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Tuesday was Chuck Berry’s 90th birthday. Thanks to him, we’re a little better off, more civilized, more literate and reelin’ and rocking and rolling more than we would have been without him.
Today’s Blues Roots is focused on the branches rather than the roots (although halfway through I realized I missed a good guitar-and-piano partnership story in Johnnie Johnson). I compiled well beyond my personal favorites, but I didn’t try to be at all comprehensive (no Beach Boys, for example, even though the music on a good number of their early songs was written by Chuck Berry). I’d welcome your additions. Most of this post is grouped by songs but the Stones get a playlist (directly below, it also takes less time for the page to draw with lists). One of the songs on the playlist, “Don’t You Lie to Me,” was actually written by Tampa Red but it was performed by Chuck Berry on his New Juke Box Hits from March 1961.
If you don’t know about Chuck Berry here’s a good place to start, Cub Koda’s biographical essay.
“Johnny B. Goode,” Jimi Hendrix filmed the Berkeley Community Center, where this same song was recorded for Hendrix in the West on May 30, 1970. I haven’t listened to the album in a while, so I’m not sure this is exactly the same, but it’s close.
“Johnny B. Goode,” Johnny Winter from Second Winter (1969)
“Johnny B. Goode,” Peter Tosh (1983)
“Memphis,” Lonnie Mack from The Wham of that Memphis Man! (1963)
“Memphis, Tennessee” Sandy Bull from Inventions… (1964)
I figure you’ll follow up on most of these if you’re interested, but I was nearly astounded by the variety of covers generated by “Memphis.” Here’ a list according to Wikipedia.
“You Can’t Catch Me,” the Blues Project from Projections (1966)
“You Can’t Catch Me,” Love Sculpture from Forms And Feelings (1970)
“Come Together”…er, err…uh… “You Can’t Catch Me,” John Lennon from Rock ’n’ Roll (1973)
“You Can’t Catch Me” (starts at 3:12, preceded by “Crossroads”), Steven Stills from Rock and Roll Tonight (1983)
“You Can’t Catch Me,” George Thorogood & The Destroyers from Born to Be Bad (1988)
“Roll Over, Beethoven,” the Beatles from The Beatles’ Second Album (recorded July 30, 1963; released April 10, 1964)
“Roll Over, Beethoven,” Sam Lay from Sam Lay in Bluesland (1969, with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, I regret passing this one up when it was $7)
“Roll Over, Beethoven,” the Flamin’ Groovies live on French TV (1972)
“Too Much Monkey Business,” the Beatles at the Cavern (early ’60s)
“Too Much Monkey Business,” the Yardbirds (Eric Clapton edition) from Five Live Yardbirds (1964)
“Too Much Monkey Business,” Elvis Presley from Flaming Star (1969)
“Carol,” the Doors live (1970?)
“Carol,” the Flamin’ Groovies live (1971?)
“Let It Rock,” Motorhead live on The Letterman Show (May 16, 1991)
“Let It Rock,” the Refreshments (with Albert Lee), don’t know the date but it looks recent; the Refreshments put out a Chuck Berry tribute album called Let It Rock: The Chuck Berry Tribute in 2014
“Let It Rock”/“Little Queenie,” Bob Seger live (1976)
“Little Queenie,” the Flamin’ Groovies live on French TV (1972)
“Little Queenie,” Johnny Thunders live Osaka, Japan from Who’s Been Talking (April 3, 1991); Johnny Thunders was responsible for some of the worst noise that I’ve ever loved.
“Brown-Eyed Handsome Man,” Nina Simone from High Priestess of Soul (1967), fantastic, like everything from Nina Simone
“Sweet Little Sixteen,” John Lennon from Rock ’n’ Roll (1973)
“13 Question Method,” Ry Cooder from Get Rhythm (1987)
“Sweet Little Rock ’n’ Roller,” Faces (with Keith Richards) live (1972?)
“Rock and Roll Music,” Humble Pie from Street Rats (1975)
“Back in the U.S.A.,” Edgar Winter & White Trash from Roadwork (1972)
Next week, back to the past. In the meantime, here are Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five with “Ain’t That Just Like A Woman.” No particular reason, what the…
Don D.
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