22/07/2004

Why all the fuss about Chuck Berry?

A 20 year old grown-up asks: why all the fuss about Chuck Berry? Well, it's because he was such an influential musician in the 1950s rock n roll boom. Nowhere near as popular as the white boy rockers, he was more creative than nearly all of them.

His major songs, from Roll Over Beethoven to Brown Eyed Handsome Man, Johnny B Goode to Sweet Little Sixteen, mark him as the outstanding song writer of his generation, and a very early singer-songwriter. His work was widely covered in the 50s, and later by the Rolling Stones and Beatles. You can hear him in mid-60s electric Dylan.

Berry's beautifuly crafted best songs document teen melodramas against the backdrop of Eisenhower's America. And they do it with style and not a little sly wit: Berry was a gifted chronicler of the new '50s affluent youth culture. His words are intelligent, his music forces you to start wiggling your butt.

There are countless compilations of this material, but I particularly like Hail! Hail! Rock n Roll, a 32 track set on the Instant reissue label, under licence from Chess label Charly. Berry's lesser-known blues sides from Chess are best heard on Fruit of the Vine

Last week, reader Dean Bibb posed three questions for anyone else who saw the Berry/Jerry Lee Lewis UK tour:

1. Does anyone know the set list they did at Wolverhampton Civic?

2. Is there a web site with 2004 photos?

3. Who were the rockabilly support band? I know the name had three words and
the last word was "Creek".

Two readers have supplied very helpful answers. Wolfgang answered all three questions:

1. Set Lists:
Berry: Roll Over Beethoven - School Days - Around And Around - It Hurts Me Too - Carol - Little Queenie - Memphis - Around And Around - Love In Three Quarter Time - My Ding A Ling - Rock'n'Roll Music - Mean Old World - Johnny B. Goode - Reelin' And Rockin' - House Lights

Jerry Lee Lewis: Drinkin' Wine Spo Dee O Dee - Boogie Woogie Country Man - You Win Again - Chantilly Lace - No Headstone On My Grave - As Far As I'm Concerned - Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On - Great Balls Of Fire

2. Yeah, actually two:
a) www.chuckberry.de
b) www.jerryleelewis.nl

3. The Sugar Creek Trio

Cam confirmed the support band info. He also posed a new question for fans who saw the UK shows: "what were the names of Chuck's band members?"

It's a privilege for Music for Grown-Ups to host expert discussion on two landmark musicians. Thanks to all correspondents.

Please make sure you vote on the web site's current poll on 1950s rockers.

Gerry Smith

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