CBID - More Berry Covers

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: Some observations and yet another list of cover versions to be added to the chapter on Chuck Berry covers in Volume 3:

There’s lot of versions of Johnny B. Goode on the net but many of them are for download only. I am glad that I am not doing the books now (especially Vol. 3) as there would have been a complete mess finding out if the actual songs are available on any CDs.

I also found a duo calling themselves Johnny B. Goode (yes) and a girl quartet named The Maybellene’s, both seem to be from the US.

Note: “Back In The USA” by Starbyrd we will have to place in the NO Chuck section, it’s not Berry’s!

Also, “Run Rudolph Run” by Chuck is featured in many films, as we know. A more recent movie from 2015 titled “A Christmas Melody” has this played when the family is driving from one place to another. Cast Lacey Nicole Chabert and Brennan Elliott. Directed by Mariah Carey who also has a role in this movie.

DONALD FAGEN (USA)

Donald Jay Fagen from New Jersey, born in 1948, is a singer and keybord player and probably best known for being a co-founder of the 1970s pop-rock/jazz band Steely Dan.

Viva, Viva Rock & Roll (2:42) 2007 (live)

CD: Morph The Cat [Reprise 43325-2] • USA, 2007
5-CD box: Cheap Xmas: Donald Fagen Complete [Rhino/Warner Bros. 812279328 2] • USA, 2017

Interesting to see that he covers an obscure Berry rocker. He does a great job of it, and you can even find a performance on You Tube.

ADAM DOUGLAS (USA/Norway)

Born in the USA (Oklahoma), but now living in Norway (Harestua . Hadeland). Born in 1981. He’s a very versatile artist performing rock’n’roll/soul/blues type of music, and released his debut album in 2015, “I May Never Learn”. He competed in the Norwegian TV-show Stjernekamp (=Starfight) in 2017 and won.

Run Rudolph Run (4:01) 2017

CD: An American Holiday [Reva Records CA-19] • Norway, 2018

Recorded live in Nordstrand Kirke, Oslo, Norway. (Kirke = Church) This was also a TV-programme. This version of the Berry classic doesn’t run so much and the guitar solo is more 60s/70s lacking the most.

JOHNNY FRITZ (Canada)

Country singer/songwriter , born 1961 in a small town just outside of Toronto.

Johnny B. Goode (4:02) 2015

CD: No End In Sight [J Fritz 234639] • Canada, 2015

ERIN HARPE And The DELTA SWINGERS (USA)

Run Rudolph Run (3:33) 2018

CD: Christmas Swing [Vizz Tone CD-VTJJ-003] • USA, 2018

WALLIS LAKE & The Surfin’ Guitars (USA)

Brown Eyed Handsome Man (2:03) 1963
Let It Rock [as ‘Rocking On The Railroad’] ( : ) 1963

45: 4 Sons Records 4106 • USA, 1963

Label out of Paris, Tennessee. Again interesting to see a double sided Berry cover 45. There’s no year printed on the label, but because of the mistitle of “Let It Rock” it’s probably taken from the Berry “On Stage” Chess LP from August ’63. I haven’t heard it but it should be interesting to hear if they by any chance used the new arrangement of “Brown Eyed Handsome Man” which was also included on the “On Stage” album.

RONNIE LANE (UK)

See Volume 3, page 1305 for biographical info.

You Never Can Tell (9:57) 1980 (live)

CD: Live At Rockpalast 1980 [MIG Music 90542 CD] • Germany, 2012

Recorded on 19 March 1980 in Cologne, West Germany. This is okay but nothing more, even though he has Ian Stewart with him on piano. Almost 10 minutes, I still feel it doesn’t swing enough.

SCORPIONS (UK)

See volume 3, page 1492 for biographical info.

Guitar Boogie (instr) (2:20) 1959
Rock At The Philarmonic [as ‘Rockin’ At The Phil’] (instr) (3:52) 1960

CD: The Scorpions: Anthology 1959-1965 [Wooden Hill WHCD-004] • UK, 1996

When Vol.3 was published I didn’t have this particular CD. I was quite certain that it was the same version and nobody told me that “Guitar Boogie” was actually a Berry cover and not Arthur Smith’s. Anyway, it turns out that the numbers here were recorded in November 1959 and December 1960 respectively. AND the version of “Rockin’ At The Phil” is a totally different take, going much slower and stretched out to almost four minutes. However, it doesn’t have the fire and power of the released fast and shorter version. “Guitar Boogie” is not in the same league, it’s messy and in poorer sound quality.
The CD contains 32 tracks, many instrumentals.

SHIVAREE (USA)

Alternative pop/rock band formed in 1997 and consisted of Ambrosia Parsley (vocals), Danny McGough (keyboards), Duke McVinnie (guitar). Probably best known for “Goodnight Moon”, a song used in both Dawson’s Creek and Volume 2 of Kill Bill. The band separated officially the same year the album below came out.

I Want To Be Your Driver [as ‘ I Wanna Be Your Driver’] (2:29) 2007

CD: Tainted Love: Mating Calls And Fight Songs [Zoë Records ZOE 01143-1092-2] • USA, 2007

This is quite okay, but too much noise for me, and the guitarist is no rock’n’roller to say the least.

RON WILLIAMS (USA)

Country singer/songwriter in the traditional style. Son of country singer/songwriter Leona Williams.

Nadine (3:18) 2013

CD: Foolproof [Loveshine CD-4261] • USA, 2013

A solid rendition of this Berry classic, with fiddle, steel and a horn section.