CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 3

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: The more you browse the Internet, the more cover versions you find. Here's another list of artists and band playing Chuck Berry's music. [continued]
The following new entries to the Berry Covers really include several obscure Berry songs, and even a couple that have not been covered before, like “Ma Dear” and “Stop And Listen”. Enjoy.

Two more in the NO Chuck section:

Gene Latter (UK) - Sweet Little Rock And Roller (Yellowstone-Danova-Howdar) 1974

Phase III (USA) - Back In The USA (Dave Hassinger) 1969
NOTE: This is actually featured on page 1417 as a Berry cover, but it’s NOT. Sorry.

And a UK punk trio, Super Adventure Club, had an album out in 2010 called “Chalk Horror!” with a track titled In The Wee Wee Hours. Even though they thank Chuck Berry on the album this is NOT Berry’s “Wee Wee Hours”.

A & M TWO GENERATIONS (West Germany)

Alfred Fäth (bass, harmonica), Manfred Fäth (guitar, vocals, harmonica, drums) from Aschaffenburg, Bayern.

Let It Rock (2:40) 1975
Louie To Frisco (3:30) 1975

LP: Hemo [Sound Record PA-4/75] ● West Germany, 1975

Nice to find another cover of this obscure Berry track “Louie To Frisco”. See also George Thorogood, page 1559.

A-BONES (USA)

Garage rock band from Brooklyn, New York, formed in 1984. The group originally disbanded in 1994 but reunited in 2004 and again in 2009.

Tulane (3:33) 2014 (live)

LP/CD: Ears Wide Shut [Norton Records ED/CED-93] ● USA. 2014

Recorded live at the rehearsal room on Super Bowl, 2 February 2014.

WOLFGANG BERNREUTHER, THOMAS FEINER, LEO “BUD” WELCH (Germany, Sweden, USA)

Blues musicians. Wolfgang Bernreuther [from Neumarkt, Oberpfalz, Germany] (vocals, guitar) & Leo “Bud” Welch [born 1932 in Sabougla, Mississippi; died in December 2017] (vocals, guitar), Thomas Feiner [born 1968 outside Gothenburg, Sweden] (vocals, harmonica), Tommy Gedon (guitar), Jimbo Mathus (piano), Starling Browning (guitar, vocals), Beata Kossowska (maracas), Harry Hirschmann (bass), Bronson Tew (drums)

Wee Wee Hours (4:57) 2017 (live)

LP: Don’t Let The Devil Ride [Grooveland GL-114] ● Germany, 2019
CD: Don’t Let The Devil Ride [Fenn Music FMS-2109] ● Germany, 2019

Album recorded live at Dial Back Sound, Water Valley, Mississippi, 7 & 8 June, 2017.

BOGGIE LEG (Sweden)

Johan Wigge, singer, songwriter, guitarist. He also plays harmonica. He’s joined by Anders Krusell (bass) and Stefan Wållberg (drums, vocals).

Oh What A Thrill (4:02) 2003

CD: Cut To The Bone [Blue Wig Productions WIGCD-0301] ● Sweden, 2004

BILLY BREMNER’S ROCKFILES (UK/Sweden)

Singer and guitarist Billy Bremner (see Rockpile page 1471) and Geraint Watkins (piano), in collaboration with Swedish musicians like Bonnie Löfman (guitar, vocals), Mikael Finell (bass, vocals)= The Refreshments (see page 1444), and Peder Sundahl (drums). Produced by Mikael Finell and Peder Sundahl.

Oh What A Thrill (3:58) 2018

CD: Cover It Well - A Tribute To Rockpile [Ball And Chain Records BACCD-0052018] ● Sweden, 2018

Album recorded at Studio Rock Around The Clock, Skutskär and Musikhuset, Gävle, both in Sweden.

CD: A Tribute To Rockpile - Billy Bremner For President [Kool Cat Musik PURR-2142] ● USA, 2020

Let’s Make Rockfiles Great Again. This is the same album as above but has 13 tracks instead of 12 as the Swedish one.
Released 2019 both in Spain (Folc Records FOLC-119) and Japan (Target Earth Records TE-037).

DUKES OF HAMBURG (Germany)

Beat band from Bielefeld in Germany led by singer, guitarist Thilo Pieper. Pieper was also a member of an American variant of the band in the ‘90s.

Beautiful Delilah (2:29) 1998

LP: Star-Club Show 1 [Dionysus Records ID-123346] ● USA, 1998

They have used the same album art work as the old ‘60s Twist Im Star-Club LPs as a gimmick.

Oh Baby Doll (1:42) 1999

LP: Bad Side Of July [Dionysus Records ID-123377] ● USA, 1999

Recorded at Pin Up Studios, Hayward, California, USA. The song is wrongly credited to one Petry, but it’s the Berry song all right. On this album the group was billed as The Dukes Of Hamburg III.

I’m Talking About You [as “Talkin’ ‘Bout You”] (1:54) 2016

LP: Germany’s Newest Hitmakers [Moonshake Records SHAKE-8. TFA-38] ● Germany, 2017

EXCITEMENTS (Spain)

Seven piece R&B band based in Barcelona, formed 2010. Their first single came in 2010. and so far they have 4 albums out, 2011-2021.

Back To Memphis (3:04) 2016

LP/CD: Breaking The Rule [Penniman Records PENN-006] ● Spain, 2016

A good soulful rendition with lead singer Koko Jean Davis in full blast.

SIGGI FASSL (Austria)

Blues and country singer, songwriter, guitarist. Born 1966 in Vienna. He’s also been a member of the Mojo Blues Band, a band itself also represented in the Berry covers survey.

Thirteen Question Method (2:50) 2006 (live)

CD: I Did The Same Mistake Again [Styx Records STYX CD-1037] ● Austria, 2009

Recorded live at Reigen in Vienna, 3 April 2006. This is an acoustic set with just Siggi and his guitar.

FLAMIN’ GROOVIES (USA)

See Volume 3, page 1190 for biographical info.

Around And Around (3:24) 1979 (live)
Let It Rock (3:46) 1979 (live)

LP: Vaillancourt Fountain - Justin Herman Plaza - San Francisco, CA - September 19, 1979 [Rockbeat ROC-3423] ● USA, 2018

CD: Live At The Festival Of The Sun [AIM CD-1051] ● Australia, 1994
CD: Live In Barcelona 1987 [Music Sessions MS-028] ● Spain, 2007

Recorded live at the La Merce Festival in Barcelona, Spain, 4 October 1987.

GRAFITTI SINGERS (France)

Probably studio musicians, however, may have something to do with the rock’n’roll trio Joint De Culasse, or not?

Roll Over Beethoven (2:56) 1975

2-LP: Roll Over Beethoven [Carrere 67.054] ● France, 1975

Bye Bye Johnny (3:24) 1979
Carol (3:23) 1979
Johnny B. Goode (2:32) 1979
Memphis, Tennessee (2:29) 1979
Promised Land (2:15) 1979
Reelin’ And Rockin’ (2:55) 1979
Rock And Roll Music (2:20) 1979
Roll Over Beethoven (2:30) 1979
School Day (3:02) 1979
Sweet Little Sixteen (2:50) 1979

2-LP: Rock And Roll Story [Carrere 67.326] ● France, 1979

24 songs, but except for the Berry ones there are “Blue Suede Shoes”, “Tutti Frutti”, “Twilight Time”, and “Stagger Lee”. The rest looks like originals. With 10 Berry covers on a two-album set, it could almost be considered as a tribute.
See also under Joint Du Calasse

HENTCHMEN (USA)

See Volume 3, page 1242 for biographical info.

Oh Baby Doll (2:00) 1994

7” EP: Girl From Jackson [A Front Porch Record FPR-3] ● USA, 1994

Recorded in Northville, Michigan.

It Don’t Take But a Few Minutes (2:12) 1995

7” EP: Gravel-Bite [1+2 Records EP-099] ● Japan, 1995

Recorded 7 April ‘95 at Nomad Studios, Michigan.

BRUCE HORNSBY (USA)

Bruce Randall Hornsby was born 1954 in Williamsburg, Virginia. He’s a singer, songwriter and pianist.

Too Much Monkey Business (4:01) 2021

CD: Flicted [Zappo Productions/Thirty Tigers] ● USA, 2022

According to press release, this is the first ever cover song to appear on a Hornsby studio release. That should tell you somethin’. And would you believe that this is a rap version, pretty unusual, but gets a little boring in the long run.

HOT PANTS (France)

Rock’n’roll/punk/latin quartet. Formed in 1984.

Ma Dear (2:14) 1986

CD: Loco-Mosquito [All Or Nothing Records AN-CD-02] ● France, 1986
CD: Loco-Mosquito [Virgin Records 7243 8 49860 2] ● France, 2000

Recorded and mixed at Studio Do in Bordeaux, May 1986. Now this is the second cover version of this obscure Berry Mercury track from 1968. (See also Joint De Culasse below.)

JOINT DE CULASSE (France)

Rock’n’roll trio: Manu Chao (vocals, guitar), Jean-Marc Despeignes (bass), Santiago Casariego (drums).

Carol [as “Ho Carol”] (2:30) 1982
Ma Dear [as “My Dear My Dear”] (3:04) 1982
Memphis, Tennessee (2:35) 1982
Roll Over Beethoven (2:32) 1982

LP: Super Boum Rock’n’Roll [Force Records (Carrere) 67950] ● France, 1982

Fourteen rock’n’roll covers recorded at Studio Damiens in Boulogne, France. Hail! Hail! Another new Berry song that I didn’t know had been covered. “Ma Dear”, which Berry recorded 1 July 1968 and released on Mercury single 72840 coupled with “Louie To Frisco” (July ’68) and album “From St. Louie To Frisco” Mercury SR-61176 (October ’68). It’s okay and has a staccato funky beat and don’t sound like a Chuck Berry song. The original didn’t either, so… You can listen to it on You Tube.
HOWEVER, this album also came out in 1983 under the “band” name Graffiti Singers, released on Carrere LP-63072 containing sixteen tracks. Too much monkey business if you ask me.

See also Graffiti Singers.
See also Hot Pants for another cover of “Ma Dear”.

LA CLINIC DU DR. SCHULTZ (France)

Rock band formed in 2000 by guitarist Roger Fritsch-Schultz (died in 2104) and drummer Denis Baudrillart.

Roll Over Beethoven (2:20) 2004

CD: Rock ‘N’ Roll De Proximité [Patate Records PRP-022] ● France, 2004
10” LP: Vol. 1 [Red Head Man RHM-008] ● France, 2005

Reelin’ And Rockin’ (2:42) 2009
Rock At The Philharmonic (2:36) 2009 (instr)

CD: Rythmes Et Mélodies Du Vingtième Siècle [La Clinic Du Dr. Schultz self-released] ● France, 2009

Now this is the forth cover version of this Berry instrumental, so far. However, more rock than jazz feeling.

LES BLUE SHADES (France)

Beat/rock quartet.

How You’ve Changed (3:11) 1965

LP: Les Blue Shades [Cameleon Records CAME-43] ● France, 2016

Previously unissued (?) I haven’t found any releases by this group except the album above which contains 12 tracks. 300 copies on colored vinyl. And I would assume that this cover is based on the version by The Animals. And by the way, if you search for this Berry song on discogs you’ll find more entries by The Animals than Chuck !!!

MICKEY & LUDELLA (UK)

Michael Hampshire and Sarah J. Crouch (Ludella Black). Michael has been a member (guitarist, vocals) of The Milkshakes. And Sarah has been vocalist in groups like The Mighty Ceasars (backing vocals), Sexton Ming (vocals) and Delmonas (vocals).

Stop And Listen (2:16) 1995

LP/CD: Bedlam A’ Go-Go [Vinyl Japan ASKLP/ASKCD-52] ● UK, 1995

Surprise!!! Here’s another Berry title to add to the long list already. This blues ballad has never been covered before as far as I know (you can listen to it on You Tube). And I like it, as it doesn’t drag so much as Berry’s own. Originally recorded by Berry in February 1960 and included on the Chess album New Juke Box Hits LP-1456 released in March 1961.

MOONLIGHTERS (Belgium)

Blues-rock band. Filip De Fleurquin (vocals), Marnix Vernieuwe (guitar), Jozef Leféve (keyboards), Gust Vernieuwe (bass), Fernand Buyls (drums).

Dear Dad (1:47) 1989
It’s My Own Business [as “My Own Business”] (3:31) 1989
You Never Can Tell (3:23) 1989

LP: Pains Of 17 [Blue Sting STING-013] ● Belgium, 1989

Good to see two Berry songs that have not been covered too much, strange as it is.

N.R.B.Q. (USA)

See Volume 3, page 1393 for biographical info.

It Don’t Take But A Few Minutes (2:40) 1977

CD: Kick Me Hard – The Deluxe Edition [Rounder Records CD-3030] ● USA, 1989

Previously unissued. Only available on the Deluxe Edition. Recorded 13 October ’77.

ZOOGS RIFT (USA)

Robert Pawlikowski. Punk, rock, avantgarde (?) Not quite sure. Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, wrestling personality, born 1953 in Paterson, New Jersey. Have had 19 albums out since 1985, plus a couple of compilations. Died in 2011.

It’s My Own Business (5:19) 1999

CD: School Of The Criminally Insane [Miss Anne Thrope Music/Zoogs Rift no cat no] ● USA, 1999

Recorded April 1999 at Lotek Studio, Marina Del Rey, California. Self-released. Another cover of this obscure Berry rocker.

RISKY BLUES (Belgium)

Blues band. Filip De Fleurquin (vocals), Marnix Vernieuwe (guitar), Jef Lefeve (piano), Chris De Brakeleer (drums). Rik Wolf is playing double bass on the Berry cover.

Thirteen Question Method (2:56) 1995

CD: Doggin’ Around [Paradiso PA-6512] ● Belgium, 1995

So far there are now seven cover versions of this unusual Berry song.

SLICKEE BOYS (USA)

Psychedelic garage-rock band from the Washington D.C. area. First single release in 1976 and the first album came a year later which was the one below.

No Money Down (4:04) 1977 (live)

LP: Separated Vegetables [Dacoit LP-1001] ● USA, 1977

Only a 100 copies were pressed of this. The album was reissued in 1980 on Limp Records 1003. The track itself is a very typical white blues version if you get my drift.

V.I.P.s (UK)

Rock quintet from Carlisle, 1965-67. Original members: Mike Harrison (vocals), Jimmy Henshaw (guitar), Frank Kenyon (guitar), Greg Ridley (bass) and Walter Johnstone (drums). They had several singles and EPs out from 1964-1967.

Wee Wee Hours [“Late Night Blues”] (5:37) 1966

EP: Stagger Lee [Fontana 460 219 ME] ● France, 1967
LP: I Wanna Be Free [Beat Club International Ltd 200 005] ● France, 1987
2 CD: The Complete V.I.P.s [Repertoire REPUK-1088] ● UK, 2007

The song is actually called Late Night Blues (Wee Wee Hours), written by Berry and arranged by Greg Ridley and Mike Harrison. However, on the French EP the song is credited to Harrison/Ridley. (You’ll find it on You Tube.)

YOUNG FRESH FELLOWS (USA)

Rock/beat quartet formed early 1980s in Seattle, Washington..They have released quite a bit of singles and albums since 1984.

I Want To Be Your Driver (2:13) 1991

CD: Gleich Jetzt [1+2 Records Barn Homes CD-028] ● Japan, 1993

Recorded at EGG studio, Seattle, Washington. Berry song previously unissued. Compilation album of 16 tracks whereas 6 have been out before. The rest were unreleased.