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Post by Moon Dawg on May 23, 2021 13:44:56 GMT
Chuck Berry was released from federal prison in October 1963 after serving an 18 month sentence for violation of the Mann Act. Despite the common perception his best work was behind him, Berry proceeded to have a sterling 1964, releasing a series of singles that rank as one of the finest runs in rock & roll history. Several of these singles (and their B sides) form the basis for the epochal ST. LOUIS TO LIVERPOOL (Chess LP 1488), likely the man's best non-compilation LP.
Like all runs, Berry's 1964-65 hot streak came to an end, but his 1964 recordings constitute a real and significant artistic achievement that further solidified what was already written in stone. These singles are among his finest efforts. Rock & Roll worthy of the Nobel Prize.
Released Recorded Title Billboard Cashbox Feb 1964 1-14-64 "Nadine" 23 32 April 1964 3-26-64 "No Particular Place to Go" 10 9 July 1964 1-14-64 "You Never Can Tell" 14 15 Sept 1964 8-16-64 "Little Marie" 54 51 Nov 1964 2-25-64 "Promised Land" 41 35 Mar 1965 12-15-64 "Dear Dad" 95 90 Sep 1965 9-3-65 "It Wasn't Me" n/a n/a
Many would have been broken by prison; Chuck Berry emerged bitter yet unbowed. Hail Hail Rock & Roll!
(BTW - "It Wasn't Me" is currently in use for an Amazon Prime ad.)
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 23, 2021 13:56:42 GMT
It's funny, but I never heard one of those songs, "You Never Can Tell", until I saw the Pulp Fiction movie. And, that song isn't included on The Great Twenty-Eight album. I don't know how they chose the songs for The Great Twenty-Eight, but if that comp would've been complied AFTER Pulp Fiction came out, I wonder if "You Never Can Tell" would've been included.
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Post by Moon Dawg on May 23, 2021 16:08:35 GMT
It's funny, but I never heard one of those songs, "You Never Can Tell", until I saw the Pulp Fiction movie. And, that song isn't included on The Great Twenty-Eight album. I don't know how they chose the songs for The Great Twenty-Eight, but if that comp would've been complied AFTER Pulp Fiction came out, I wonder if "You Never Can Tell" would've been included. THE GREAT 28 has been the standard one disc Chuck Berry comp for some time now, but it does lack essential 1964 cuts such as "You Never Can Tell" and "Promised Land." Not to mention primo 50's tracks like "Wee Wee Hours" and "No Money Down." Mercifully, this set does exclude "My Ding a Ling." As for the more extensive sets, the sound on 1988's 3 CD THE CHESS BOX sounds muffled and "dated", to my non audiophile ears anyway, even though the track selection is just about right. The two disc GOLD (also known as THE ANTHOLOGY) is well assembled but there's no reason to include "Tulane" if you are going to omit the sequel "Have Mercy Judge", absolutely Berry's finest excursion into pure blues. These late date 1970 masterpieces must be heard together. In short, perfection does not exist in the realm of Chuck Berry comps, but there are a number of good options.
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Post by Kapitan on May 23, 2021 16:17:01 GMT
I have to admit I'm woefully ignorant on Chuck Berry, a handful of obvious classics aside. This thread should serve as the nudge I need to give more of his music a good listen, starting with these singles.
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Post by lonelysummer on May 23, 2021 21:04:09 GMT
I remember checking out The Great Twenty Eight from the local library circa 1985 and being annoyed about the omission of You Never Can Tell and Promised Land. Even the best compilations always leave something out. I have The Chess Box and have no complaints about the sound or the track selection. My personal favorite Chuck album is his first, After School Session. He does just about everything on that album - fast rock and roll songs, blues, pop ballads. One Dozen Berries and Berry is on Top are also excellent albums.
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Post by jk on May 24, 2021 17:36:50 GMT
I hope we can stretch this topic to include everything Chuck did (although I think we already have). I've always loved the wonderful bell-like guitar riff on "Our Little Rendezvous" (1960): Deservedly, Chuck's "Johnny B. Goode" is the only pop song out there in deep space on Voyager's Golden Record. The ultimate in recognition, you might say... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voyager_Golden_Record
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Post by jk on May 26, 2021 20:47:37 GMT
Chuck’s original recording of "Come On” with its swirling piano glissandi failed to chart anywhere when first released in 1961. When rereleased in the UK in the early summer of 1963, the A- and B-sides were swapped and “Go, Go, Go” (the first Chuck Berry record I ever heard) was carried into the top 40 by a surge of interest in Chess recording artists. The song namechecks a curious trio of jazz musicians: "Backed up by a jazz band, layin' on the wood, Mixin' Ahmad Jamal in my Johnny B. Goode. Sneakin' Errol Garner in my Sweet Sixteen, Now they tell me Stan Kenton's cuttin' Maybelline” en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Come_On_(Chuck_Berry_song)
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on May 27, 2021 11:06:23 GMT
Like all runs, Berry's 1964-65 hot streak came to an end, but his 1964 recordings constitute a real and significant artistic achievement that further solidified what was already written in stone. These singles are among his finest efforts. Rock & Roll worthy of the Nobel Prize. Released Recorded Title Billboard Cashbox April 1964 3-26-64 "No Particular Place to Go" 10 9 A live performance of "No Particular Place To Go" from early 1965. Chuck is wired! Note the facial expressions...and an upright bass:
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