BCB 100 - Chuck Berry

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geoffcowgill
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BCB 100 - Chuck Berry

Postby geoffcowgill » 27 Jun 2006, 16:36

Outside of the Beatles and Bob Dylan, surely Berry is the most influential figure in rock music. And he's still a joy to listen to fifty years later. My brother has a 9-disc collection that I'd love to be able to find for myself. His albums (though increasingly hard to find on CD) are full of surprising little rarities, showing that he was more than just a singles artist. There's a bit of filler on all of them, probably, but After School Sessions is quite solid for a 1957 LP, with some lovely instrumentals on it. Of course, The Great 28 is flawless (even having the good taste to ignore "My Ding-A-Ling").

With such a wealth of greatness, it's really hard to choose a favorite song. "Too Much Monkey Business," "Memphis," "Beautiful Delilah", "Don't You Lie To Me," "Brown Eyed Handsome Man"... I'm going to have to go with "Maybellene", the archetypal rock song, the shot of the starter gun.

Favorite Album - After School Sessions

Favorite Song - "Maybellene"

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Postby Clippernolan » 27 Jun 2006, 16:39

As it has been said on this very board, Chuck Berry may be the greatest narrative-style songwriter ever.

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Postby sloopjohnc » 27 Jun 2006, 16:47

Album - "Motorvatin'" (it's a British import)

Song - Too Much Monkey Business/Maybelline
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Postby brilleaux » 27 Jun 2006, 16:59

Fave track? "Havana Moon"
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Postby doctorlouie » 27 Jun 2006, 17:04

Can't pick an LP (I've only got a 40 track double best of which is pretty definitve)

Best Song: Well, it's Johnny B Gooode isn't it?
As a more obscure runner-up I'd give some respect to: Downbound Train, which Nick Cave should cover for Hallowe'en.

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T. Berry Shuffle
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Re: BCB 100 - Chuck Berry

Postby T. Berry Shuffle » 27 Jun 2006, 17:04

geoffcowgill wrote:Outside of the Beatles and Bob Dylan, surely Berry is the most influential figure in rock music.



:?: WTF :?:

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Re: BCB 100 - Chuck Berry

Postby doctorlouie » 27 Jun 2006, 17:11

T. Berry Shuffle wrote:
geoffcowgill wrote:Outside of the Beatles and Bob Dylan, surely Berry is the most influential figure in rock music.



:?: WTF :?:

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The man in the big hat has a point.

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Postby andymacandy » 27 Jun 2006, 17:22

brotherlouie wrote:Can't pick an LP (I've only got a 40 track double best of which is pretty definitve)

Best Song: Well, it's Johnny B Gooode isn't it?

Normally, yes................
And yet......."Promised Land"............
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T. Berry Shuffle
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Postby T. Berry Shuffle » 27 Jun 2006, 17:49

Best Album: After School Session

Best Song: Schools Days (Every guitar player schould analyze the solo to this song and learn from it. Berry accomplishes more in the abbreviated flurry of notes in this solo alone than some players ever do. It swings like mad, his tone is perfect and he keeps it simple. It's my absolute favourite Berry guitar bit.)
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geoffcowgill
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Re: BCB 100 - Chuck Berry

Postby geoffcowgill » 27 Jun 2006, 18:03

T. Berry Shuffle wrote:
geoffcowgill wrote:Outside of the Beatles and Bob Dylan, surely Berry is the most influential figure in rock music.



:?: WTF :?:

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Culturally, Elvis had probably the largest influence. Musically, I still think it's Beatles, Bob, and Chuck.

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T. Berry Shuffle
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Postby T. Berry Shuffle » 27 Jun 2006, 18:20

And you are wrong.
You read that in a book, didn't you?!

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Postby Snarfyguy » 27 Jun 2006, 18:28

Album: N/A

Song: You Can't Catch Me

It's like lightning in a bottle, that one.
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Postby toomanyhatz » 28 Jun 2006, 06:52

Chuck Berry is another one of those artists that's so great and his influence so pervasive, that it's hard to pick a favorite-there are so many. But that After School Session is pretty great. For song, avoiding the obvious, I've always liked "Tulane." The kind of short-story song he's the master of, updated for the hippie days. Nice proto-rap (maybe influenced by "Subterranean Homesick Blues" which is in turn influenced "Brown-Eyed Handsome Man"?) in the vocal too.
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Postby Muskrat » 28 Jun 2006, 07:06

In addition to the obvious ones, I recommend Downbound Train -- a genuinely scary trip to hell -- and Liverpool Drive, the latter off the St. Louis to Liverpool album. It's an updated version of Rockin' at the Philharmonic, and an instrumental like none other of Berry's (none other than Liverpool and Rockin' at the Fillmore, another version of the same tune.

Fact is, the whole St. Louis to Liverpool album is pretty fine. I love the intimate You Two; there's Little Marie, the sequel to Memphis, Tennessee; etc.

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