics, clocking in at 8:47. It’s a selfpenned song but the verses are sung exactly like Berry’s. (Thanks to Fred Rothwell.)
Here’s a “new” Berry tribute as follows:
LEGACASTER (Spain)
Rockabilly trio consisting of El Lega (vocals, guitar), Daniel Nunes (ac. Bass), Berto Martinez (drums). Album below recorded at Kathrina Studio (Lliça d'Amunt Barcelona) October 2016.
Big Berry (Boss Man Guitar) (1:48) (Drake-Stokes) 2016
45 EP: Big Berry [Kathrina Records KRMNLP-002] ● Spain , 2017
CD: Big Berry [Kathrina Records KRLPCD-007] ● Spain, 2017
There’s a video on You Tube of this tribute. The EP has 6 tracks, the CD has a bonus track “Monkey’s Uncle” (Ray Sharpe).
The above Tribute is actually a cover of a song that was originally recorded and released in 1963 by Big Daddy G on Hyland Records. You will find this on the newly released compilation album “The Chuck Berry Sound” on Atomicat Records ACCD-162. (Thanks to Fred Rothwell.)
And here we go with our "new" Berry covers:
BUSTER SHUFFLE (UK)
Ska punk band from London.
You Never Can Tell (2:05) 2013
CD single: Century Media Records ● UK, 2013 (PS)
Very ordinary rendition in the way they are singing but it rocks all right.
THE OTHER HALF (USA)
Garage rock quintet from Pottstown, Philadelphia according to Secondhandsongs.. They were active in about two years 1965-67. Life as a Berry cover enthusiast is pretty tough. Searching for The Other Half shows a group from San Francisco that usually pops up which was active in the mid to late ‘60s. And to make things even harder, there was a group from Chicago by the same name at about the same period of time.
Carol (2:25) 1966
I’m Talking About You [as “Talkin’ ‘Bout You”] (2:35) 1966
LP: The Other Half [7/2 Records HS-1 2] ● USA, 1966
1313 MOCKINGBIRD LANE (USA)
1989-1996 garage, punk band from Albany, New York. They released several 45s and two albums.
Bye Bye Johnny (2:51) 1990s
LP/CD: Unfinished Business (The Toilet Tapes) [Cacophone Records CALP/CACD-2030] ● USA, 2020
13 tracks previously unissued. Noisy rock music but with a good drive.
CATFISH JOHN TISDELL (USA)
Blues, folk-rock singer, songwriter, guitarist, harmonica player from Idaho. He has since the early ‘70s performed solo or in various bands. If you check out his catalogue on Bandcamp you’ll be surprised how many digital albums he has !!! You can’t ignore a man who’s so dedicated to his work and music.
No Money Down (3:58) 2009
Digital: Honky Tonk Blues [Catfish John ] ● USA, 2009
Digital: Workin’ Overtime [Catfish John ] ● USA, 2017
Digital single: No Money Down [Catfish John ] ● USA, 2018
Catfish John (vocals, guitar), Rick Martinelli (bass), Steve Wright (drums). A pretty good version. If I couldn’t have listened to this track I would have assumed they were different versions from different years.
Rock And Roll Music (3:29) 2016
Digital: Better Get It While You Can [Catfish John ] ● USA, 2016
Catfish John (vocals, guitar, harmonica), Dave Stang (lead guitar).
TRACY (Taiwan)
See TRACY HUANG
TRIMBLE TONES (Canada)
5 guys whose inspiratiom must have been the American golden age of popular music from the ‘50s and ‘60s. I saw the expression Old Time Band.
Johnny B. Goode (2:23) 1974
LP: Take 30 With The Trimble Tones [Soundaround International SSE-7425] ● Canada, 1974
They have a smooth sound as some of the American groups like the Four Freshmen, and I enjoyed this version because it’s different but a little boring. The album itself has too much polka and accordion.
Memphis, Tennesee [as “Memphis”] (2:15) 1976
LP: Whole Lotta Shakin’ [Soundaround SSE-7615] ● Canada, 1976
The LP title should indicate that this is a rock’n’roll album, however, it’s not. Although they include the title, “Rock Around The Clock” and “Memphis”, but that’s about all.
TURBOSOS (South Korea)
I have tried to find information about this but without any luck. There are many albums on Bandcamp and all of them seem to have been released in the Spring of 2017. In case, a very productive gang. But the reason I have included them is the fact that they are pretty good in what they do. And very versatile and varied in musical taste. Maybe they are just some studio musicians/friends who have recorded a lot of various tunes and hey! let’s just put them out on various albums. Their album “Red Face” and several others feature pop/crooner tunes sounding like Nat King Cole. Very professional and extraordinary if you compare them to the more rockin’ uptempo albums below. Are we talking about the same guys or what???
Memphis, Tennessee [as “Tennessee”] (2:33) 2017
Roll Over Beethoven (2:49) 2017
Digital: Music Ogg [Self-released ] ● South Korea, 2017
Released March 2017. These guys are quite good.
Sweet Little Sixteen (3:07) 2017
Digital: Tried Now [Self-released ] ● South Korea, 2017
Also released March 2017. Again a solid version.
TUULA-HELENA (Finland)
Tuula Helena Hooli, pop/country singer, born in Keuruu. Mainly active in the 1970s and ‘80s.
You Never Can Tell [as “C’est La Vie Sanoi Vaari” ( : ) 1982
CD: Uusilla Urilla – I Nya Spår [CWC Records CWC-1005] ● Sweden, 1982
TWANG (Germany)
Rock’n’roll, Americana, country, TexMex quintet from Braunschweig. Founded in 1998. They have released many singles, EPs and albums since 1999, even 3 Xmas ones including the one below.
Run Rudolph Run (2:19) 2019
CD: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly Presents [Countryfied Records (Riptide) no cat no] ● Germany, 2019
It runs too fast and loses the soul of the song.
On the album “Ten Yeeehaws After” from 2008 they do a song by Baccara, “Yes Sir, I Can Boogie”, where they actually used the melody of Chuck’s “You Never Can Tell” throughout. To be quite honest it sounds like Berry’s with new lyrics. Maybe Berry is co-credited?
BOBBY TYLER (USA)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist from St. Louis. Country, rock’n’roll and rockabilly. Named “The Rocker” by Chuck Berry.
Johnny B. Goode (2:40) 2020
CD: Lonesome Ride [BT self-released] ● USA, 2020
Recorded at Graveless Studos, St. Louis, Mo., engineered, mixed and mastered by Michael Girard. Also available as digital for downloading. He’s also done “Rock’n’Roll Christmas” (Digital December 2023 on Bandcamp), the Berry soundalike from George Thorogood (see page 1903 Vol.4).
TYMON & THE TRANSISTORS (Poland)
Rock band led by Tymona Tymańskiego, founded in 2002.
Memphis, Tennessee (2:24) 2014 feat. Wojciech Waglewski
CD: Rock’n’Roll [Agora SA 97 8832 68136 7 2] ● Poland, 2014
Waglewski’s English pronunciation is not the best, however, they have at least done their own version and still keeping the Memphis beat, sort of.
MARVELOUS WONDERETTES (USA)
See WINTER WONDERETTES
HANK RASCO (USA)
See Wasted Rangers
U.K. SUBS (UK)
Punk-rock group (quartet) from London. They started out around 1976 as The Subversives, then U.K. Subversives and becoming U.K. Subs. First album in 1979 and have released many, several of them live. Many changes in the line-up during the years, so on the album below the band consisted of Charlie Harper (vocals, harmonica), Darrell Barth (guitar), Flea (bass), Matthew McCoy (drums).
I’m Talking About You [as “Talking ‘Bout You”] (1:52) 1990
LP: Mad Cow Fever [Fallout Records FALL LP-048] ● UK, 1991
They also do a cover of “Route 66” which sounds like a punk variant of Berry/Stones.
See also CHARLIE HARPER
UNSPOKEN WORD (USA)
A prog rock quintet (4 guys and a girl) hailing from Long Island, New York. Formed in the late ‘60s. Angus MacMaster, Denise Puma, Gene Boris Stashuk, Greg Buis and Les Singer.
Around And Around (5:17) 1970
LP: The Unspoken Word [Atco Records SD-33 335] ● USA, 1970
This is different from anything else I’ve heard so far. Very psychedelic and unstructured with much organ and distorted guitars. It’s Denise Puma who’s doing the vocals on this unusual Berry cover, always interesting to hear a female interpretation. There’s not many.
STAN URBAN (Scotland/Denmark)
See Volume 3, page 1582 for biographical info.
Little Queenie (3:25) 2014 (live)
Digital: Live From Graceland Randers [Memphis Mansion ] ● Denmark, 2015
Recorded live with Stan and his el.piano. Randers is a town in Jylland, Denmark. The recording place is a house (museum) built like Graceland in Memphis.
VULTURE CULTURE (Germany)
Punk Rock quartet from Paderborn, formed in 1989. Two ladies and two men.
Maybellene ( : ) 1997
7” EP: Hypocrite! [Flight 13 FLI-047] ● Germany. 1997
I have heard “Country Roads” (John Denver) in a terrible speed-ed up version. So I can just imagine what Maybellene sounds like (?)
HANNAH WADDINGHAM (UK)
Stage actress and singer, born 1974 in Wandsworth, London. She also goes by the name of just Hannah. She possesses a powerful voice.
Run Rudolph Run (2:19) 2023 (live) feat. Sam Ryder
Digital album: Home For Christmas – Soundtrack From The Apple Original [Self-released 50 5944 91515 3 3] ● UK, 2023
Recorded live at the London Coliseum backed by a big band, and featuring Sam Ryder on vocals (duetting with Hannah) and guitar.
WAILIN’ WALKER & THE HOUSEROCKERS (Canada)
Al “Wailin” Walker, from Vancouver, British Columbia. Singer, guitarist who’s been around since the late ‘70s. Regarded as one of the finest blues/rock guitar players in Canada. 3 & 4 March 1981 they were the opening act for George Thorogood & The Destroyers at Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, two shows each night.
Tulane (2:59) 1978
LP: Rock It Day & Night [Jitterbug Records 00666JR] ● Canada, 1983
According to Bandcamp and other sites it says that this was released in 1978, however, on discogs the LP label says 1983. Maybe a reissue? Anyway, you’ll find several albums by Wailin’ Walker for downloading on Bandcamp.
CLIFF WARD & THE CRUISERS (UK)
They were a ‘60s beat quintet. Clifford Thomas Ward from Stourport On Severn. Singer, songwriter, born 1955, died in 2001. As Clifford T. Ward he released his first album “Singer, songwriter” in 1972 and many others followed.
No Money Down (2:54) late ‘60s
2-CD: Path Through The Forest-The Secret World Of Clifford T. Ward 1964-71 [Wooden Hill WHCD-028] ● USA, 2009
This is a compilation CD-set of 57 tracks, containing recordings by Clifford T. Ward, Cliff Ward & The Cruisers, The Secrets, Simon’s Secrets, and Martin Raynor & The Secrets.
WASTED RANGERS (USA)
Country-rock group from Vancouver, Washington, fronted by singer and pianoplayer Hank Rasco.
Johnny B. Goode (4:19) 1978 (live)
Maybellene (5:22) 1978 (live)
2-LP: The Wasted Rangers [Wasted Rangers Self-released ] ● USA, 1978
Recorded live at The Last Hurrah in Portland, Oregon, 23 December, 1978. Album probably sold at gigs.
Reissued on CD in March 2021, again self-released. On bandcamp it says it was recorded live in 1977, but on the actual record it says it was recorded 23 December 1978, and released in 1978 (?) Something is wrong here…
Promised Land (2:48) 1976 as Hank Rasco & The Wasted Rangers
CD: Wasted: Dead Or Alive [Wasted Rangers Self-released ] ● USA, 2021
Released 6 March 2021 on Bandcamp.
WEIGHT WATCHERS (Italy)
Rock band, but actually I haven’t the slightest idea. The label Mellow Records was located in Piacenza, Italy.
Maybellene [as “Mabellene”] (1:55) 1995
Reelin’ and Rockin’ (3:09) 1995
Sweet Little Sixteen (00:29) 1995
Too Much Monkey Business (2:58) 1995
CD: Rock’n’Roll [Mellow Records MMFS-1004] ● Italy, 1995
Regarding “Sweet Little Sixteen”, it is the last track on the album and sounds like they have had too much jungle soda or whatever. It’s just a total mess. On the back sleeve it says: all songs were recorded live, but on the bandcamp site it says it was a studio album. Anyway, was released for downloading 26 April 2018.
RICK WETZEL’S GROOVIN’ HIGHER (USA)
Trumpet player who grew up in Garden Grove, California. He’s played and arranged for artists like The O’Jays, The Temptations, The Four Tops and more. Also a contractor for horn and string sections for national and international acts and various star shows.
Johnny B. Goode [as “Johnny Be Good”] (3:40) 2018
CD: Rockin It [Groovin’ High Records no cat no] ● USA, 2018
A solid rendition, with a good horn section and an excellent bass player. It’s a vocal version but I don’t know for sure who’s singing as nothing is mentioned, but should we indicate Rick himself(?)
WHISKY HOLLOW (Canada)
Country rock band founded in 1974. Very popular band. They released 3 albums and several singles many of them charted.
Promised Land (2:36) 1976
LP: Population 4 [Rowdy Records RMR-104] ● Canada, 1976
45: Shotgun Records SGR-711 ● Canada, 1978
LP: Lively Country [Shotgun Records SGR-717] ● Canada, 1979
WHISTLE BAIT (Finland)
Rock’n’roll/rockabilly sextet from Hamina. Formed back in 1984. Their first single came out in 1987, and several albums since 1990.
You Never Can Tell (2:58) 2008 (live)
CD: On Stage With Whistle Bait [Goofin’ Records GRCD-6151] ● Finland, 2008
A mini album (7 tracks), limited edition. The Berry cover sounds like everybody else’s.
TAM WHITE & THE DEXTERS (Scotland)
Thomas Bennett Sim White. Blues and jazz singer, guitarist and actor. Born 1942 in Edinburgh, died 2010. In 1968 he released singles on Decca and later on Deram, Astor and RAK. His first album came in 1970.
Roll Over Beethoven (3:20) 1985 (live)
LP: Tonite! Live At The Preservation Hall [SRT Records KCLP-001] ● UK, 1985
Album recorded 28 and 29 April 1985 in the Preservaion Hall, Victoria Street, Edinburgh. Featuring guitarist Jim Condie. A soul/rhythm & blues version with a big horn section. Also available on Bandcamp as digital 23 July 2022.
JOHNNY WILD AND THE DELIGHTS (USA)
From Orlando, Florida. It’s a seven piece band, four men and three ladies. So far I have seen three albums.
Johnny B. Goode (2:46) 2016
CD: One Night With You [Chesterwick Recording EPA-4237] ● USA, 2016
Pretty tough and goode rockin’ version.
MANOS WILD (Greece)
Rockabilly/country/pop singer, songwriter. He started his career in the rockabilly band Breathless in Thessaloniki in 2006. If you go to Bandcamp and search for this guy you wouldn’t believe how many “albums” and “singles” he has out !!!
Maybellene (2:45) 2021
CD: Rockin’ Days [Self-released ] ● Greece, 2021
Thirty Days [as “Forty Days”] ( : ) 2023
CD: A Session For Everyone [Rebel Music Records RM-5034] ● Germany, 2023
MARTY WILDE (UK)
Reginald Leonard Smith. He was one of the English rockers that really had hits and popularity. Besides hitting with a string of American covers, he did chart with an original song “Bad Boy” in 1959/60. In addition to all the singles, he‘s released many albums and his latest came in 2020, “Running Together”. He’s the father of Kim Wilde, Ricky Wilde and Roxanne Wilde.
Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 1996
CD: It’s Been Nice [Select Records SRCD-02] ● UK, 1996
I have always wondered why Marty has never appeared in this survey before. Strange that this album above slipped my attention? He often performed “Roll Over Beethoven” (YouTube) in his concerts, and also “Sweet Little Sixteen”.
MIKE WILLIAMS (USA)
Singer, pianist from New York State.
Johnny B. Goode (2:38) 1981
Roll Over Beethoven (3:08) 1981
LP: Pleasing You [Trackdown Records RR-42581] ● USA, 1981
Recorded at Trackdown Recording Studios, Glens Falls, N.Y. However, both sound like it was done in a living room, very amateurish and simple.
RANDY WILLIAMS, GEOLOGIST (Canada)
Randy Bruce Williams from Edmonton, a multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter, producer, painter you name it. Has released a lot of albums and singles for downloading.
Memphis, Tennessee (4:27) 2003 (?)
Sweet Little Sixteen (6:35) 2003 (?)
CD: Rare Antiquity – Digging Down To The Past [Archaeology Communications Canada CD-41745 2 3] ● Canada, 2009
This I was about to forget completely. Sorry to say but he can’t sing and Sweet Little Sixteen is particularly bad. He’s off key most of the time. And 6 minutes? On YouTube it says 2003 not 2009 as on SecondHandSongs, and produced by Williams, but I have not made time to check any further. Do I have to?
WINTER WONDERETTES (USA)
A musical called The Marvellous Wonderettes that performs pop songs from the ‘50s and ‘60s used as a vehicle paying homage to the high school songleader squads of the ‘50s. The first musical opened in Milwaukee in 1999. It was revived in 2001, and then to Los Angeles in 2006, the first Off Broadway play was in 2008 and a revival in 2016. Different actors. It even got a UK premiere in 2019.
The album below is a variation of the group doing Christmas songs, therefore calling themselves Winter Wonderettes.
Run Rudolph Run (2:13) 2010
CD: Original Studio Cast Recording [LML Music CD-255] ● USA, 2010
This sounds a little tame, maybe since it’s reflected more to the female teenagers of the late ‘50s and early ‘60s.
WITNESSES (USA)
Punk-rock band (quartet), and the version below is a little bit too much although I have heard worse.
Run Rudolph Run (2:53) 2002
Various CD: The Night Before [Rich & Sexy Inc. RSI-001] ● USA, 2002
Subheading: A New York Christmas: Past, Post, Punk, Present & Future.
BERNIE WOODS & THE FOREST FIRES (UK)
See Volume 3, page 1613 for biographical info.
Sweet Little Sixteen ( : ) 2014
CD: Bernie Woods & The Forest Fires [Foot Tapping Records FT-143] ● UK, 2014
SHÕJI YOKOUCHI And The Beat Beat Beat (Japan)
Jazz guitar player, arranger, composer. Born 1933, died 1996. Released many albums, the first in 1962.
Rock And Roll Music ( : ) 1965 (instr)
LP: Let’s Go Guitar Beat [Polydor SLJM-1178] ● Japan, 1965
ZLATNI AKORDI (Yugoslavia/Croatia)
Rock quintet from Zagreb who started out back in 1963 but had several changes in the line-up. The album below must have been a reunion, since the band only lasted until the mid ‘70s.
Johnny B. Goode (2:45) 1999
CD: Povratak Ruku [Croatia Records CD-5256625] ● Croatia, 1999
Recorded at J.M. Sound Studio in Zagreb late December 1998 and early January 1999. This really rocks!
Tuesday, June 4. 2024
CBID - The Never Ending Story - pt. 8
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're still continuing our list of newly found cover versions. You Never Can Tell how much covers are out there, e.g. of this tune.
WENDELL BRUNIOUS (USA)
Black jazz trumpet player and bandleader from New Orleans, born 1954. The Dave Donohoe Band: Teddy Fullick (trumpet), Dave Donohoe (Trombone), Frank Brooker (clarinet, saxophone), Malcolm Home (banjo, guitar), Tom Kincaid (piano), Jim Swinnerton (double bass), Bill Evans (drums).
You Never Can Tell (5:54) 2007 featuring The Dave Donohoe Band (UK)
CD: West End Blues [P.E.K. Sound PKCD-312] ● USA, 2007
Recorded live at the Keswick Festival, UK. Pretty unusual to include such a song, as most of his recordings are in the jazz field. Again I like it when people are doing their own versions in such a way. And almost 6 minutes! You can listen on You Tube. But nothing is mentioned who’s singing, Dave Donohoe? It reminded me a little of the fantastic live version Bruce Springsteen did in 2013 (You Tube), with the trumpet, sax and trombone solos.
LORNE DALEY (Canada)
Country singer, born 1948, from the Quyon-Pontiac area (Quebec), now living in Kanata.
You Never Can Tell (3:11) 2018
CD: Going With The Flow [Lorne Daley ] ● Canada, 2018
At the age of 70 he’s still got the punch.
FREDDY DELLA (France)
Born In Alger and moved to France in 1962.
You Never Can Tell (2:50) 2012
CD: Retour Aux Sources [Freddy Della ] ● France, 2012
DONALDZ (Sweden)
Danceband formed in 2018, a quintet, from Gislaved in Småland.
You Never Can Tell (3:10) 2020
CD: Spegelbild [Donaldz ] ● Sweden , 2020
Well, well, the English pronunciation is far from the best. And the music is pretty straight forward.
FRAMED (Sweden)
Danceband from Kungälv on the west coast just north of Gothenburg. A quintet, founded in 2008.
Johnny B. Goode (2:55) 2010
You Never Can Tell (2:39) 2010
CD: Varje Ögonblick [Atenzia Records ] ● Sweden, 2010
ADAM HALL & THE VELVET PLAYBOYS (Australia)
Singer and trumpeter from Perth. The band has played together since 2005. Mark Turner (guitar, saxophone, vocals), Tim Voutas (keyboards), Anthony Dodos (Trombone), Kane Shaw (bass), Bronton Ainsworth (drums). Their repertoire is rooted in the jazz and rhythm & blues music of the ‘40s and ‘50s.
You Never Can Tell (5:47) 2011 (live)
CD: When It’s Party Time Down South [Velvet Playboys VP-002] ● Australia, 2011
Recorded live 8 July 2011 at the Fly By Night Musicians Club in Fremantle. Five songs were included from the gig. The rest of the album contains seven studio recordings.
LASSE STEFANZ (Sweden)
See Volume 3, page 1308 for biographical info.
You Never Can Tell (3:37) 2022
2-CD: Världens Bästa [Mariann Records (WMS Sweden) 50541974 70707 ] ● Sweden, 2023
This is a little bit different from other danceband versions as it has a pretty tough guitar sound and really good piano.
It seems like it’s a compilation album but the Berry cover is a new recording.
GEORGE LEE JR. & THE CRAZED COWBOYS (USA)
Singer, multi-instrumentalist from St. Louis, Missouri in the country rock genre. In addition to George Lee on lead vocals, bass, piano and tambourine there are Bo “Fiddly” Chaldupek (fiddle), Paul “Lefty Z” Zahn (lead and rhythm guitars, organ, vocals), and Stuart “Crawdad” Heck (drums, vocals).
You Never Can Tell (3:07) 2001
CD: Damn! It Feels Good To Be A Cowboy [Crazed Cowboys Ent. 64412 2] ● USA, 2001
Pretty good traditional arrangement. Produced By Tom Lee.
SON LEWIS (USA)
He is already on this blog.
…and has released a lot of albums way back since 1974.
Too Much Monkey Business (3:28) 2016
CD: Talking With Ghosts [Silk City CD-2037] ● USA, 2016
Unusual country-blues version. Pretty cool stuff.
MOJO BLUES BAND (Austria)
See Volume 3, page 1371 for biographical info.
Promised Land (4:04) 2015 (live)
2-CD: 100% Approved – Live [Styx Records STYX CD-1085] ● Austria, 2017
Recorded at Metropol, Vienna, June 2015. You will find several performances on You Tube of the band doing this Berry classic.
MULE SKINNER BAND (Sweden)
Rock’n’roll/danceband from Karlskrona founded in 2014 by Gert Lengstrand. The band consists of former members of The Streaplers. So far they have released three albums.
You Never Can Tell (3:05) 2015
CD: Together Again [Athenzia Records ATZ-1531] ● Sweden, 2015
Okay version, however, the problem with many of the Swedish dancebands is that they are not the best in English pronunciation and the complete performance suffers from that.
Just for information as this cover was already listed before:
Go Go Go (2:32) 1965
CD: På Begäran [Mule Skinner self-released] ● Sweden, 2020
This is the original cover that The Streaplers did in 1965. (see pages 1538-1539). The Berry cover is a bonus track on the above CD.
NEIGHBOURS & FRIENDS (Denmark)
This is a collaboration of various Danish musicians, 11 to be exact.
You Never Can Tell (4:21) 2015
2-CD: Timernes Glas [Self released ] ● Denmark, 2016
Really good and swinging rendition. Recorded live at Velje Musikteater 16 November 2015. You also get a DVD at the same purchase. 26 tracks.
NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE (USA)
See Volume 3, pages 1388-1389 for biographical info.
School Day [as “School Days”] (3:28) 1973 (live)
2-CD: 3/17/73 S.U.N.Y. StonyBrook – StonyBrook, NY [Kufala Recordings KUF-0268] ● USA, 2007
Recorded at Stony Brook University.
You Never Can Tell (5:44) 1977 (live)
2-CD: Winterland San Francisco CA, 12/31/77 [Kufala Recordings KUF-0340] ● USA, 2009
OZONE HAZE (USA)
Rock band from Bagley, Minnesota. They performed in Minnesota and North and South Dakota in 1972 and 1973. However, I have been unable to pinpoint the recording date of this Berry cover. However, there are several videos of newer dates on You Tube by the band. They also do “Route 66” in the classic Berry/Stones way.
You Never Can Tell (3:26) 2019 (?)
Digital: You Tube video ● USA, 2019 (?)
I know this is not the way I prefer to include Berry covers, however, they have made a video of old black and white footages from the ‘50s and Berry’s performance on the 1965 Belgium TV show (he didn’t perform the song there). Strange but you never see the band itself (?)
AISHLING RAFFERTY (Ireland)
Country singer, born 2002. Her victory on the 2022 edition of TG4's long-running country music show GLÓR TÍRE saw Knockshegowna's Aishling become a household name on the Irish country music scene. She’s had several singles being popular on iTunes. The CD below was her debut album which took home the Big Tom Inspiration Award at the 10th Annual Hot Country TV Awards concert.
You Never Can Tell (C’est La Vie) (3:20) 2022
CD: Love Me When I’m Old [Self released ] ● Ireland, 2022
Sounds like most of the others, similar to Emmylou Harris. The Berry cover was also out as a single for downloading.
LOTTE RIISHOLT (Denmark)
Country/pop singer. She released four singles in the mid ‘70s and her first album came in 1977 titled “Lotte”. However, it took many years before releasing any new recording. In 2001 she had a single out and later more followed and also several albums.
You Never Can Tell (3:14) 2021
CD: Country With Love Vol.2 [LR Musik / Gateway Music ] ● Denmark, 2021
This is a little different as the fiddle and steel guitar are in focus, and backing vocals going wooh-wah-wah.
SCHOVANKY (Czech Republic)
Country group, formed 1971, consisting of 6 ladies plus guest singer Hana Lounová who is doing the vocals on the 1992 Berry cover. A popular group with several albums to their credit.
You Never Can Tell [as “C’est La Vie”] (3:14) 1992
CD: Schovanky [Studio Fontána CD-0009 2311] ● Czech Republic, 1992
Music-wise it’s quite good, but the Czech language sounds strange here.
Johnny B. Goode (2:08) 1990s
CD: Master Serie [Venkow Records 547 075-2] ● Czech Republic, 1999
A compilation album. Don’t know when this was recorded as nothing is mentioned on the cover.
They also have a DVD out (2012) featuring a version of “Johnny B. Goode”, recorded live in August 2011.
EVE SELIS (USA)
Country singer, songwriter. I found 11 albums by her since 1998.
Run Rudolph Run (3:10) 2012
CD: A Merry Little Christmas [Eve Selis self-released] ● USA, 2012
It rocks and she has a tough voice [YouTube]. In 1998 she released an album titled “Out On A Wire” on Stunt Records, containing a song called “Memphis” which turns out to be an original tune.
77s (USA)
Rock band from Sacramento, California. They have released many albums (and singles) since their LP debut in 1983.
Run Rudolph Run (3:10) 2001
CD: Happy Chrimbo! [Fools Of The World FOW-2001] ● USA, 2001
Good rockin’ version.
PHIL SEYMOR (USA)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist and drummer Philip Warren Seymor was born 1952 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma and died 1993 in Sherman Oaks, California. I spotted 2 albums and 8 singles during his lifetime but several albums (live and compilations) coming later. On his Archive Series Vol.5 album he is titled "The Prince Of Power Pop" (!)
I’m Talking About You (2:35) 1978
CD: The London And Los Angeles Unreleased Sessions [Sunset Blvd SBR-7902] ● USA, 2016
Phil Seymor Archive Series Vol. 4. Pretty good. Interesting that they extended the version with over 30 seconds as the usual timing is just under 2 minutes. This Berry number was produced in Los Angeles ’78.
SHAKEY JAKE (UK)
Rock quintet. There’s more than one out there who’s calling themselves Shakey Jake, so …
Tulane (2:58) 2017
Digital album: Demo – February 2017 [Self-released ] ● UK, 2017
The album contains 8 tracks of rock, soul and blues tunes. You can listen on Bandcamp.
SHIVERIN’ SHEIKS (Scotland)
Rock and roll/pop quartet from Glasgow.
Maybellene (2:17) 2013
CD: A Curious Case Of… [Holy Smoke Records ] ● UK, 2013
SILVER CADILLACS (Netherlands)
Quintet playing ‘60s music, mostly instrumentals.
Thirty Days [as “Forty Days”] (2:47) 2000 (live)
CD: First Gear [Caddy Records CRSC-7001] ● Netherlands, 2000
Recorded live in concert at Café Lombok, St. Agatha, Netherlands.
JOHN SINCLAIR (USA)
Singer, musician, poet, manager for the Detroit rock group MC5. Born 1941 in Flint, Michigan. Has released a lot of albums, solo and with various artists.
No Money Down (3:56) 2004
CD: No Money Down: Greatest Hits Vol.1 [Big Chief Records ] ● USA, 2005
Pretty good bluesy rock version and Chuck Berry even gets a namecheck at the end. I haven’t found this track on any other Sinclair releases. This album was made available for downloading 4 November 2020.
PETER SKANDERA & DAVE MAYBEE (New Zealand)
Multi-instrumentalists from Raglan. Kiwi musicians Skandera and Maybee playing delta-blues, swamp, gospel, country-blues all with slide, dobro, banjo, harp, acoustic and electric guitars.
Thirteen Question Method (3:51) 2023
Digital: Blue Grit & Rhyme [P&D Productions ] ● New Zealand, 2023
Recorded and produced by Peter Skandera and Dave Maybee at Kario Sound & Bridle Creek Studios, Raglan. Released June 2023. Very powerful acoustic folk-blues version. They surely made their own version of this Berry song.
SKIFFLE PARTY (Australia)
Floyd Thursby (lead vocals, ac.guitar), Adam Russo (el.guitar, washboard, vocals), Tom Flenady (ac.bass, vocals).
Maybellene (1:59) 2021
CD: Skiffle Party ! [Ang Fang Industries AFG-012] ● Australia, 2022
A true skiffle version. Recorded Sunday 5 December 2021 at Bungalow Business in Melbourne, released May 2022.
MARK T. SMALL (USA)
This is already on this blog, but I got to listen to the song and also found a little bit more info which I think is of importance.
Singer, songwriter, acoustic guitar blues performer. Award winning artist, Boston Blues Challenge 2016; Best acoustic Blues CD 2015 (“Smokin’ Blues”).
Maybellene (4:23) 2008 (live)
CD: Screamin’ & Cryin’ The Blues [Whaling City Sound WCS-043] ● USA, 2008
A winner! What a good acoustic version, almost a little guitar boogie (Arthur Smith) influence. This guy can play!
PAT SMILLIE BAND (USA)
Rock, blues, soul and funk singer, songwriter. Pat Smillie hails from Detroit. Influenced by people like Delbert McClinton, Mitch Ryder, Joe Cocker and such.
Back To Memphis (3:31) 2006
CD: Pat Smillie Band [Fat Bank Music FBM-1002] ● USA, 2006
Nice to see even another cover of this obscure Berry song.
SYLVIA SMIT (Netherlands)
Versatile singer in pop, country and even jazz from Volendam and based in Klazienaveen. She has released many singles on CD and digitally since 2012.
You Never Can Tell [as “C’est La Vie”] (3:05) 2013
Digital single: [Disclosure Music Productions ] ● Netherlands, 2014
Good big band version but her voice is pretty flat.
CHRIS SMITHER (USA)
See Volume 3, page 1514 for biographical info.
You Can’t Catch Me (4:25) 2011
CD/Digital EP: What I Learned In School [Signature Sounds – Self-released] ● USA, 2011
Six tracks. As usual with Mr. Smither the performance is excellent! Released November 2011. It’s available online and at Chris Smither concerts only.
SMYLE (Canada)
Psychedelic rock band (quartet) from Burlington, Ontario, formed in 1967 as The Smile.
Maybellene (2:29) 1971
LP: Smyle [Columbia ES-90017] ● Canada, 1971
Don’t know why, but the opening and ending are exactly like Lonnie Mack’s Memphis, unnecessary if you ask me.
SO MUCH FACE (USA)
This is Tom Bone Jenkins through his many incarnations. Chocolate Wolf Music is his own company (BMI). Has many albums on Bandcamp, especially live compilations. (I must say they come up with some unusual names for themselves!)
You Can’t Catch Me (4:30) 2015 (live)
Digital: Live At Tuxedo Junction Inn 5/9/15 [Chocolate Wolf Music ] ● USA, 2015
Pretty cool and long version.
SOCIAL DISTORTION (USA)
Hardcore punk rock band formed 1978 in Fullerton, California.
Maybellene (2:19) 2007
Digital: Greatest Hits [Time Bomb Recordings 23736 1 7] ● USA, 2007
The above is the digital version for downloading (iTunes), however, the actual CD version does not include this Berry cover.
SOLITUDE (Austria)
Rock band from Hollabrunn, Lower Austria.
Johnny B. Goode (3:43) 2001 (live)
CD: Live Unplugged [Shiny Records CD-811036] ● Austria, 2001
Recorded live at Café Kino, Bisamberg.
RAY SOLO (Australia)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist from Toowoomba. A semi-retired professional musician. He’s into the rock’n’roll, blues, jazz and country fields. He has good help from his son William on guitar.
Johnny B. Goode (2:47) 2023
Memphis, Tennessee [as “Memphis”] (2:45) 2023
Digital album: Rock-Or Else! [Self-released ] ● Australia, 2023
Released 1 May 2023. He also does a version of “Route 66” in the Stones/Berry way.
SOMETHING ELSE (France)
Rock’n’roll singer Ervin Travis, also released records under the name Ervin Travis & The Virginians. Heavily influenced by Gene Vincent.
You Never Can Tell (2:56) 2013
CD: The Best Of ‘50s Rock‘n’Roll [King Cake Production KG SE-001 1]
SONS OF THE DELTA (UK)
Duo formed by South-Western UK bluesmen Mark Cole (vocals, slide guitar, harp) and Rick Edwards (guitar, vocals). Sometimes expanded to a quartet, adding bass and drums. Both Mark & Rick have a long history in the English music business.
Thirteen Question Method (5:39) 2016 (live)
CD: Red Hot At Peppers [SOTD self-released ] ● UK, 2016
Recorded live at Peppers Café during the Gloucester Blues Festival 2015. Released 31 July 2016. Authentic acoustic delta blues.
SÖRCERESS (Colombia)
Heavy rock band from Antioquia.
Maybellene (A Tribute To Chuck Berry) (3:34) 2020
Digital single: Maybellene [Self-released] ● Colombia, 2020
Released 26 July 2020. I appreciate all tributes to Berry, but this is a little too fast and noisy. Although they are just covering the song It’s good that they wanted it to be a tribute to Berry and they also made a pretty nice sleeve for it. Check it out on Bandcamp.
MILENA SOUKUPOVÁ Se Skupinou Pony Express (Czech Republic)
Country vocalist, born 1951.
You Never Can Tell [as “Serioznost Není Tvůj Styl”] (2:42) 1993
CD: Mám Skvělej Den [Duna Records DN-0208 2 311] ● Czech Republic, 1993
SPIDERS (Japan)
See Volume 3, page 1527 for biographical info.
Carol / Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 1970
LP: Rock’n’Roll Renaissance [Philips FS-8100] ● Japan, 1970
JIMMY STALLINGS (USA) aka J.J. LIGHT
From Albuquerque, New Mexico. He played bass in The Sir Douglas Quintet. Had a successful single with “Heya” in 1969 as J. J. Light.
Johnny B. Goode (4:10) 2020
CD: Sings Oldies But Goodies Million Sellers [SRK Records unknow cat no] ● USA, 2020
Recorded at SRK Studios in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
STEADY ROCKERS (Spain)
Reggae band (sextet) from Madrid. They also have a couple of mini albums on Bandcamp for downloading.
You Never Can Tell (3:28) 2020
Digital single: Self released ● Spain. 2020
Recorded in Madrid at home during lockdown. They even have a video on You Tube of this. The singer’s English is up for debate, but they at least made a good tune out of it and even a video!
TED STEVENS (USA)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist in the rock’n’roll/rockabilly genre from Sarasota, Florida. The band performing on the album below is: Ted Stevens (vocals, guitar), “Upright Butch” Alan (ac.bass, backing vocals), “Smokin’ Joe” Hendricks (drums, backing vocals). He played the Viva Las Vegas in 2018. He has 5 albums on Bandcamp.
Carol (3:11) 2016 (live)
You Never Can Tell (4:21) 2016 (live)
Digital album: Hits, Misses And Close Calls [TS Music Self-released ] ● USA, 2017
Recorded 10 September 2016 at Stragglers, Sarasota, Florida. Pretty different, no piano just guitars on You Never Can Tell.
JOE STILGOE (UK)
Jazz pianist and singer, born 1979 in Sevenoaks, Kent. He’s released around 10 albums since 2008. He is the son of the lyricist and entertainer Sir Richard Stilgoe and opera singer Annabel Hunt. Good genes.
You Never Can Tell (3:50) 2016
CD: Songs On Film [Linn Records AKD-577] ● UK, 2016
Now this is different, a little jazzy so to speak. And because of Pulp Fiction he chose this Berry classic. Well done.
NIKKI SUDDEN (UK)
Real name Adrian Nicholas Godfrey born 1956 in London, died 2006 in New York. Singer, songwriter, guitarist. He’s been around so to speak and done the most. Bands like Swell Maps and Jacobites are two he was involved in and he had his own backing band The Last Bandits. Also done a lot of solo works. He had several albums released throughout his career.
Bye Bye Johnny [as “Johnny B. Goode”] (2:43) late ‘90s
LP/CD: Fred Beethoven [Troubadour TRBLP/CD-019] ● UK, 2014
This version is okay and nothing more. However, I just can’t understand that someone actually could make this mistake of mixing the titles in 2014 ! Well they did in this case, and again if I hadn’t been able to listen to the track I would have settled for Johnny B. Goode.
SUPERNATURAL FAMILY BAND (USA)
Country band from Questa, New Mexico. Formed around 1970 by the family father, singer, songwriter Tommy Hancock.
Johnny B. Goode (2:28) 1973
LP: In The Beginning… [Sandyland A-3001] ● USA, 1973
Here they do covers from the variety of Hank Williams, Berry to John Fogerty and Jimmy Reed.
TODD TAYLOR (USA)
Singer and extraordinary five string banjo player from South Carolina. So far I have found 7 albums by him. He’s played with bluegrass legends like Bill Monroe and Jim & Jesse. In 2007 he held the world record as the fastest banjo player.
Johnny B. Goode [as “Todd Be Goode”] (5:14) 2001
CD: Something Different [TT (self-released) CD-97252 4 1] ● USA, 2001
If you wanna have a blast go to YouTube and watch and listen to the fantastic rendition of this classic.
TEXAS MAVERICKS (USA)
Shortlived rock’n’roll/country band from Austin, Texas led by Doug Sahm (vocals, guitar), John Reed (guitar), Alvin Crow (fiddle, vocals), Miller “Speedy” Sparks (bass), Mike Buck (drums).
Johnny B. Goode (4:02) 1987 (live)
2-CD: Doug Sahm Presents The Texas Mavericks: Who Are These Masked Men? / The Masked Men Live In Bremen 1987 [MIG Records MIG-23370] ● USA, 2017
CD2 contains a previously unissued concert recorded 13 April 1987 at Bürgerhaus Weserterrassen in Bremen, Germany by Radio Bremen, featuring the musicians mentioned above. On CD1, which by the way was a reissue of an original 1987 album, the studio drummer was Frosty Smith.
You’’ll also find another cover featuring Doug Sahm on page 1486 (Vol.3)
Monday, April 22. 2024
CBID - The Never Ending Story - pt. 7
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: While we're still continuing our list of new cover versions, Beyoncé recorded an obscure Berry song, even more obscure.
There’s a rock’n’roll quartet The Lady Shelters from Tokyo, Japan, who besides having released a few albums (no Berry though) also have a series of rock’n’roll covers on You Tube. Performed live in the studio. They do “Around And Around” and “Back In The USA”, BUT also a cover of the obscure rocker from Berry titled “I Will Not Let You Go” (2:55), performed in December 2022. They are good and enthusiastic musicians. The song was recorded by Berry himself February 1972 in London, and later featured on the “London Sessions” album, and as the B-side of the UK single “Reelin’ And Rockin’”.
There is also a newly found Tribute titled “Boogie For Chuck Berry” (1:50) by Jean-Paul Amouroux and Memphis Slim from 1984 featuring Slim on piano and Jean-Paul on organ. Written by Amouroux and Slim. Available on the album “Jean-Paul Amouroux And His Friends” Média 7 MDCD-201 (1989). Unfortunately I have not been able to listen to this so far so I can’t comment. The album is a compilation of tracks recorded from 1976 to 1989 featuring besides Slim also Jay McShann, Willie Mabon, Milt Buckner and Sammy Price. Amouroux has also done several Berry covers, you’ll find them below.
JEAN-PAUL AMOUROUX (France)
Jazz and blues pianist and songwriter in the boogie woogie style. Born 1943 and died in 2022. Released several albums since the mid ‘70s often in collaboration with other musicians.
Johnny B. Goode (2:21) 2015 (instr)
Memphis, Tennessee (2:50) 2015 (instr)
No Particular Place To Go (2:28) 2015 (instr)
Rock And Roll Music (2:14) 2015 (instr)
School Day (2:07) 2015 (instr)
You Never Can Tell (3:26) 2015 (instr) feat. Claude Braud on saxophone
CD: Plays Rock’n’Roll Hits In Boogie Woogie [Black & Blue BB- ? ] ● France, 2015
(10 Years Of Rock’n’Roll 1954-1964). 26 tracks including 6 by Berry !!!. Pretty good music, however, I have one complaint, “School Day” and “No Particular Place To Go” are very similar songs and as instrumentals they become even more similar. “Roll Over Beethoven” or “Promised Land” would have been a better choice.
See also Tributes
BEYONCÉ (USA)
Carter née Beyoncé Giselle Knowles. Born 1981 in Houston, Texas. Singer, songwriter, producer, actress. Very famous with a lot of credits to her name. She’s the best selling female artist of all time. 32 Grammy Awards and 26 MTV Video Music Awards and more. From 1990 she was a member of the popular Pop/R&B group Destiny’s Child. Her first solo album came in 2003.
Oh, Louisiana (0:52) 2023
CD: Cowboy Carter [Parkwood Enetertainment/Columbia ] ● USA, 2024
Would you believe, another one in the line of obscure Berry songs, this time covered by one of the most popular singers in America this side of 2000. Originally it was featured on the Berry album “San Francisco Dues” in 1971. I have always liked this song and especially the bass line that makes it special. Actually Beyoncé has used exactly the same arrangement and there is also a video of this on You Tube. Maybe it will help people to seek out the original song by Berry. HOWEVER! Why the chipmunk voice and why under a minute? The original runs for four and a half minutes. The album has 27 tracks. There is also another variant of this issue, 23 tracks, which does not include the Berry cover. And more; the original Berry cut of “Maybellene” is featured in about 3 seconds on “Smoke Hour” with Willie Nelson where he is talking about a radio show and a few songs (just seconds) are played. To sum it all up, this is a weird album by all means, and to set the record straight, has nothing to do with country music at all. People who say otherwise don’t know what country music is all about (and there are many out there, unfortunately).
CAGEY STRINGS (Germany)
See Volume 3, page 1109 for biographical info.
Johnny B. Goode (4:31) 2013
You Never Can Tell (as “C’est La Vie”) (4:12) 2013
2-CD: Vollgas [Gema 4034677186305] ● Germany, 2013
Run Rudolph Run (3:19) 2023
CD: Have Yourself A Cagey Little Christmas [Artists & Acts (Universal) ] ● Germany, 20237
D.J. BLUES BAND (UK)
This is already on this blog. However, I hadn’t heard the cover back then, but I have now, so read below.
I Still Got The Blues (2:53) 1965 (?)
4-CD set: Something Inside Of Me [Wienerworld Presentation WNRCD-5114] ● UK, 2021
“Unreleased Masters & Demos from the British Blues Years 1963-1976”. This is really a different approach from a UK band in the ‘60s, almost big band style with a trumpet solo! in the middle. It’s Jim Pitts who’s doing the vocals on this one. It’s another track to add to the already huge amount of Berry songs that’s been covered.
FRANK ZNORT QUARTET (Norway)
Founded in 1998 by Sef Foyn and four friends (quartet?) just jamming whatever music they wanted (no one named Frank Znort). They had their first CD out in 2002 after the act had developed into a multi-musician project. The largest quartet in the world(!) They have released several CDs since 2004.
Brown Eyed Handsome Man (2:46) 2012
2-CD: Perler Fra Svin [Snort Records FZQV-003] ● Norway, 2012
Recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. On this album you’ll find almost every musical genre arranged in jazz form, rhythm & blues or whatever. The Berry cover sounds like a version from the Caribbean. The singer even uses a typical Caribbean accent.
INMATES (UK)
British pub-rock band which was founded in North London at the end of the ‘70s. The original line-up was: Bill Hunley (vocals), Peter “Gunn” Staines (lead guitar, vocals), Tony Oliver (rhythm guitar, vocals), Ben Donnnelly (bass), Jim Russell (drums, vocals). They had a Top 40 hit in the UK with a cover of Jimmy McCracklin’s “The Walk” in January 1980. Several singles and albums released throughout the ‘80s and ‘90s.
I’m Talking About You (2:12) 1980 (live)
Let It Rock (5:00) 1980 (live)
CD: Tainted Rock!!! [Speedball SBC-004] ● Italy, 1991
Recorded live at The Rainbow Music Hall in Denver, Colorado, USA, February 1980. Previously unissued. A loong good rockin’ version of “Let It Rock” to end the show. They also do a version of “Don’t You Lie To Me” credited to Chuck Berry, but is not counted for here as it was originally written and recorded by Hudson Whittaker aka Tampa Red in 1940.
IMPOSTERS (USA)
Surf-punk, hardcore band from Hermosa Beach, California.
Come On (2:28) 2010
LP: Animal Magnetism [Dead Beat Records DB-94] ● USA, 2011
Sounds a bit like the Stones’ version in speed but still different with their own approach. LP released in different vinyl colors.
SPEEDY KING AND HIS FEETWARMERS (Belgium)
Already on this blog.
Reelin’ And Rockin’ (3:40) 1977 (live)
Various LP: Jeuzelfestival ’77 [Monopole M.LP-0169-844] ● Belgium, 1977
Festival organized by the youth centre De Jeuzel in Wuustwezel, Belgium. See also Memphis Mill Brooks with “Memphis, Tennessee”.
MARTIN MANN (West Germany)
Schlager, singer, composer, songwriter and producer. Born 1944 in Vienna, Austria but grew up in Wiesbaden, Germany. He has released a few solo albums and several singles since 1969.
Roll Over Beethoven (3:06) 1976
45: Jupiter Records 17 149XT ● West Germany, 1976 (art sleeve)
This is actually a Medley of Beethoven, High School Rock and Hound Dog.
As Martin Mann & The King Elvis Group:
Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 1979
Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 1979
2-LP: Bravo Präsentiert: Die 24 Grössten Rock’n’Roll Hits – Mit 12 Elvis-Songs [Jupiter Records 300184-272] ● West Germany, 1979
Don’t know what this album was all about and for sure have never heard of The King Elvis Group?
MEMPHIS MILL BROOKS (Belgium)
I have found absolutely nothing about this artist (!)
Memphis, Tennessee (2:55) 1977 (live)
Various LP: Jeuzefestival ’77 [Monopole M.LP-0169-844] ● Belgium, 1977
Festival organized by the youth centre De Jeuzel in Wuustwezel, Belgium. See also Speedy King & His Feetwarmers with “Reelin’ And Rockin’ “
TODD MORGAN & The Emblems (USA)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist, pianist from Sacramento, California. This is a trio consisting of Todd (vocals, guitar, piano), Zack Sapunor (bass) and Andrew Philip (drums). He has 6 albums so far to his credit.
Run Rudolph Run (2:54) 2021
CD: Santa Claus Blues [Todd Morgan - TAW-105] ● USA, 2021
I had never heard of Todd Morgan until the morning of 12 March 2024 when he suddenly turned up on You Tube when I was searching for Berry’s “Go Bobby Soxer”. There he was performing it live on stage in 2023 (check it out). I also found another version, and live versions of “Down Bound Train”, “Brown Eyed Handsome Man”, “Johnny B. Goode”, “Roll Over Beethoven” and “No Particular Place To Go”. I also found his web site, but looking through his albums it was no Berry(?) except the one above. And I found nothing on Bandcamp which is strange?
EILERT PILARM (Sweden)
Nils Roland Eilert Dahlberg, born 1953 in Anundsjö. He’s released several albums, but he can’t sing! Here’s what’s written on discogs which I think says it all: “His interpretation is characterized by inadequate singing voice, lack of tone, lack of rhythm and very poor pronunciation of the English lyrics. This is believed to be the key to Pilarm's success”. So do the people (audiences) feel sorry for him and therefore think it’s okay?
Johnny B. Goode (2:11) 2001 (live)
CD single: Johnny B. Goode [Björk CDS-1] ● Sweden, 2001
Don’t know what to say. Is this real? Everything here is a mess. His singing is so out of tune, he don’t know the lyrics and the rhythm section has problems keeping up.
Overall, there are too many Elvis impersonators on the marked and have been for many years. I must admit I have stayed away from a few when I come across them doing Johnny B. or Promised Land. Sorry to say.
PILEDRIVER (Germany)
Michael Sommerhoff (vocals, guitar), Peter Wagner (vocals, guitar), Rudi Peeters (keyboards), Marc Herrmann (bass, vocals), Hans in’t Zandt (drums). Rock band very influenced by the music of UKs own Status Quo. If you go to YouTube and search Piledriver “Bye Bye Johnny” it is mentioned as a Status Quo classic! Not bad.
Bye Bye Johnny (5:22) 2015 (live)
2-CD: The Boogie Brothers Live In Concert [Rockwall Records RW-04042012] ● Germany, 2017
Also Blu-ray of the concert and extras. 20th Anniversary Show at Stadthalle Wattenscheid October 2015.
Bye Bye Johnny (4:58) 2020 (live)
3-CD: Live In Europe – The Rockwall Tour [Rockwall Records RW-04042023] ● Germany, 2023
DVD + Blu-ray. 5 discs, comes in a box-set. The Berry number is from a concert on CD3 recorded live in Zwolle, Netherlands 25 January 2020.
“BUCK” PIZZARELLI & The West Texas Tumbleweeds (USA)
John Paul “Bucky” Pizzarelli was a jazz guitarist and banjoplayer, born 1926 in Paterson, New Jersey, died in 2020. His first album came in 1960. And he’s released and been involved in many, many albums. The Tumbleweeds: John Pizzarelli (guitar, backing vocals), Jessica Molaskey (backing vocals), Martin Pizzarelli (bass), Danny Coots (drums). John Paul and Jessica were husband and wife and parents to both John and Martin.
Promised Land (2:58) 2009
CD: Diggin’ Up Bones [Arbors Records ARCD-19394] ● USA, 2009
In addition to this almost family gathering there are 3 musical friends on the album, Rebecca Kilgore, Andy Levas and Aaron Weinstein. This is a little different than most other versions, sort of a more folky approach with a western swing arrangement. I really dig this !
BOBBY “GUITAR” POREMBSKI & CITY RHYTHM (USA)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist from New York City, New York. He also plays accordion by the way. Bobby (vocals, guitars, ukulele), Bryan Gottshall (bass), Dan Goldfedder (drums). Would you believe that he has actually 71 albums on Bandcamp! In 2021 he was nominated for the single of the year with “My Love” by the International Singer Songwriters Association (ISSA Awards 2021 Atlanta, Georgia).
Johnny B. Goode (3:03) 2012
Digital album: One Take, No Rehearsals – A Jam For Autism [BP Self-released ] ● USA, 2012
Studio recordings of classic rock’n’roll songs that they often performed live with the purpose of raising awareness and funds for autism. Pretty goode album.
DIMITRIS POULIKAKOS (Greece)
Rock singer and actor, born 1943.
Little Queenie (5:30) 1979 (live)
LP: Crazy Love – Live [Minos Records DAL-MSM-363] ● Greece, 1979
This is a cross between Stones and Berry and is the opening track of the album.
POWDERHOUSE (USA)
This is a female-fronted (Teresa Mastrorilli) rock band from Boston. However, the Berry cover has a male singer (Ray Boyce). They have singles, EPs and albums out on FOC Records, but you’ll find much more to download on Bandcamp.
Teresa Mastrorilli (vocals, lead & rhythm guitars), Fred Pickard (lead & rhythm guitars, vocals), Art DaPrato (keyboards), Ray Boyce (vocals, bass, guitars), Kevin Moylan (drums).
Run Rudolph Run (3:12) 2011
Digital album: Covers Vol. 1 [FOC Records Self-released] ● USA, 2011
Straight forward rock version with a good beat. Released 21 june 2011. The Berry cover was also available as a download single in December 2012. The album was remastered at FOC Studios North, Ludlow, Vermont in January 2021. Listen on Bandcamp.
PREBENS PÅGAR (Sweden)
Rock/pop quintet from Landskrona. It seems they are a popular live band and have released some albums and 26 singles the latest in the Autumn of 2023.
You Never Can Tell (3:14) 2005 (live)
CD: Prebens Pågar [Melody Records MECD-1005] ● Sweden, 2005
PRELLIES (UK)
Beatle rock band from Birmingham. The band has been playing around in the UK, Belgium, Isle of Man and the Beatleweek.
They have also made a soundtrack for a television programme on the life of Stuart Sutcliffe (the fifth Beatle). The songs on the CD below contain the soundtrack.
Roll Over Beethoven (2:31) 2005
Sweet Little Sixteen (2:14) 2005
CD: Afternoon Tea [Atombeat Records AB-001] ● UK, 2005
SUZANNE PRENTICE (New Zealand)
Country singer, born 1958. Been active since the early ‘70s. She’s been called the Queen of Country in New Zealand, a strange thing for me to understand when you mostly do covers of American songs/hits. And she’s received a lot of Awards too. She has a good voice and released a whole bunch of albums since 1973.
Johnny B. Goode (2:51) 1975
LP: Suzanne Prentice [Music World MALPS-394] ● New Zealand, 1975
This sounds very clean and ordinary with little drive. She also had an album out in 1980 titled “Dreamin’ My Dreams” containing a version of Johnny B. but I don’t know if it’s the same version as above or recorded for the new album.
JOHN PRIMER (USA)
See Volume 3 under CHICAGO BLUES – A LIVING HISTORY page 1123 for info on this.
And the timing for Reelin’ And Rockin’ is (3:41).
BEN PRYER & THE LUCKY DOGS (UK)
Ben Pryer (lead vocals, guitar), Jack Norman (bass), Joe Butcher (drums, backing vocals). Regarded as one of UK’s finest vintage bands, playing music from the ‘50s and ‘60s.
Roll Over Beethoven (2:39) 2019 (live)
CD: An Audience With [Lucky Dog Records ] ● UK, 2019
From the opening riffs it sounded like the Beatles’ version. But there are a lot of good old rock’n’roll covers on the album.
Released 19 April 2019 on Bandcamp.
VICTOR PUERTAS & MAX GENOUEL (Spain/France)
Good blues from Barcelona and Nantes. Victor Puertas (vocals, harp, keyboards), Max Genouel (vocals, guitar), Julien Dubois (bass), Hugo Deviers (drums, vocals). As they say: For a week we recorded at La P’Artquetterie, an old wooden-floors factory turned into a juke joint and run by friends in the middle of the French countryside.
You Can’t Catch Me (4:41) 2019
CD: Recording Session [Self-released ] ● Spain/France, 2019
What a fabulous album and music. Again, it’s nice to see that a Berry tune was picked out among 12 tracks.
PUSSYCATS (Norway)
See Volume 3, page 1434 for biographical info.
Sweet Little Sixteen (2:36) 1965 (live)
CD: The Pussycats Live 1965 [Backstage Records BR-014] ● Norway, 2023
Previously unissued concert, 9 tracks recorded live at Kino (movie Theatre) Bellevue, Tromsdalen, Norway, 13 October 1965. Limited edition of 300 copies, but because of good sales they printed another 300 (!)
RADIO NASTIES (UK)
Garage rock trio from Southwest of England led by Ben Hayes. They had at least 2 original singles released on Death Of Glory Records in 2013.
Brown Eyed Handsome Man (2:57) 2020
Johnny B. Goode (2:55) 2020
Roll Over Beethoven (3:06) 2020
Digital album: Rockdown 2020 [Self-released ] ● UK, 2020
Released 28 January 2021. 12 rock’n’roll classics recorded in the summer of 2020 during lockdown.
MASON RAMSEY (USA)
Country singer, guitarist, from Golconda, Illinois born 2006, which means he’s only 17 years of age when he recorded the Yuletide classic. His voice sounds more mature though. Popular guy and he has his own website. Next spring he will tour Germany and the UK. His first record came out in 2018 (!)
Run Rudolph Run (2:45) 2023
Digital single: Atlantic 00 7567 96697 9 7 ● USA, 2023
Pretty ordinary country-rock version.
DIG RICHARDS And The R’Jays (Australia)
Singer, songwriter, musical theatre actor Digby George Richards was born in 1940 and died in 1983. He was also a televison presenter. Active in the late ‘50s and early ‘60s as the lead singer of the band The R’Jays. According to info he seems to be the very first rock’n’roll artist to have a full 12” LP release in Australia (see below). In the ‘70s he became a country artist.
Carol ( : ) 1959
Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 1959
LP: Dig Richards And The R’Jays [Festival Records FL-7119] ● Australia, 1959
DAVE RICKETTS (USA)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist in the country and folk-blues tradition. Since 2002 he has led the Gypsy jazz and Hot jazz band Gaucho who have several albums to their credit. He’s a great fan of Django Reinhardt.
Down Bound Train (3:37) 2020
CD: Daddy’s High Again [Self-released ] ● USA, 2020
Really good folk-blues version. Check it out on YouTube. 9 of the tracks on the album were written by Ricketts, plus one by Memphis Minnie and the Berry track.
ROCKABILLY HEART (Denmark)
Trio: Tamra Rosanes (vocals), Den Skaldede Kok (bass, percussion), Morten Wittrock (piano, vocals). However, they have had a lot of help from various musicians, too many to mention. Part of the album was done in Nashville at the studio of Jack Clement. Singer, songwriter Tamra is American born but has lived in Denmark since 1972. She’s recorded almost 20 country albums since the early ‘80s.
Maybellene (2:38) 2014
CD: Rockabilly Heart [Target Records CD-1334] ● Denmark, 2014
ROCKIN’ DEVILS (UK)
Rock’n’Roll revival band (trio). They released 8 albums during 1974 to 1979.
Sweet Little Sixteen ( : ) 1974
LP: Bring Back Rock’n’Roll [Hot Stuff Records HSL-001] ● UK, 1974
GRAZIANO ROMANI (Italy)
Rock singer, songwriter. He’s recorded three tribute albums to Bruce Springsteen, so he must be a fan! Although he’s released several other albums since 1993.
Johnny B. Goode (4:31) 2015
2-CD: Vivo/Live [Route 61 Music RT61-2015003] ● Italy, 2015
Pretty heavy and noisy, but still rockin’.
ROY & THE DEVILS MOTORCYCLE (Switzerland)
Garage punk, rock, psychedelic and blues. The band was formed in 1991 in a little village, Oberdiesbach, in the mountains of Switzerland. Three who lived there were the Stähli brothers, Markus, Matthias and Christian, who all played the guitar and sang. They got hold of a drummer named Oliver, later Elias Raschie.
Johnny B. Goode (4:16) 2005
LP: Because Of Women [Voodoo Rhythm VR-1233] ● Switzerland, 2005
CD: Because Of Women [Voodoo Rhythm VRCD-33] ● Switzerland, 2006
Very strange psychedelic version.
SEM ROZENDAAL (Netherlands)
Pop singer, songwriter, guitarist who appeared on the eleventh season of the television talent show, The Voice of Holland, in 2020-21
You Never Can Tell (2:21) 2021
CD: The Voice of Holland - Seizoen 11 - Live #2 [8ball Music 87 1777 46895 7 8] ● Netherlands, 2021
Nice to see that he chose this classic for his performance on the Voice. It’s a rockin’ good version with a horn section. As far as I know he didn’t win, but…
RYNOZ (Sweden)
Aka Ryno Rockers. See volume 3, page 1485 for biographical info, although not much info there of the band. The quintet was formed 1974 in Enviken. During the ‘70s and ‘80s they were considered as one of the most genuine bands in Sweden playing ‘50s music. The entry below is new.
You Never Can Tell (2:33) 2012
CD: Bop ‘Til You Drop [Scana SNCD-035] ● Sweden, 2012
JEFF ST. JOHN & THE EMBERS (Australia)
Jeffrey Leon Newton, blues-rock singer who because of spina bifida spent most of his life in a wheelchair. Born 1946 in Newton, New South Wales, died 2018 at his home in Perth, Western Australia. His first single came in 1966 and his first album in 1972. There’s much on YouTube with this guy, unfortunately not the Berry numbers.
Nadine ( : ) 2004 (live)
You Never Can Tell ( : ) 2004 (live)
CD EP: Live At The Perth Blues Club [not on label – R-1103] ● Australia, 2018
Four tracks recorded live 13 April 2004. The other two are “Drift Away” and “Waltzing Mathilda”.
SANDRO Y LOS DE FUEGO (Argentina)
Roberto M. Sánchez born 1945 in Buenos Aires, died 2010. Rock singer who is considered as one of the first rock artists to sing in Spanish in Latin America. He was also a well known actor and director. He released over 50 albums and sold millions.
I’m Talking About You [as ”Hablando De Ti”] (1:56) 1965
Rock And Roll Music [as “Música De Rock And Roll”] (1:54) 1965
LP: Al Calor De Sandro Y Los De Fuego [CBS 8533] ● Argentina, 1965
I am not going to put him down, but the music from the above album sounds so uninspired and boring.
MICHELLE SCHMITT (USA)
Born in Detroit, Michigan. Singer, songwriter from the San Francisco Bay area. Owner of Pine Mountain Studio, Alexander Valley, California. She has released many albums since 2004. Schmitt and her band do benefit concerts every December in the San Francisco and Marin County to raise money for the hungry in those communities.
Run Rudolph Run (4:19) 2014
CD: To Remember You [Harrison Street Records 05 6383 64518 ] ● USA, 2014
A little laid-back version. This album was officially released at her and the band’s 2014 annual benefit concert. This holiday record is dedicated to the memory of her dad, who died earlier in the year. He loved Christmas music.
Let It Rock (3:18) 2015
CD: Detroit Girl [Harrison Street Records 08 8829 53477 3 0] ● USA, 2015
Interesting because very few women have covered this Berry classic. Solid version.
Friday, April 12. 2024
Peter O’Neil’s So-Called Disorder
For some years Peter has promised to publish his long and well-written articles on Chuck Berry as chapters in form of a book. And now Peter indeed published a book, though not the one we expected.
Peter is not only one of the greatest Chuck Berry fans, he also is a successful product liability attorney. And, as he recently found out, Peter is autistic. According to him, his diagnosis at the age of 65 years came as a surprise but concurrently explained a lot in his life.
So Peter decided to look back at his life and tell his readers about where his so-called “disorder” affected him, as seen from today’s perspective. Peter’s book “My So-Called Disorder” (available at amazon) is a kind of memoir, though from a very specific point-of-view. It’s an insider’s view at autism and thus an extremely interesting read for both other people on the autistic spectrum and for people who haven’t been diagnosed as such (yet) – and for those who simply are interested in this topic.
Peter explains how autism hindered him to take part in “normal” social life, even though he managed to get married (twice) and to have children. But on the other hand he explains how his autistic ability to focus on details, to think out-of-the-box, and to notice oddities which others overlook helped him to become a successful lawyer.
Due to partners and co-workers who might not have understood neurodiversity, but who understood that Peter needed a special environment to produce good work, he was able to fight huge companies on their defective products. A large part of this book explains the various trials, e.g. about exploding pick-up trucks and non-breakable scooters. For non-Americans this legalese is sometimes hard to understand – as the US legal system is as a whole.
But forty years of demonstrating complex relations to juries and courts – as well as an autistic ability to explain topics clearly without getting lost in too much context – help the reader to fully understand Peter’s points.
There isn’t much Chuck Berry in this book except for some reports of concerts Peter visited. But besides bird watching and astronomy, the topic of Chuck Berry is clearly shown as one of the “special interests” which people on the autistic spectrum are said to have. However, if trying to know everything about Chuck Berry is a sign of autism, then I know of other “disordered” collectors.
If you are interested to learn more about autism, this book is a very good item to start with. Highly recommended!
Wednesday, April 10. 2024
The Chuck Berry Sound according to Atomicat
Thus when Atomicat Records recently released a CD titled „The Chuck Berry Sound“, it was interesting to learn how they would define the sound that comes from Berry’s music. Well, they couldn’t concentrate either.
At first they took the easy route: cover versions. Eight of the tracks are written by Berry himself and thus obviously close to his sound. However, Atomicat selected cover version you probably have never heard of before, even though all songs on this CD are from the 1950s and early 1960s.
Hear you can listen to one of the earliest female singers working with Berry material: Margaret Lewis singing Roll Over Beethoven. Another very early cover version from 1956, and a funny one, is Too Much Monkey Business by The Gadabouts supported by Carl Steven’s Orchestra. Several of the cover versions are very different from Berry’s own, especially Betty Jean by Terry Gale, Brown Eyed Handsome Man by Scotty McKay, Carol by Jim Miller, and Rock'n'Roll Music by Jimmy Breedlove. Further cover versions included are Johnny B. Goode by Gootch Jackson with Herbie Layne's Orchestra and Thirty Days by Wes Reynolds, though titled Forty Days like the Ronnie Hawkins version.
A second set of tracks on this CD contains recordings which sound like Chuck Berry hits. Both Brownie McGhee’s Anna Mae, Rayvon Darnell’s Don't Want You Maybellene, and Buddy Lucas’ Oh Mary Ann were recorded in late 1955 and sound very much like Berry’s then hit Maybellene. Further soundalikes are Rhythm Feet by Carroll (Wild Red) Pegues which is similar to Around And Around, School Day Blues by Johnny And The Jammers (close to Brown Eyed Handsome Man), Pony Tail Girl by Glenn Garrison (Sweet Little Sixteen), and Knockin' On Your Door by Jimmy King (School Day). Two songs use the melody and pattern of Reelin’ And Rockin’: Tiny Morrie’s Everybody Rocks and the non-twisting Mother Goose Twist by Oliver And The Twisters which by the way at 2:44 minutes is the longest of all the short songs on this album.
Most people will list Berry’s guitar playing as one or as the main element of “The Chuck Berry Sound”, ignoring that Berry reused guitar playing well-known before in Blues and Jazz. Anyway Atomicat identified guitar-oriented songs from the late 1950s and early 1960s on which the guitar players do not hide that they found these riffs on Berry records. Even though Atomicat tried to find the names of these guitarists, they did not succeed with every song. Some of the probably session musicians will remain anonymous.
Berry-inspired guitar solos can be found in Dee Clark’s Dance On Little Girl (guitar: Phil Upchurch) and The New Blockbusters’ Rock & Roll Guitar Part 1 (guitar: Paul Buskirk). On Ray Sharpe’s Justine, Tony Casanova’s (i.e. Jutillo Perez’) Showdown and Billy Peek’s Rock To The Top the main artists both sing and play the Berry guitar. Unknown guitarist provide Berry-like guitar playing on Buddy Howard’s Take Your Hands Off Me Baby, Jerry Hawkins’ Swing Daddy Swing, and The Jet Tones’ Henry.
If you want to count Caveman by Tommy Roe and The Satins as a Berry soundalike is doubtful, though, at least to me. And to accept Eddie Clearwater’s I Was Gone here requires you to know that Edward Harrington (his real name) was not only a Berry soundalike (with many other recordings and cover versions) but also a Berry lookalike in his 1960s shows.
The remaining three songs from this 30-track CD are tribute songs to Chuck Berry himself or to his best-known protagonist. The Dusters sing about a show with both Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis (Rock At The Hop, 1961). Leonard Douglas Drake under his alias Big Daddy G in 1963 recorded a tribute song called Big Berry (Boss Man Guitar) in which he combines Berry song titles. Finally Eddy Bell and the Bel-Aires from 1961 continue the Johnny B. Goode saga with Johnny Be-Goode Is In Hollywood.
All in all “The Chuck Berry Sound” (Atomicat Records ACCD162) is an interesting selection of recordings which show Berry’s influence on other musicians. All these were released long before the Beat craze when all the successful bands listed Berry as one of their main influencers. The latest recording on this set is from 1963. while the earliest start close after Berry’s first chart hit. This is not a CD you will play over and over, but it’s a rare chance to listen to fairly old and hard to find Berry-inspired music.
Wednesday, April 3. 2024
CBID - The Never Ending Story - pt. 6
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 still continue with our list of new cover versions which came to our attention recently. Again a few are digital-only, but worth to be listed here.
BILL MADISON (USA)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist now living in Lehigh Acres, Florida. He was part of the folk music venues in Boston, New York City and Montreal during the ‘60s. His career spans more than 60 years, and his first album came out in 1973 titled “Sunday Mornin’ Hayride”, an album which has been re-issued a couple of times. In the ‘80s and ‘90s he played the ski resorts and honky tonks of Northern New England. His music is available on various streaming sites.
Roll Over Beethoven (3:58) 2016 (live)
CD: Here’s To Ya! [Saloon Records ] ● USA, 2016
Live from Bill’s Happy Hour at Street Jelly Bar & Grill. 15 tracks with a variety of cover songs from the ‘50s and up. Released 15 June 2016.
MALAVENTURA (Spain)
Country-folk duo from Murcia who got together in 1992. Fernando Rubio (vocals, guitar, harmonica) and Joaquín Talismán (vocals, guitar, banjo). They can really play a guitar!!!
Memphis, Tennessee (2:45) 2017
CD: Malaventura [Perdicion PER-1801] ● Spain, 2017
Released 26 December 2017. They have approached this cover closer to Berry’s own. Good to hear.
MARTIN CIRCUS (France)
Band (sextet) formed in 1969 playing psychedelic and progressive rock, but changed their style in the early ‘70s to pop and later on to disco and new wave. Have released many singles and albums since 1969/1970.
Rock And Roll Music [as “Rock’n’Roll Circus”] (3:21) 1977
45: Vogue 45. V. 140.323 ● France, 1977
Rock And Roll Music [as “Rock’n’Roll Circus”] (5:47) 1977
LP: Rock’n’Roll Circus [Vogue LDA-20 294] ● France, 1977
Oh dear, this sounds like a disco version with absolutely no feeling or whatever. And almost 6 minutes on the album. Forget it.
MASHUUN (Austria)
A progressive rock band from Styria, active between 1972 and 1974. They won a band competition organized by Fono Forum and BASF but the group got a short life.
Sweet Little Sixteen (5:08) 1973
Various LP: Mashuun/Magic 69 [Rex Records Austria REX RRL-008] ● Austria, 1973
Various 2-LP: Underground Made In Styria [Golden Pavilion Records GP-1026/27LP] ● Portugal, 2016
Very strange version indeed. The Rex album was a promo and never released officially. Finally in 2016 the Golden Pavilion one was a remastered album set pressed in 400 copies. The two groups featured were Mashuun and Magic 69.
DENIS MAZHUKOV & OFF BEAT (Russia)
Singer and pianist Denis Mazhukov, who is by the way regarded as the king of rock’n’roll in Russia (pretty late don’t you think since he was born in 1973). But good for him as he’s really got it when it comes to 50s and 60s music. I am sure that Jerry Lee Lewis is one of his favorites, if not his ‘mentor’.
Roll Over Beethoven (2:41) 1995
CD: Off Beat [SNC Records SNC-5034] ● Russia, 1995
Fast swinging rendition.
Johnny B. Goode (2:41) 2006 featuring Maxim Leonidov
Digital album: Rockin’ At The Top [DM Self-released ] ● Russia, 2007
Released 1 January 2007. The music is good but the vocals are uninspired.
Sweet Little Sixteen (3:16) 2012
CD: Rockin’ All Day And Night [DM 3923U Self-released ] ● Russia, 2012
On Bandcamp the album contains 8 tracks but on discogs there are 11 tracks (?)
MERŪNAS (Lithuania)
Pop singer. Real name: Merūnas Vitulskis, born in 1983.
You Never Can Tell [as "Pažiūresim, Kas Nutiks Vėliau”] (3:03) 2007
CD: Merūnas [Hitas HITCD-007] ● Lithuania, 2007
Ordinary standard version. But nice to finally have someone from Lithuania doing Berry.
MINX (Canada)
Hard rock band (quintet) from Kamloops, British Columbia. They have four albums on bandcamp.
Johnny B. Goode (2:52) 2018
Digital album: Minx [Self-released ] ● Canada, 2018
Released 24 April 2018. Seven tracks, six written by the band. Hard rock version.
LOGAN MIZE (USA)
Country singer who grew up in Kansas. Has been a long-time Music Row staff songwriter in Nashville. He released his 5th album called “Welcome To Prairieville” in 2021.
Run Rudolph Run (2:44) 2022 with Jenna Paulette
CD EP: Merry Christmas From Logan Mize [Big Yellow Dog Music 08 5004 03773 4 7] ● USA, 2022
This was reissued in 2023. Okay version but that’s all.
M&J BLUES (UK)
Father & son duo from Sheffield, Mark Lyall (el.guitar) and.Jeff Lyall (vocals, ac.guitar).
You Never Can Tell (3:44) 2016 (live)
2-CD: In The Presence Of Friends [M&J Self-released] ● UK
Recorded live 7 August 2016 at the Honey Bee blues club session at the Porter Cottage, Sheffield. The Berry track was part of the encore. Released 6 November 2016.
SONNY MOORMAN (USA)
Blues singer, songwriter, guitarist from Hamilton, Ohio.
Maybellene (5:51) 2015
Memphis, Tennessee [as “Memphis”] (2:58) 2015
CD: You Made All My Blues Come True [Atlas Records ATLAS-0014] ● USA, 2015
Acoustic treatment of these two classics. Featuring Moorman on vocals, guitar and porchboard. The album was released digitally in June 2022. Instead of me saying anything, you can listen to them on Bandcamp.
VAN MORRISON (UK)
Van Morrison, OBE (Order of the British Empire), born 1945 in Belfast. He’s a Grammy Award-winning Northern Irish singer, songwriter, author, poet and multi-instrumentalist. He was the lead singer in the Northern Irish band Them who had several hits in the mid ‘60s like “Gloria” and “Here Comes The Night”. Later he left for a successful solo career.
Bye Bye Johnny (2:58) 2023
CD: Accentuate The Positive [Exile 3369580] ● Europe, 2023
LP: Accentuate The Positive [Exile 3369603] ● Europe, 2023
A genuine rock’n’roll album from Van Morrison. It was a surprise for me, in 2023. 19 tracks, and I do like the album title, to accentuate the positive about the past music. And he picked some obscure tracks to record also.
It reminded me of the fantastic album Neil Young released in 1983, titled “Everybody’s Rockin’ “ (No Berry though).
MOTHER McCREE’S UPTOWN JUG CHAMPIONS (USA)
Jerry Garcia, Bob Weir, Ron “Pigpen” McKernan. Grateful Dead related. With the help of Mike Garbett, Tom Stone and Dave Parker on various acoustic instruments.
Memphis, Tennessee [as “Memphis”] (2:26) 1964 (live)
CD: Live at the Top of the Tangent, 1964 [Grateful Dead Records GDCD-4064] ● USA, 1999
Jerry Garcia is doing the vocals on this one. Don’t know what to think. It’s okay, acoustic but lack feelings. The album was recorded in July 1964 at the Top Of The Tangent, Palo Alto, California.
JOE MULLINS And THE RADIO RAMBLERS (USA)
William Joseph Mullins, born 1965 in Xenia, Ohio. Bluegrass and gospel singer, banjoist, bandleader and radio broadcaster.
Run Rudolph Run (3:57) 2023
CD: Because It’s Christmas Time [Billy Blue Records BBR-0243 CD] ● USA, 2023
Nice to finally have a genuine bluegrass version. Really good, swings. I get this Jim & Jesse vibes here, the song they didn’t record.
MYSTIC EYES (Germany)
Beat band from Regensburg; active in the late ‘60s but reunited in 1997.
Memphis, Tennessee ( : ) 2000
CD: Flashback [GVR Records CD-006] ● Germany, 2001
GÜNTHER NEEFS (Belgium)
Pop singer, born 1965 in Mechelen. Has released several albums since 1992. He’s the son of Louis Neefs.
You Never Can Tell (2:47) 2019
CD: Roots 66 – Music From Chicago To L. A. [KMK Muziek KMK-65018] ● Belgium, 2019
Released as both CD and LP, plus DVD.
NERVOUS EATERS (USA)
Punk rock band (quartet) from Boston, Massachusetts.
Beautiful Delilah (3:21) Mid ‘70s
LP: Eaterville #1 [Penniman Records PENNLP-002] ● Spain, 2004
CD: Eaterville #1 [Penniman Records PENNCD-001] ● Spain, 2009
It sounds like the Rolling Stones! One of the longer versions of this Berry track. They usually clock in at around 2 minutes. Previously unissued.
CHET NICHOLS (USA)
Singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, producer from Chicago where he grew up. In the ‘60s he was part of the musical revolution in both Los Angeles and San Francisco. He has a farm in Kansas, and is inducteed into The Kansas Music Hall Of Fame.
Johnny B. Goode (2:27) 1965 as Chet Nichols & The Chosen Few
Digital album: Raw & Roll [Self-released ] ● USA, 2021
Released April 2021. The Chosen Few were a trio from Chicago and they were all around 15 years old at the time of recording. Chet Nichols has also recorded a song titled “Rock & Roll Music” (1972) which turns out to be his own composition.
NIGHTBREAKERS (Netherlands)
8 piece country-rock group.
You Never Can Tell [as “C’est la Vie”] (3:39) 2001
CD: In The Mission [Rarity Records C-192649] ● Netherlands, 2001
Sounds a bit like Emmylou Harris’ version but with a sax solo and a piano solo without the original melody.
DON NORMAN (Canada)
Born in Ottawa 1944. In the ‘60s he recorded for Capitol Records of Canada. Living in Kingston, Ontario since 1970.
Maybellene (2:27) 2017
Digital track: [Don Norman ] ● USA, 2017
Pretty cool country version, a little slower than usual. Don Norman (vocals, guitars, harp, percussion), Jack Pearson (solo guitar), Chris Nole (keyboards), Dave Francis (bass), Shannon Forrest (drums). Here is what Don Norman says on Bandcamp about recording this track: “ ‘Maybellene’ was Chuck Berry’s 1955 breakout hit for Chess Records in Chicago. The record sold over a million copies but more importantly it stands as the original road map for guitar based rock’n’roll music. As a young, pre-teen I was brought to tears by the emotions Chuck’s singing and guitar playing aroused in me. Thanks for changing my world Chuck”.
Released 3 April 2017.
You Never Can Tell (2:48) 2018
Digital track: [Don Norman ] ● USA, 2023
This was recorded in 2018, but remastered and released 14 October 2023. Unfortunately pretty ordinary version.
NOT FADE AWAY (USA)
Rock’n’roll quintet from Phoenix, Arizona. Jared Mancuso (vocals, guitar), Nick Gallardo (vocals, guitar), Ian LeSage (vocals, guitar), Allison Kelly (vocals, bass), Andrew Torres (only drums). Very much a Buddy Holly tribute band, but they also play others like Ritchie Valens, Elvis, Jerry Lee, Shirley Ellis and more. They have this album below and a single on Bandcamp and they make great covers, also sleeves.
Johnny B. Goode (3:24) 2020
Digital album: Rock’n’Roll Reignited [Self-released ] ● USA, 2020
Released 3 February 2020. Recorded at Studio Crash in Philadelphia, PA. Rockin’ version and Allison does a very good job.
STEFAN NYKVIST (Sweden)
Lars Erik Stefan Nykvist, born 1976 in Ãlvdalen, Dalarna. Singer, organist, accordionist and was the founder of the danceband Larz Kristerz in 2001. He left the band in 2014 for solo work.
Oh What A Thrill [as “Nej, Inte Jag”] (2:28) 2020
CD: Stefan Nykvist [Enviken Records ENREC-182] ● Sweden, 2020
This is a cover of the Eddie Meduza version from 1982.
FINN NØRBYGÅRD (Denmark)
Comedian, singer and actor, born 1952 in Esbjerg. Well, he was originally a school teacher but did success on national TV in the ‘80s with Jacob Haugaard in a Saturday Night comedy show, and in the ‘90s a successful comedy/musical show with Jette Torp.
Johnny B. Goode (2:34) 1997
CD: 21 Sange Og Monologer Fra Showet: Mig & Elvis [National Records CD-81664] ● Denmark, 1997
Produced by Danmarks Radio for RMT Productions. Taken from a musical show, “Me & Elvis”, that Nørbygård travelled around with in Denmark during 1996/97, 132 shows altogether with 21 songs and monologues. But I don’t understand the title here, as there is only one track an Elvis medley, the rest are songs from the likes of Berry, Tommy Steele, Percy Sledge, Chubby Checker, Beatles, Willie Nelson etc. Well, there’s also a Danish cover of “Fever” which Elvis did record back in time, but still…
OFF BEAT (Russia)
See DENIS MAZHUKOV
BERT PAQUETTE & The New Gamblers (Canada)
Rock and country singer and guitarist.
Maybellene ( : ) 1981
Memphis, Tennessee [as “Memphis”] ( : ) 1981
LP: Bert Paquette & The New Gamblers [Black Rose Records LP-1001] ● Canada, 1981
Covers on the album are from the likes of Freddy King, Hank Williams, Elvis, Jimmie Rodgers …
COLIN PAUL (UK)
Elvis impersonator. See Volume 3, page 1406 for biographical info.
Run Rudolph Run ( : ) 2009
CD: Home For Christmas [CP Self-released CD-01 2801 66916 7 5] ● UK, 2009
Okay version.
I’m Talking About You [as “Talkin’ ‘Bout You”] (2:22) 2014
CD: Child Of The Sixties [JaG Records 146 5] ● UK, 2014
A pretty good version. Interesting to hear an Elvis soundalike doing Berry numbers that Elvis never did.
MAURICIO PEDROSA BLUES QUARTET (Brazil)
Singer, pianoplayer from São Paulo.
Memphis, Tennessee (3:46) 2013
Roll Over Beethoven (3:47) 2013
Digital album: On The Road Again [Self-released ] ● Brazil, 2013
I especially enjoyed “Memphis” since he’s not followed the Mack/Rivers arrangements.
MIKE V. PHELAN (USA)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist from San Antonio, Texas. I am not sure if the songs below were recorded in 2016, because all of his 7 albums were released on Bandcamp in the summer of 2016, so…?
Johnny B. Goode (2:35) 2016 (?)
Digital album: Mike Rocks [Self-released ] ● USA, 2016
Released 29 June 2016. 16 tracks. Rocks? Well, the singing is more pop oriented.
Maybellene (2:09) 2016 (?)
Digital album: Beyond The ’70s [Self-released ] ● USA, 2016
Released 25 May 2016. 20 tracks.
PENTTI-OSKARI KANKAAN 7-SEINÄHULLUA VELJESTÄ (Finland)
A musical humour band founded in 1966 by Pentti Oskari Kangas. It’s a difficult band name to pronounce, and to speak for that matter. If you’re not from Finland, that is.
Rock And Roll Music (3:11) 2009 (?)
2-CD: Tuplat Vaakahuoneella [Fifty-Fifty FFCD-1061] ● Finland, 2009
The Berry cover is one of many bonus tracks (previously unreleased) so I don’t know when it was recorded actually.
PHILADELPHIA JUG BAND (USA)
Jug band (originally a quartet) formed in 1962 (!) by students at the Council Rock High in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. I’m amazed that they are still doing their thing, however, I don’t know if there are any original members left or whatever.
Sweet Little Sixteen (4:12) 2012
CD: Always Fresh! [Self-released GKMZ-002] ● USA, 2012
Nice to hear a jug/string band version of this classic.
Main Page
This weblog is an addition to my Chuck Berry fansite called "A Collector's Guide to the Music of Chuck Berry" which describes all books and records of interest to everyone enjoying Chuck Berry's music.
Categories
What You Missed
Some earlier but important entries:
- Unanswered questions about the recording of Memphis, Tennessee
- Sweet Little Eight Variants of Sweet Little Sixteen
- The Johnny B. Goode Session
- Chuck Berry in Stereo
- Chuck Berry's Recording Session for Volkswagen
- Chuck Berry's Recording Session for Dr Pepper
- Tim McFarlin Introduces the Berry-Johnson Test into American Copyright Law
- Chuck Berry's Early Recording Locations
- Run! Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer – and the copyright mystery
- Chuck Berry live in New York 1956
- The very first Chuck Berry LP album
- The Chuck Berry On Stage (Chess LP-1480) confusion continues
- The Chuck Berry Vinyl Bootlegs, Vol. 1: Rare Berries
- Rocksmuk album - bootleg or not?
- 6034 cover versions of Chuck Berry songs
- Chuck Berry's Greatest Hits (Chess LP-1485) variants
Recent Entries
- The very first Chuck Berry LP album
- Tuesday, September 2 2025
- CBID - Chuck Berry covers online, live, and on record
- Monday, July 28 2025
- CBID - Maybellene versions and other covers
- Wednesday, April 23 2025
- CBID - More Berry Covers and other things…
- Saturday, March 15 2025
- CHUCK100 Tribute EP Series
- Thursday, January 16 2025
- CBID - Corrections, Additions, New Covers
- Friday, January 10 2025
- Rhythm and Rhyme - Chuck Berry’s poetic heartbeat
- Sunday, December 22 2024
- CBID - 6034 and counting ...
- Friday, November 1 2024
- CBID - 6034 cover versions of Chuck Berry songs
- Friday, July 5 2024
- CBID - The Never Ending Story - pt. 9
- Monday, June 10 2024
- CBID - The Never Ending Story - pt. 8
- Tuesday, June 4 2024
- CBID - The Never Ending Story - pt. 7
- Monday, April 22 2024
- Peter O’Neil’s So-Called Disorder
- Friday, April 12 2024
- The Chuck Berry Sound according to Atomicat
- Wednesday, April 10 2024
- CBID - The Never Ending Story - pt. 6
- Wednesday, April 3 2024
- CBID - The Never Ending Story - pt. 5
- Saturday, March 16 2024
- CBID - The Never Ending Story - pt. 4
- Monday, February 19 2024
- CBID - The Never Ending Story - pt. 3
- Monday, February 5 2024
- CBID - The Never Ending Story - pt. 2
- Monday, January 22 2024
- The Chuck Berry Vinyl Bootlegs, Vol. 3: America's Hottest Wax
- Tuesday, January 16 2024
- Chuck Berry in Fake Stereo
- Friday, January 12 2024
- CBID - The Never Ending Story
- Thursday, January 11 2024
- CBID - 5639 cover versions of Chuck Berry songs
- Tuesday, October 31 2023
- CBID - Covers, Chart Listings, and Not-Covers
- Monday, August 28 2023
- CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - final part 10
- Monday, March 27 2023
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© Dietmar Rudolph
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To contact the authors, email to cbguide@crlf.de.