CBID - More Berry Covers - part 2

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: Spending more time on discogs and 45cat found me some more previously unknown cover versions.

YOSHITAKA MINAMI (Japan)

Singer, songwriter and producer. born 1950 in Tokyo. A popular man in Japan with a lot of singles and albums released from the early ‘70s.

You Never Can Tell (3:24) 2002

CD: Blue Nude [JVC VICJ-60908] ● Japan, 2002

WILLY MONTI (Chile)

Pop singer who had several singles out from 1965.

No Particular Place To Go (as “No Tenia Nada Que Hacer”) (2:22) 1965

45: Demon SD-087 ● Chile, 1965

Now this is actually a pretty nice version and the musicians featured are pretty good.

GÜNTER NORIS und die Big Band der Bundeswehr (West Germany)

Real name Günter Maier. Born 1935 in Bad Kissingen, died 2007. Bandleader, pianist, composer and arranger. He’s released so many albums…

Memphis, Tennesse (2:43) 1972 (instr)

LP: LP: Rock & Pop Party – Welthits Im Happy Sound 2 [CBS S-65493] ● West Germany, 1972

Quite goode big band version with a solid beat.

JAY ORLANDO (USA)

A jazzy saxophone player who had at least 3 albums out in the ‘70s. On his Jay & B album from 1972 “Horn Aplenty” (which didn’t feature “Memphis”) he’s labeled as "The Sexiest Sax In Showbiz" (!)

Memphis, Tennessee (as “Memphis”) (2:30) 1972 (instr)

45: Jay & B Records JB-45001 ● USA, 1972

Record label out of Las Vegas, Nevada.

LE POING Mark Robson (France)

Rock quartet led by Mark Robson.

Sweet Little Sixteen (1:35) 1971 (live)

LP: Hard Rock’n’Roll Live [Carabine 26 222] ● France, 1972

It seems this album was first released in 1971 on a none label issue. So the album above was a re-release which also came out both in Italy and Spain.
See also MARK ROBSON

REFLOTRON (Switzerland)

You Never Can Tell (C’est La Vie) ( : ) 1987

45: MSM MSM-1020 ● Switzerland, 1987 (picture sleeve)

MARK ROBSON (France)

He’s known in France as a rock’n’roll performer doing rock standards. He began in the group “Le Poing Mark Robson” around 1970 which was a rock-quartet and gradually became his vehicle.

Rock And Roll Music ( : ) 1976

EP: Rockotek [Ultra Nova UN-1000] ● France, 1976

See also LE POING

JERRY RUDOLPH & His Orchestra (Australia)

See PAUL BEAN

HIDEKI SAIJO (Japan)

Male Singer/actor born 1955, died 2018 at the age of 63. He released his first single and album in 1972. He’s had so many records out I stopped counting. He has also received several Awards, both as a vocalist and record sales. A very popular artist.

Johnny B. Goode (2:39) 1976 (live)
Roll Over Beethoven (2:41) 1976 (live)

LP: Rock On Stage [RCA RVL-7005] ● Japan, 1976

RENÉ SIMARD (Canada)

Pop artist born 1961 in Chicoutimi now Ville Saguenay. Very popular and he’s had so many singles (EPs) and albums I lost count.

Memphis, Tennessee (3:07) 1987

45: Les Disques No 1 DJ-NOX-137 ● Canada, 1987

Not quite sure but I think this single was to promote the album below.

Various LP: Escale À... Memphis [Les Disques No 1 NO-1851] ● Canada, 1987

This is a tribute album to Elvis with a picture of Simard on the cover in front of Graceland. Four tracks by Simard.. The album even features Carl Perkins with “Blue Suede Shoes”, plus Richard Anthony, Jason D. Williams, Tony Roman, Renée Martell and Nanette.

SOMBRAS DE FRAC (Spain)

New wave - rock sextet.

Memphis, Tennessee (as “El Tren De La Felicidad”) (2:38) 1982

45: Citola CI-82010 SG ● Spain, 1982 (picture sleeve)
LP: Nuevos Románticos [Citola CI-82012] ● Spain, 1982

STRIKES (Japan)

Rock’n’roll/beat quartet.

Little Queenie (2:39) 1986 (live)

2-CD: The Man With The Golden Ramrod [Vivid Sound VSCD-7601] ● Japan, 2009

The original single album was released in 1987. The above is a reissue with 25 bonus live tracks.

I’m Talking About You ( : ) late ‘80s

2-CD: A Shot Of The Strikes [Mint Sound Records MSR-CD-8-9] ● Japan, 2007

Too Much Monkey Business ( : ) late ‘80s

2-CD: A Shot Of The Strikes [Mint Sound Records MSR-CD-8-9] ● Japan, 2007
CD: Thirteen Stompey Hits [Vivid Sound VSCD-7602] ● Japan, 2012

“Little Queenie” is also on this compilation. However, I don’t know if they are previously unissued or whatever, live or studio.

SUZANNE And Piano Killer (Austria)

Roll Over Beethoven (2:30) 1986

45: Piano Killer Rocks On [no label 119 477] ● Austria, 1986

Coupled with “Good Night Irene” which don’t have the name Suzanne on the label, just Piano Killer Rocks On. So who’s the Piano Killer? There’s a clip on You Tube showing a PianoKiller & Friends doing a rocked up version of “Good Night Irene” live in Vienna 2015, but he sounds American(?)

TERRY THOMPSON (USA)

Terry Jene Thompson born 1943 in McCallsburg, Iowa. In 1977 he moved to Hanford, California. Apart from having his own band and playing throughout Iowa, as far as I can tell he only recorded just one record (below) coupled with “Shadow In The Window”. He died in 2020, at the age of 76.

Johnny B. Goode (2:29) 1973

45: Ven-Jence No. 7 ● USA, 1973

Record label out of Carlisle, Iowa.

JACK WESTLEY & The Country Bandits (USA)

Maybellene (as “Maybelline”) (2:15) 1975

45: Guinn Records #1028 ● USA, 1975

Record label out of Kansas City, Missouri.

AL “PORKY” WITHEROW (USA)

Born 1935 in York, Pennsylvania. Died in 2004. Tradional country singer who had five singles out from the late ‘60s and up and five albums on Arctic Records in the ‘80s, as far as I can tell. There is absolutely no info on release year on any of his albums. How come?

Memphis, Tennessee (as “Memphis”) (2:01) 1983

LP: Everybody’s Favorites [Arctic Records CLPS-1001] ● USA, 1983

Album recorded at Atwell Studios, Lafayette, Tennessee. Produced by Al Witherow. Arctic Records = A division of Al Witherow Productions. Then you have full control(!)

MIKE ZITO (USA)

Singer, songwriter, guitarist from St. Louis, Missouri, now based in Nederland, Texas.
See also the album “Rock’n’Roll – A Tribute To Chuck Berry” from 2019 on this blog.

Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 2021 (live)

2-CD: Blues For The Southside [Gulf Coast Records 661558942725] ● USA, 2022

17 tracks, recorded live on 26 November, 2021 at the Old Rock House in St. Louis and produced by Mike Zito.