Comments on: Chuck Berry Week, part 1: Chuck Country

by: Tony HutchisonUK

Sun, 15 Oct 2006 19:41:16 +0000

Excellent stuff–particularly the Ernest Tubb. My favourite recording
of ‘The Promised Land’ is Johnnie Allen’s 1971 Cajun version which shifts at a fair old rate.

Chuck B is actually a really subtle storyteller. A lesser lyricist, for instance, might have put ’someone wrote it on the wall for me’ in the song ‘Memphis’. The fact that he says ‘my uncle’ wrote it on the wall makes it more personal, drawing the listener in. Hail hail Chuck Berry! Can’t wait for more!

by: Charles

Sat, 14 Oct 2006 20:27:02 +0000

Interesting point, and it seems in line with the long-stated point about Berry’s affection for Nat Cole-style ballads, which he always made room for on his albums, though almost never released as singles. “Time Was” and “You Two” are particular favorites of mine.

by: David Cantwell

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 20:25:05 +0000

Micky Soltys: Yes, I’m planning to devote an entire to post to Jim & Jesse review later in the week.

Paul Pritchard: That’s interesting and it makes sense to me. Often Berry sings in second or third person about what are obviously characters, other people (the Johnny B. songs, Brown Eyed Handsome Man, “All day long YOU’ve been wanting to dance” etc).

by: Paul Pritchard

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 19:53:47 +0000

A great start to what promises to be a wonderful tribute.
“Crazy Arms” was a revelation.
To my ears, Chuck always seemed a little distant from his (own) material.
In the way that a novelist is not to be identified with his/her characters.
He sounds unusually direct, sincere even, on “Crazy Arms”.

by: Mickey Soltys

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 17:44:37 +0000

Bluegrass greats Jim and Jesse did a whole album of Chuck Berry covers. The similarities between Berry’s lead guitar style and Bill Monroe’s mandolin playing are also interesting.

by: Ed Ward

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 12:03:43 +0000

I think the country connection is also why Muddy Waters, one of the most competitive of human beings, felt okay with bringing Chuck to the Chess brothers’ attention. No way this country-singing cosmetician was going to be competition for Mud, and he was good, too. A win-win situation for him.

by: Bill-DC

Fri, 13 Oct 2006 01:38:48 +0000

Great stuff. I’d never heard these versions before and they were fantastic. Thanks for posting these.