CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 7

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. This time I include a few special items. [continued]

ERICA DiCEGLIE (USA)

Singer, songwriter, musical director, actor. Performing regularly in Tampa, Florida. She’s released four CDs so far, the first one in 2003.

You Never Can Tell (3:31) 2021

TV performance ● USA, 2021

Not on album. Recorded live at Center for The Arts at River Ridge, New Port Richey, (Tampa) Florida, with Stan Collins at the piano. (Check it out on You Tube.) She’s used the slow arrangement that Elise LeGrow did in 2017, although this is not so good and souldful, but ok.
Note: This is a new way to approach Berry covers, but it’s not going to be a habit.

DIRE STRAITS (UK)

Dire Straits and Mark Knopfler is not in here, however, I have seen so many unofficial live albums by them and very often they are including “Nadine”. Just wanted you to know.

DIRECT HITS (UK)

Rock trio from South London, formed in 1980. First single in 1982 and first album in ‘83. The band folded in 1987 but reformed a few times, 1988, 2004 and 2017.

Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 2017 (live)

CD: Lost And Found [Blaamm! Records BLAAMM-514] UK, 2020

Previously unissued.

DR. BOP & THE HEADLINERS (USA)

Rock’n’roll quintet from Wisconsin. Active from 1971 – 1978.

School Day ( : ) 1976 (live)
Rock And Roll Music ( : ) 1976 (live)

LP: Dr. Bop & The Headliners – Live ! [Chicken Records 1001] ● USA, 1976

Recorded live November 1976 at Lucifer in Boston, featuring The White Raven (!) You’ll actually find various clips on You Tube by the band.

GO-GETTERS (Sweden)

Rockabilly trio from Västerås. Founded in January 1988 by Peter Sandberg. See also Volume 3, page 1215 for another Berry cover.

Run Rudolph Run ( : ) 2004

45: Goofin’ Records XMAS-210 ● Finland, 2004 (PS)

On red vinyl.

GO KATZ (UK)

Psychobilly band from Loughborough, Leicestershire, formed in 1986.

Let It Rock [as “Let It Roll”] ( : ) 1990

EP: Blues-A-Billy [Scary Thoughts 41090] ● UK, 1990

Yellow vinyl.

TOM GREED & The Snowflakes (Germany)

Singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist who in the mid to late ‘80s played bass in various garage and punkrock bands and in the early ‘90s played drums in a rockabilly quartet called Pyromanix which later became the Ray Collins’ Hot Club.

Run Rudolph Run ( : ) 2001

45: Three Kings Records TKR-730701 ● Germany, 2001

I haven’t heard this but the A-side, “Christmas Love”, is pure modern rockabilly.

HOT ROD LINCOLN (USA)

See Volume 3, page 1256 for biographical info.
However, the reason for the Berry cover below is the fact that it was also on the same album as “Maybellene”.

Let It Rock ( : ) 1996

CD: The Boulevard [Dionysus DCD-123332] ● USA, 1996

They also have a private press 12” colored vinyl five tracks EP (released 2018) including “You Never Can Tell”. Not counted for.

JEREMY & THE HARLEQUINS (USA)

Jeremy Lublin (Jeremy Fury). He’s released 17 MP3 and FLAC singles for downloading. He also has 3 ordinary albums out as Jeremy & The Harlequins. On one album from 2018 the band has 5 guys pictured on the cover.
Jeremy was the lead singer of the glam rock band We Are The Fury from Toledo, Ohio, who had an album “Venus” out in 2007.

You Can’t Catch Me (3:34) 2020
Havana Moon (3:43) 2020

2 x File, Flac single: Play Chuck Berry [Yep Roc Records no cat no] ● USA, 2020 (PS)

Yeah, I know. But since this is a special Tribute to Berry I thought it was necessary and interesting to include. It was even displayed online with a picture sleeve(!) The band has recreated Berry’s 1956 Chess single.
They have 3 albums out and many singles, with no Berry connection as far as I can tell. The company Yep Roc Records has had several albums, singles and Flac files available during the last twenty some years. Nick Lowe (a.o.) is well represented with various releases.

JOHNNY A. (USA)

Johnny Antonopoulos. Now here’s another one of those guitar pickers extraordinaire that I haven’t heard about although I found 4 albums by him, 1999-2014. On the album below he’s accompanied by Jesse Bastos (bass) and Chris Farr (drums).

Memphis, Tennessee ( : ) 2007 (live) (instr)

(DVD)/CD: One November Night [Aglaophone Records AR-110107] ● USA, 2009

This is a DVD/CD combined, but “Memphis” is not included on the DVD. The show recorded live at Scullers Jazz Club In Boston, and according to the cat no I would assume 1 November 2007.

JUAN De La CRUZ BAND (Philippines)

Rock group, formed 1968 in Manila. Guitarist Wally Gonzales was the founding member. In 1971 the band released their first album, “Up In Arms”, as a quintet.

Around And Around [as “Round And Round”] (5:24) 1973

LP: Himig Natin [Sunshine TSP-5104] ● Philippines, 1973

JUNIOR CADILLAC (USA)

See Volume 3, page 1282 for biographical info, also pages 2079-80 for more covers.
The first entry below is a correction to the entry on page 2080. The record mentioned from 2010 was a reissue of the LP below. The second entry is new.

No Money Down (5:03) 1971 (live)
Reelin’ And Rockin’ (3:45) 1971 (live)

LP: Jr. Cadillac Is Back [Great Northwest Record Company GNWRC-1000001] ● USA, 1971

Recorded live at the Grapevine Tavern in Seattle, July 1971.

No Money Down (4:15) 1981

LP: In For Life [Great Northwest Record Company GNWR-006] ● USA, 1981

JUSSI & THE BOYS (Finland)

See Volume 3, page 1282 for biographical info.

Brown Eyed Handsome Man [as “Harmaa Herrasmies”] (2:07) 2014

LP/CD: Kerran Vielä, Pojat! [Turenki Records 14200-21] ● Finland, 2014

Unfortunately it is a copy of the Buddy Holly version.

Johnny B. Goode [as “Tommie B. Goode”] (4:26) 2018
Too Much Monkey Business [as “S’on Lyttypäähommaa”] (2:54) 2018

LP/CD: Unioninkatu 45 [Turenki Records 14200-71] ● Finland, 2018

I understand that the Finnish people prefer their own language, however, the language doesn’t flow like English do when it comes to singing.

K-MAN & THE 45s (Canada)

Reggae quartet. Kristin Daniel (vocals, guitar), Josua Michaud (Trombone, vocals),  Mathieu Forget (saxophone, vocals), François-Charles Poirier (bass, vocals), Paulo Max Riccardo (drums). With a little help from pianist Julien-Carl St. Pierre.

You never Can Tell (3:13) 2019

CD: Stand With The Youth [Stomp Records STMP-154] ● Canada, 2019

Now this is interesting. As far as I know it’s the first reggae version of this Berry classic. And well done!

KARTUFFELSTAMPERS (West-Germany)

Jazz-dixieland band. Don’t know anything except that they also cover Erroll Garner and Duke Ellington a.o.

Memphis, Tennessee (3:01) 1984 (instr)

LP: Kartuffelstampers [Kartuffel-Record KR-5707] ● West-Germany, 1984

Should have loved to hear this version, hopefully in a dixieland style. However, they could have used the Count Basie arrangement from 1967?

JOHN PAUL KEITH & The One Four Fives (USA)

A native of Knoxville, Tennessee, singer, songwriter, guitarist. He’s been a veteran of the Memphis music scene for 17 years. Has six solo albums to his credit. He seems like being very popular in later years. John Paul Keith took on a huge European tour in April and May 2022 (see clip on You Tube from 28. April). He sounds a bit like Buddy Holly but with a more modern rockin’ style.
John Paul Keith (vocals, guitar), Kevin Cubbins (guitar, vocals), Al Gamble (keyboards, vocals), Mark E. Stuart (bass, vocals), John Argroves (drums), are the ones playing on the album below.

Back In The USA (2:58) 2009 (live)
Memphis, Tennessee [as “Memphis”] (3:36) 2009 (live)

CD: Live At The Hi-Tone [Big Legal Mess Records 0251] ● USA, 2009

Recorded live on the fourth of July 2009 in Memphis, Tennessee.

MIKE KENNEDY (West Germany)

Michael Volker Kogel, born 1944 in Berlin. He was the singer in the Spanish rock band Los Bravos, famous for “Black Is Black” (1966).

Roll Over Beethoven (3:03) 1971

LP: Mike Is Mike [Explosión 85.049-SL] ● Spain, 1971

Album also released 1972 in both Venezuela and Brazil.

SPEEDY KING AND HIS FEETWARMERS (Belgium)

Rock sextet. Members: Dirk van der Jonckheid, Dirk Versmissen, Frans Gommeren, Guy Versmissen, Jonas Ceelen, Jules Daems.

Nadine (3:15) 1979
Oh Yeah (2:41) 1979

LP: Breaking Up The House [Racoon Records RR-116 L] ● Belgium, 1979

And now ladies and gentlemen another Berry song to be covered, or is it? Muddy Waters also had a song titled “Oh Yeah” which has been covered before, so…? Anyway, “Oh Yeah” on the LP above is credited to Berry. I haven’t been able to find any info on the net, except discogs says it’s written by Berry.

KIT KATS (USA)

Rock and roll band from the Philadelphia area. Original members: John Bradley (vocals, guitar), Karl Hausman (piano), Ron Cichonski [aka Ronnie Shane] (bass) and Kit Stewart (drums). They had their first single out in 1963. A couple of singles in 1966 and ’67 on Jamie were minor hits. In 1970 they changed their name to The New Hope and hit the charts with “Won’t Find Better Than Me”. By 1974 they had disbanded. Kit Stewart died in 2001.

Sweet Little Rock And Roller (2:15) 1965

LP: The Very Best Of The Kit Kats [Virtue V-102067] ● USA, 1967

This seems to be a collection of out-takes from 1964-65, and therefore far from a Best Of compilation. There’s a song called “Hey Hey Hey” (1:55) credited to C. Berry (Arc Music) but that’s actually an original by the group.

KNACK (UK)

Garage band from Ilford, later based in London. Also known as The Londoners. The Knack was: Paul Gurvitz (vocals, guitar), Brian Morris (vocals, guitar), Gery Kenworthy (bass), Mick Palmer (bass on the Berry number), Topper Clay (drums). They had six singles released during the ‘60s.

Back In The USA ( : ) 1965

CD: Time Time Time (The Complete UK Singles And More 1965-67) [Rev-Ola CR REV-199]● UK, 2007

Previously unissued.

HERVÉ KRIEF BLUES TRIO (France)

Guitarist, songwriter, arranger from Paris. Has played with both Miles Davis and Ray Charles.

Roll Over Beethoven (3:24) 1994

CD: Paris-Bruxelles [BSM Records BSM-04] ● France, 1994

KRZYSZTOF KRAWCZYK (Poland)

Pop-rock singer, songwriter, guitarist, born 1946 in Katowice. He must have been very popular in Poland because he released plenty of albums since 1974 and a whole lotta singles! Died in 2021.

Memphis, Tennessee (3:03) 1980

EP: Oh Pretty Woman [Tonpress N-58] ● Poland, 1980
LP: Good Ol’ Rock ‘N’ Roll – Dobry Stary Rock [Wifon LP-012] ● Poland, 1980

KRAYOLAS (USA)

San Antonio, Texas garage-rock band. Hector Saldana (vocals), Van Baines (guitar), David Saldana (drums).

Run Rudolph Run (3:18) 2011

CD: Tipsy Topsy Turvy [Box Records B-63052-2] ● USA, 2011

A good rockin’ version, and this is not a Christmas album.

LA ROCKORQUESTA SPORT CLUB (Spain)

Don’t know but I will think they are studio musicians.

Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 1990
Maybellene ( : ) 1990
Memphis, Tennessee ( : ) 1990
Rock And Roll Music ( : ) 1990
Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 1990

LP: It’s Only Rock And Roll [Libélula Records L-027] ● Spain, 1990

Here we have 12 tracks on each side, and 5 Berry songs are covered.

LAHARYHMÄ (Finland)

According to discogs they are a punk/hard rock/metal band. Their first CD (an EP) came in 1998. Later they released 3 albums from 2000 to 2005 and several CD singles. On the record below they are Richard Rape (vocals), Fast Eddie Beast (guitar), Karl-Heinz Rummenigge (bass), Hermann The German (drums).

Reelin’ And Rockin’ [as “Fiilaten Ja Höyläten”] (2:45) 2000

CD: Kotimaan Katsaus [Kråklund Records KråCD-78] ● Finland, 2000

Album recorded at Old Bang Studio, Lapua, 18-24 September, 2000. 15 tracks with humorous versions of Finnish classics. Several Finnish bands/artists have covered this version of the Berry classic, originally done by Rauli “Badding” Somerjoki in 1973, which was a big hit for him (see Somerjoki on page 1521).

ROLF LEBEDA (West Germany)

Musician Rolf Lebeda was very much into the rock’n’roll, R&B and blues genres. He was born 1952 and died in 2007.

Memphis, Tennessee ( : ) 1981

LP: Boogie [B-Flat Records MD 15120080] ● Germany, 1981

Here he also do versions of both “Route 66” and “Down The Road A Piece”. This is a bigger production than the trio below. Lebeda (vocals, keyboards, harmonica), John Marshall (guitar), Cliff Wren (ac.bass), Willo Lindfors (drums), plus Michael Runkel (saxophone), Edwin Wren (trumpet).

& HIS ROCK’n’ROLF BAND:

Bye Bye Johnny (2:31) 1987 (live)
Carol (3:58) 1987 (live)
Johnny B. Goode (3:24) 1987 (live)
Too Much Monkey Business (1:54) 1987 (live)

LP: Live In Düsseldorf [B-Flat Records RL-0787018] ● Germany, 1987

Recorded live on 18 and 23 July ’87 in the Party Tent during the Düsseldorf Shooting match. Rolf Lebeda (vocals, piano), Jürgen Frenzel (guitar), Waldo Karpenkiel (drums). They also do a version of “Route 66” which I am sure is in the Berry/Stones way.

LED ZEPPELIN (UK)

Jimmy Page (guitars), Robert Plant (vocals, harmonica), John Paul Jones (Bass, organ), John Bonham (drums). Again it goes to show that everybody does Chuck Berry. According to discogs there’s been several unofficial (bootlegs) albums with Led Zeppelin during the years where they do Berry covers. Here are two examples, both soundboard recordings. The bootlegs listed first contain excerpts, the ones listed second are more complete.

School Day ( : ) 1973
Nadine ( : ) 1973
Around And Around ( : ) 1973
Reelin’ And Rockin’ / Surrender ( : ) 1973

LP: Sound Check 5th July 1973 [Timpani SLZ 30] ● Europe, 1990
CD: Chicago 1973 Soundcheck [no label] ● Japan, 2012

Recorded during soundcheck at Chicago Stadium, July 1973.

School Day (Hail Hail Rock’n’Roll) ( : ) 1975
Nadine ( : ) 1975
Around And Around ( : ) 1975
Reelin' And Rockin' ( : ) 1975

CD: Round + Round [Ghost Records CD 53-48] ● New Zealand, 1991
CD: A Tribute To Johnny Kidd And The Pirates [Scorpio no cat #] ● Italy, 1989

Recorded during soundcheck at Met Center, Bloomington, Minneapolis 1975.

ALBERT LEE (UK)

See Volume 3, page 1310 for biographical info.
On the album below Albert Lee (vocals, guitar, piano) is backed by Philip Mann (bass) and Ollie Sears (drums), featuring Wayne Lee on keyboards.

Back In The USA (4:09) 2018 (live)

CD: Live in Concert 2018 [Mann Brothers Media Ltd. 0602573654385] ● UK, 2018

Recorded live at The Clarets Bar, Chelmsford City FC, Essex.

LES MALADES (France)

New wave, rock trio: Thierry Cailliez (Guitar, vocals), Bruno Cheynier (vocals, trombone), Jean François Declercq (bass).
Well trio? I have seen a 45 by the group and there they are five people, so (?)

Carol (3:20) 1986

LP: Chaud Devant [Editions De La Péniche EDP-861] ● France, 1986

Thierry Cailliez sings on this one.

LES SOUNDS GUITARS (France)

Probably studio musicians.

Bye Bye Johnny (2:08) 1966
You Never Can Tell (2:28) 1966

LP: Les Plus Grands Succès Du Rock [Adria 655 036] ● France, 1968

16 tracks. Not sure about 1966 as there is no year printed anywhere on the album sleeve or label. Don’t know either if it’s plain instrumentals, vocals or whatever.

MIKE LIDDELL & GLI ATOMI (Italy)

Beat quintet from Rome led by singer Mike Liddell.

Bye Bye Johnny (3:07) 1966 (live)

LP: Una Serata Al Piper [Arc SA-9] ● Italy, 1966

Piper Club Series.

CD: Una Serata Al Piper [On Sale Music 64 SOM-104] ● Italy, 2015

CHRISTINA LINDBERGS (Sweden)

Christina Agnes Maria Lindberg Wigardt born in 1968, Helsingfors. Recorded a couple of albums in 1985-86. Then had a time as singer in the dance-band Lasse Stefanz (see page 1308) in the late ‘80s. Had her own orchestra in the ‘90s, but nowadays touring as a solo artist. Her latest album came in 2018. She sings everything in Swedish.

You Never Can Tell [as “Vi Får Hoppas Att Allting Går Bra”] (2:46) 1992

LP & CD: Gyllene År [Frituna 0270-1 / -2] ● Sweden, 1992

Recorded at NCS Studio, Norrköping in September ’92. She uses the full backing here, even including the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Actually it’s a cover of the version by Vikingarna (page 1588) from 1979/1980.

LOS MISTERIOSOS (Spain)

Beat-rock sextet.

Memphis, Tennessee (2:40) 1968

EP: Los Misteriosos [Tam Tam -17] ● Spain, 1968

LOS PUMAS (Spain)

See Volume 3, page 1332. However, in addition to the two EPs from 1964 and 1965 (the latter which actually included the Berry cover) they also had a single out in Ecuador (including the Berry track as the A-side) in 1965, which tells us that the song was not from ‘67. And by the way, songs by Los Pumas have also been included on a couple of compilation albums from Spain.

Carol (2:25) 1965

EP: Pegueña Honda [Hispavox HH-17.320] ● Spain, 1965
45: Hispavox 45-83067 ● Ecuador, 1965
Various LP: Los Pumas Y Mangas Verdes [El Crocodilo JLA-00.0081] ● Spain 1989
Various CD: Los Pumas, Los Tiburones, Los Nivram - Discografia Completa [EMI 724354163623] ● Spain, 2002

LOS REBELDES (Spain)

See Volume 3, page 1333 for biographical info.

No Particular Place To Go (2:47) 1987 (live)

2-LP: Preferiblemente Vivos [Epic EPC 450385 1] ● Spain, 1987

See also Tributes.

I would also like to make your attention to the song “Rock & Roll” (4:30) (Epic SAMP-2093) (1993). It’s a tribute to all the greats in rock and roll with a video on You Tube showing them all in short snippets. However, the song itself is a typical Berry soundalike with all the Berry riffs and the beat. You’ll also find it on the album “La Rosa Y La Cruz” (Epic EPC 473837).

LOS ROLLS (Spain)

Known as The Spanish Beatles Tribute Band. A quartet.

Rock And Roll Music (2:30) 1987
Roll Over Beethoven (2:36) 1987

LP: Los Rolls [Alligator Records 56.0371] ● Spain, 1987

Since they are a tribute band to The Beatles, I can understand (a little bit) that they included these two Chuck Berry classics because they were hits for the group. However, they also included “Boys”, “Dizzy Miss Lizzy”, “Twist And Shout” and “Money” amongst the 12 tracks on the album above. My oh my.

LOS SALT LAKE CITY (USA/Spain)

According to discogs this was a US folk rock quintet created in Spain in the early ‘70s. One single (1972) and two albums (1972 / 1973).

Rock And Roll Music (2:00) 1973 (live)

LP: Los Salt Lake City [Diábolo N-27.009] ● Spain, 1973

LOS SPEAKERS (Colombia)

A pioneering Colombian rock band led by guitarist Rodrigo Garcia from Spain. Formed 1960 in Bogotá.

Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 1965

LP: La Casa Del Sol Naciente [Bambuco DBS-4017] ● Spain, 1965

The album was reissued in 2009 in a cardboard sleeve, same label and cat number.

DONNA LYNN (Canada)

Camille Donna Albano, born 1950. Popular teen pop singer who had some 9 singles out on Capitol from 1963-1965.

Roll Over Beethoven (2:31) 1964

LP: Java Jones/My Boyfriend Got a Beatle Haircut [Capitol Records ST-2085] ● USA, 1964

We can all assume what this sounds like.

JACKIE LYNTON (UK)

See Volume 3, pages 1337-1338 for biographical info.

Let It Rock ( : ) 1996 (live)
Sweet Little Sixteen ( : ) 1996 (live)
Chuck Berry Medley: Johnny B. Goode-Nadine-Rock And Roll Music ( : ) 1996 (live)

2-CD: Alive! At The Bleak House, August ’96 [A New Day Records ANDCD-12] ● UK, 1996

Recorded on 19 August ‘96 at The Bleak House in Ottershaw (or Horsell).

JACKIE LYNTON’S H. D. BAND:

Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 1978 (live)

LP: Till We’re Blue In The Face [Thumb Records TR-002] ● UK, 1979

Recorded live at The Golden Lion, London, 18 November 1978. The album came with a single, “The Hedgehog Song/Farting With The Famous” (Thumb Records TR-003).