Chuck Berry -Wow!!!

It's certainly possible whoever compiled the list got their Elvi confused. That doesn't explain the other two songs, though.

 

During the band introductions during the 75-77 period, the Joe Guerico Orchestra used to play "School Days" as an ensemble instrumental. Elvis would sometimes join in on the song. It really doesn't count as a performance but someone may have seen it in passing in a setlist and assumed he sang it properly.

 

I have these in my collection...

The Beach Boys
Johnny B. Goode (Live)
Rock And Roll Music
Sweet Little Sixteen (Surfin’ USA)
Dave Clark Five
Memphis, Tennessee
Reelin’ And Rockin’
Rock And Roll Music
Roll Over Beethoven
Sweet Little Sixteen
Eddie Cochran
Sweet Little Sixteen
John Denver
Johnny B. Goode (1979)
The Everly Bros.
Maybellene
Leif Garrett
Johnny B. Goode
Buddy Holly
Brown-Eyed Handsome Man
Gary Lewis & the Playboys
Sweet Little Rock and Roller
Roy Orbison
Memphis, Tennessee
Simon And Garfunkel
Maybellene


Darryl

 

I thought this was interesting.

Here is a list of the most covered Chuck Berry tracks in order according to Fred Rothwell's - Long Distance Information: Chuck Berry's Recorded Legacy.

1. Johnny B. Goode
2. Memphis Tennessee
3. Roll Over Beethoven
4. Sweet Little Sixteen
5. Maybelline
6. Rock And Roll Music
7. Promised Land
8. Little Queenie
9. Around And Around
10. You Never Can Tell
11. Too Much Monkey Business
12. Brown Eyed Handsome Man
13. School Day
14. Let It Rock
15. No Particular Place To Go
16. Bye Bye Johnny
17. Carol
18. Thirty Days
19. Nadine
20. Reelin' And Rockin'
21. I'm Talking About You
22. Back In The U.S.A.
23. Sweet Little Rock And Roller
24. Run Rudolph Run
25. No Money Down
26. Almost Grown
27. You Can't Catch Me
28. Beautiful Delilah
29. Wee Wee Hours
30. My Ding-A-Ling

 

Here's an upcoming Ace Records CD of Chuck covers in their "Songs of" series :

Various Artists (Songwriter Series) - Rock And Roll Music! The Songs Of Chuck Berry - Ace Records »

 

That looks interesting.

 

The highlighted tracks from this list are not included on the Great Twenty-Eight.

1. Johnny B. Goode
2. Memphis Tennessee
3. Roll Over Beethoven
4. Sweet Little Sixteen
5. Maybelline
6. Rock And Roll Music
7. Promised Land
8. Little Queenie
9. Around And Around
10. You Never Can Tell
11. Too Much Monkey Business
12. Brown Eyed Handsome Man
13. School Day
14. Let It Rock
15. No Particular Place To Go
16. Bye Bye Johnny
17. Carol
18. Thirty Days
19. Nadine
20. Reelin' And Rockin'
21. I'm Talking About You
22. Back In The U.S.A.
23. Sweet Little Rock And Roller
24. Run Rudolph Run
25. No Money Down
26. Almost Grown
27. You Can't Catch Me
28. Beautiful Delilah
29. Wee Wee Hours
30. My Ding-A-Ling

The Great Twenty-Eight included the following tracks that are not on the list of the top 30 most covered Chuck Berry tracks.

Havana Moon
Oh Baby Doll
Come On
I Want To Be Your Driver

FYI: Come On was number 31 on the list of most covered Chuck Berry tracks but I stopped at 30.

 

From another CB thread, here's a comp I put together...

Chuck Berry - 50 Finest Berries

Disc 1

1 Maybellene
2 Wee Wee Hours
3 Thirty Days
4 No Money Down
5 Downbound Train
6 Roll Over Beethoven
7 Drifting Heart
8 You Can't Catch Me
9 Havana Moon
10 Too Much Monkey Business
11 Brown Eyed Handsome Man
12 School Day
13 Deep Feeling
14 Oh! Baby Doll
15 Rock And Roll Music
16 Sweet Little Sixteen
17 Reelin' And Rocking
18 Guitar Boogie
19 Johnny Be Goode
20 Around And Around
21 Beautiful Delilah
22 Carol
23 Sweet Little Rock And Roller
24 Jo Jo Gunne
25 Merry Christmas Baby

Disc 2

1 Run Rudolph Run
2 Anthony Boy
3 Almost Grown
4 Little Queenie
5 Back In The USA
6 Betty Jean
7 Memphis, Tennessee
8 Let It Rock
9 Too Poopped To Pop
10 Bye Bye Johnny
11 Down The Road A Piece
12 Confessin' The Blues
13 Jaguar And Thunderbird
14 I'm Talking About You
15 Come On
16 Go Go Go
17 Nadine
18 No Particular Place To Go
19 You Never Can Tell
20 Promised Land
21 Little Marie
22 I Wanna Be Your Driver
23 Dear Dad
24 My Ding-A-Ling
25 House Of Blue Lights


Darryl

 

Not surprising. I think Promised Land and You Never Can Tell are the most glaring omissions from The Great 28, and Havana Moon and Oh Baby Doll are the weakest tracks on it.

It's also interesting to note that Chuck's second-most covered song (Memphis Tennessee) was not even a chart hit for him in the US. Yet it managed to take on a life of its own somehow.

 

Just for fun, here are the next ten most covered Chuck Berry songs from the book.

31. Come On
32. Tulane
33. Downbound Train
34. Guitar Boogie
35. Havana Moon
36. Dear Dad
37. Jaguar And Thunderbird
38. Back To Memphis (Mercury)
39. Oh Baby Doll
40 tie All Aboard, Go Go Go, It Don't Take But A Few Minutes, It's My Own Business, I Want To Be Your Driver & Oh What A Thrill (Atlantic)

 

I agree! there's nothing wrong with the mastering of The Chess Box, it's highly recommended. Also the first five albums (1957-1961) and 'The London Chuck Berry Sessions' are available as stand alone CD's (2013) with bonus tracks, consisting of B sides, non album singles and outtakes.
All are from Japan under the banner 'Chess Best Collection', 7 euro's each, and are also highly recommended.
Link to one of them Amazon.co.jp: チャック・ベリー, B.B.キング : ニュー・ジュークボックス・ヒッツ - ミュージック »

 

Anyway to view this site in English?

 

Yes, on the hi right, next to 'your orders' there is a button were you can change language to English

 

Thanks!

 

I picked up used copies of Rock 'N' Roll Rarities & More Rock 'N' Roll Rarities mastered by our host and they sound great. They are a good listen as well.

 

I would guess the amount of covers it had (from Elvis to Johnny Rivers to the Faces) brought attention back to Chuck's original

 

A good a time as any to bump up this thread.
For you Chuck.

 

How is the sound on this set? Ive heard some mixed things about some of these public domain releases. Thanks

 

I don't actually have that set. I posted it for people that were looking to acquire quite a bit of his catalog all at once.

 

To emphasize this point - if you wish to purchase 'The Great Twenty Eight' on LP get the 1982 version on the Chess/ Sugar Hill Records label, catalogue number CH8201. The catalogue number CH2 92500 indicates a later pressing (1984 and onwards) on MCA. The SQ on the Sugar Hill version is better. There should be a Sterling (mastering) stamp in the deadwax of the Sugar Hill records.

I also recomend the 1980s re-issues of his individual albums - this time on the MCA label; and the three rarities albums: 'Rock n Roll Rarities', 'More Rock n Roll Rarities From the Golden Era of Chess Records' and 'Missing Berries - Rarities Volume 3'.

 

I'm going to listen to Rock It soon.

 

It has some worthwhile tracks.

 

I like Wuden't Me the best.

 

I also like Move It and Oh What A Thrill.

 

Big Boy - Preview of single from new Chuck's new album