CBID - Cover versions: a big surprise

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 few additions, two corrections, and a big surprise.

A new one to place in the NO CHUCK section.
Cathy Saunders (USA) – (I said) Johnny Be Good (2:05) (Edit 45-00-2002-V) 1962
This is teen pop with a little rockin’ voice. And has absolutely nothing to do with the Berry song. Written by one Triune who also produced the record.

BOOKER T. JONES (USA)

Booker Taliaferro Jones Jr. was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1944. He’s an multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, producer and arranger. Booker T & The MG’s should be a well known name for lots of people, soul music from the ‘60s. They were the unnamed house band for Stax Records. Along with Steve Cropper and Duck Dunn he did all the Stax hits from Sam & Dave, Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett and so on. “Green Onions” is a classic instrumental hit from 1962 with a really good groove. His first solo album came in 1974.
Because of his studio work with so many artists in the last 60 years he won himself a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007. He’s in the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, inducted 1992.
It’s also interesting to notice that Booker T. actually sang lead on Santana’s version of “Havana Moon” in 1983 and that he co-produced the entire album.

Havana Moon (4:26) 2019

CD: Note By Note [Edith Street 51182] • USA, 2019

This album is released together with an autobiography titled “Time Is Tight – My Life, Note By Note”. He was on a national tour of concert and book reading events which started in November 2019 and went on through February 2020. On the album he has help from several people both on vocals and various instruments. Booker T. himself is handling the vocals on this Berry number and gets help from his son Teddy on guitar. This is not so different from several other versions and is performed in an okay latin way, all considered.

CONNECTION (USA)

Rock quartet from Rochester, New Hampshire, consisting of Brad Marino (vocals-guitar), Geoff Palmer (lead guitar-vocals), Bobby Davis (bass) and Zack Sprague (drums), plus additional musicians like Kris Rodgers (piano-organ). Again interesting that of 14 tracks 12 are written by Marino and Palmer, one cover by the Rolling Stones “Connection” and the Berry cover, which of course was also covered by the Stones.

Let It Rock (2:12) 2013

CD: Let It Rock [Collectors Club CCR-12] • USA, 2013
LP: Let It Rock [King Yum KY-002] • USA, 2013
LP: Let It Rock [Rumble/Ghost Highway GHR-67] • Spain, 2013

A good rockin’ version with elements of the Stones (naturally).

See also Brad Marino

JERRY GARCIA BAND (USA)

See Volume 3, page 1207 for biographical info.

Let It Rock (8:59) 1989 (live)

2-CD: GarciaLive Volume 13: September 16th, 1989 Poplar Creek Music Theatre [Round Records 40152] • USA, 2020

The 13th installment of an ongoing series of archival concert albums from the Jerry Garcia Band was released on Friday 24 April, featuring a previously unreleased performance the late Grateful Dead frontman's side group gave outside of Chicago that featured a guest appearance by late E Street Band sax player Clarence Clemons.

HATTERFOX (USA)

School Day [School Days] (2:11) 1970s

45: Med-Fly Records MFR-001 • USA, 1970s

This was spotted on eBay March 2020 and the seller wanted over 200 dollars for it so I passed. I wonder, old records aren’t gold anymore but some sellers still think so.
And sorry to say I don’t know anything about this, can’t find it mentioned anywhere. The label is out of Redstone, Al which could mean Alabama. The B-side has a song titled “Coming Down On You” written by Leverett/Leverett, which tells me nothing.
However, I did find another 45 by Hatterfox on Unique Records out of Daytona Beach, Florida titled “Lonely Tonight” also written by Leverett.

BIBER HERRMANN (Germany)

Acoustic folk/blues singer, songwriter. His first two albums (in 1993 & 1999) he released himself. The one below is his third and he also has four more CDs and a couple of guitar workshop DVDs.

You Can’t Catch Me (3:45) 2007

CD: Rainbow Walker [Wonderland Records WR-9043] • Germany, 2007

Pretty unusual acoustic guitar version with nice and easy drums put on to good effect.

SKIP JENSEN (Canada)

Real name Serge Gendron, born in 1967 and raised in Lachine, Montreal. Singer, songwriter, cartoonist. While also performing solo he’s been in various rock bands like Scat Rag Boosters (1996-2004), Stack-O’Lees, The Wrong Doers and Demon’s Claws.

Promised Land (3:56) 2002

EP: Skip Jensen & His Shakin’ Feet [Yakisakana Records SAZAE-010] • France, 2003

3 tracks. Issued with an insert quoting: Recorded at home in my room and bathroom at the end of 2001 and beginning of 2002. Skip Jensen sings, plays guitar, harmonica and his feet do the rest. If you read my comments on the below you’ll get an idea, although this sounds more simple in structure, interesting but pretty boring, sorry to say.

Promised Land (3:57) 2005

CD: Abscond [Delta Pop Music DPM-005] • USA, 2005
LP: Abscond [Demolition Derby NITRO-28] • Belgium, 2005

Strange mid tempo folky version with harmonica (Dylan type). Actually he’s trying to sound a bit like Dylan in his singing too. The beauty of Berry’s original is almost gone.

KAISERS (UK)

See Volume 3, page 1283 for biographical info.

Nadine (2:20) 2018

CD: Ruff ‘N’ Rare [Sound Flat Records SFR-10-005] • Germany, 2018

LIVIN’ BLUES (Netherlands)

Rock/blues band who’s been around since 1967 in various formations. So far they have released some 12 albums, the first coming out in 1969, titled “Hell’s Session”. Also a lot of compilation albums throughout the years. It seems like they are being very popular.

Havana Moon (3:50) 1987

LP: Now [Bounce Records BR-8701] • Netherlands, 1987
CD: Now [DMI Records DMI-201205080] • Netherlands, 2012

Less caribbean and more bluesy version with harmonica.

BRAD MARINO (USA)

Rock singer/songwriter from Rochester, New Hampshire. Founding member of the rock group The Connection who had an album released in 2013 titled “Let It Rock”.

Bye Bye Johnny (2:30) 2019

CD: Extra Credit [RUM BAR Records RUM-042] • USA, 2019
LP: Extra Credit [Ghost Highway Beluga077 GHR-203] • Sweden, 2019

The LP was a limited edition with only 500 copies pressed.

See also Connection

MORRIS FONTANE (USA)

Maybellene [as “Maybelline”] ( : ) 1955

45 EP: EP Records EP 4 Hits EPR-11 • USA, 1955

Various artists performing then current hit records. Budget label out of Brooklyn, New York. Morris Fontane was better known as Morris Fontain who recorded “Juicin’ And Goofin’ ” on Savoy 1139 in 1954. The other two artists featured are The Echoes (2 songs) and Emmet Hobson.

PANIKS (Spain)

Punk/garage rock quartet consisting of José Ramón Rioja (vocals, guitar), Ainoa Astiazaran (guitar), Maribel Ortiz De Urbina (standup bass), Patxi López Monasterio (drums). At least that was the band when they recorded the album below.

Stop And Listen (2:55) 2007

CD: Panik Piknik [Bi Batean Diskak BBD-004] • Spain, 2008
LP: Panik Piknik [El Beasto Recordings EB-033] • Spain, 2008

There’s an extra track on the LP at the end of side B.
Now what a BIG surprise finding this very obscure Berry track being covered in 2007. Never thought anyone would do this although they actually did a decent job of it.

POPA CHUBBY (USA)

See Volume 3, page 1422 for biographical info.
However, there are some justifications and amendments regarding the actual release, see below.

No Money Down (9:59) 2002 (live)

2-CD: Live At FIP [Dixie Frog DFGCD-8550 ] • France, 2003

This is what happens when you don’t have the actual album in hand. The track was recorded live at Radio France (Studio 105), Paris, 12 February 2002. He also does Carl Perkins’ “Matchbox” and the country classic “Jackson” a.o. And it was a 2-CD set and album released in France.

TOMMY C & THE BLACK WIDOW GREASE BAND (USA)

Tommy C has been rocking crowds since 1979. Singer, saxophone player. He’s played on stage with many of the rockn’roll legends and also had a 10 year stretch as a musical director for Chubby Checker. Tommy C is a Detroit native and has been influenced by musical styles from Motown to rock ’n’ roll. A revival band with a Detroit sound from Santa Clarita (California).

Bye Bye Johnny ( : ) 2019
Memphis, Tennessee [as “Memphis”] ( : ) 2019 (instr)

CD: Hidden Treasures [TCI 0968] • USA, 2019

A Tribute to the Finest Era of American Rock And Roll, so the add tells us. And he and the band are doing concert dates throughout the US during 2020, also Canada.