CBID - 2016 cover versions

CBID is never complete as new records and CDs appear and some old rarities are discovered. This section presents interesting additions and corrections to CBID.

Today: A couple of Berry covers released in 2016 plus a few older ones I have gathered lately, to be added to the chapter on Chuck Berry covers in Volume 3

DAVE BURGIN (USA)

Out of the San Francisco blues scene, this blues harp player and singer recorded his first solo album back in 1981. But already in The ‘70s he had joined forces with Roy Rogers and they performed as Rogers & Burgin. During his long career he has toured and recorded with the likes of Jerry Garcia, Amos Garrett, Colin James, Maria Muldaur, k d lang and many more.

No Money Down (5:39) 2016
Thirty Days (3:37) 2016

CD: No Money Down [Burgin Music 295423076] • USA, 2016

"Thirty Days" is quite different than most other versions, a little jazzy, and "No Money Down" is long, solid and tough with a growly voice and hammond B3 which makes it a little unusual. Burgin’s backed by people like Roy Rogers (slide guitar), Volker Strifler and Danny Caron (guitars), Jim Pugh (keyboards), Rob Sudduth (sax), Marvin McFadden (trumpet), Gene Houck (bass) and Kevin Hayes (drums). Not bad to have two Berry songs covered in 2016 by a blues artist and even naming the album after one!!!

SAMMY KERSHAW (USA)

See Volume 3, page 1287 for biographical info.

No Money Down (3:55) 2015

CD: The Blues Got Me [Big Hit Records BHR-00161] • USA, 2016

Very good rendition of this Berry blues classic. It also has a guitar/piano break which I think Berry’s own misses. Think of the lyrics, I mean, Berry was way ahead of his time. And it’s interesting to see that a great country artist again picks a Berry song for an album, this time a blues album were most of the songs are written by him or in collaboration.

EZRA LEE & THE HAVOC BAND (Australia)

A younger rock’n’roll and boogie woogie pianist, born in 1986 as Ezra Lee Matzeniik and now living in Melbourne. He’s learned from the best, like Dr. John and Johnnie Johnson. He’s played various rockabilly festivals and Ezra and his band also backed Wanda Jackson on her Spring 2013 Australian tour. So far he’s released 5 albums.

Let It Rock (2:52) 2015

CD: Boomerang Boogie [Rhtyhm Bomb RBR-5823] • Australia, 2016

Rockin’ Jerry Lee style version.

MEFISTO (Czechoslovakia)

See Volume 3, page 1359 for biographical info. See also Soundalikes and Tributes.

Roll Over Beethoven (3:15) 1965

CD: Greatest Hits [Supraphon 111629-2 311] • Czechoslovakia, 1993

I have not been able to find any original release for this cover. The album above also includes a version of "Johnny B. Goode" and the tribute/soundalike "I Like Chuck Berry". Just a little on the group name, the various artists LP I have (page 1359) calls the group Mefistos (not Mefisto) but it seems the correct name of the group was actually Mefisto.

I Like Chuck Berry (2:58) (Petr Kaplan) 1966 (instr)

CD: Greatest Hits [Supraphon 111629-2 311] • Czechoslovakia, 1993

A very goode instrumental in the Deep Feeling mode. Interesting to notice that they as early as the mid ‘60s paid tribute to Berry by this unusual instrumental not using the standard Johnny B. riff. I had never heard of this tribute before but thanks to Ari Niskanen in Finland who came across it in 2016(!) I have not been able to find the original release of this, but at least it is available on the above CD compilation.

[Note: The one above is not a cover version. You should file it under TRIBUTES AND SOUNDALIKES.]

STELLA PARTON (USA)

Younger sister of you know who, born in 1949. She also has a long career, although not as spectacular as Dolly, far from it really. She was part of a family gospel album in 1967 but had her first country hit and solo album in 1975. As you may notice she is still active and has so far released over 20 albums.

Johnny B. Goode (2:38) 2015

CD: Last Train To Memphis [Raptor RR-2022] • USA. 2015

Now this was a surprise. Good groove in the rhythm section and a strong guitar player with the Berry riffs intact. The album itself is actually a tribute to the old rock’n’roll music, as most of the songs are covers of well-known classics.

CLIFF RICHARD (UK)

See volume 3, page 1452 for biographical info.

Johnny B. Goode (2:48) 2013
School Day [School Days] (2:51) 2013

CD: The Fabulous Rock’N’Roll Songbook [Rhino (Warner) 2564641187] • UK, 2013

Recorded at Blackbird Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. 14 classic rock’n’roll songs and one original song. Some are very good and some sounds a little hasty. But overall a nice try from Mr. Richard. At the same time it was released a DVD and Blu-Ray with Cliff titled "Still Reelin’ And A-Rockin’", recorded live at the Sydney Opera House (Australia) featuring 2 hours of rock’n’roll hits. Among the many rock’n’roll hits it includes two Berry covers, "Reelin’ And Rockin’" and "Forty Days".

Memphis, Tennessee (2:34) 2016
Roll Over Beethoven (2:50) 2016
Sweet Little Sixteen (3:08) 2016

CD: Just… Fabulous Rock’N’Roll [Sony Music 88985367742 ] • UK, 2016

More Nashville recordings. Produced by the same guy who was responsible for the first one, Steve Mandile. Again I was a little skeptical to this. How could Cliff improve anything on these classics, recorded so many times by so many people? BUT this time it really rocks, thanks to excellent musicians, some are the same as above. And he sings good too. Except for "Memphis" which is in the Johnny Rivers arrangement which I am not so fond of when covered by others, I became attached to the rock’n’roll beat. I love to be surprised and I did.

SHE & HIM (USA)

Country/folk artist M. Ward and actress/singer/songwriter Zooey Deschanel from Portland, Oregon got together in 2008 and released their first album. The CD below is their second Christmas compilation.

Run Rudolph Run (2:52) 2016

CD: Christmas Party [Columbia/Sony Music 8898 5380642] • USA, 2016

Slowed down acoustic version for about two minutes when it starts to rock. Unusual yes, but Ward’s voice is a little boring.

ØYSTEIN SUNDE (Norway)

See Volume 3, page 1541 for biographical info.

Johnny B. Goode [as “Johnny B. Goode På Sjukehjem”] (3:40) 2016

CD: Bestefar [Spinner SRXCD-2028] • Norway, 2016

Norwegian lyrics by Øystein Sunde, title translated: Johnny B. Goode In Nursing-Home. This version has been a highlight of his concerts for several years, and now finally on record. It features guitarist Petter Baarli (from Backstreet Girls) and pianist Reidar Larsen. Larsen is in the Soundalikes section (Vol.4) and Baarli and Backstreet Girls are in both Vol. 3 and Vol. 4.