Robert Christgau on Chuck Berry

While shopping in second hand record or book shops I tend to buy items related to 1950s music in general or Chuck Berry in detail, as long as they are cheap.
So a 1973 paperback called "Any Old Way You Way You Choose It" grabbed my attention. I had read Robert Christgau before, but not this specific book with its Berry-related title. There's also a newer, expanded edition of this book available.
The book contains a reprint of Christgau's October 1972 Newsday article on Chuck Berry which is very fine contemporary reading covering Berry receiving the Golden Record for My Ding-A-Ling. In his writings, Christgau praises Berry as "the greatest rock lyricist this side of Bob Dylan". And since it is Christgau who wrote "the standard text of sorts, the Berry entry in The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock & Roll", his word should be trusted.
Christgau is famous for his often hard critical reviews of recent records. Him praising a musician means a lot. But all in all, you should not expect him to write purely positive on Berry. Quite the contrary! Just read this review of Bio, the album: "Willie Mays was the greatest baseball player who ever lived, but he just can't cut it anymore. He reminds me more of Chuck Berry every time out." Ouch!
If you are interested in Christgau's writing about Berry (and others), you will be astonished to learn that his personal web site www.robertchristgau.com contains many if not all of his writings!
Here are the most interesting things he wrote about Chuck Berry:

• Newsday article "Chuck Berry: Eternal Rock and Roller": http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bk-aow/berry.php


• Rolling Stone History of Rock & Roll 1976 article "Chuck Berry": http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/music/berry-76.php


• Reviews of Berry's 1970s and 1980s albums: http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?id=2421&name=Chuck+Berry


• Review of Berry's "Autobiography" for Village Voice 1987: http://www.robertchristgau.com/xg/bkrev/berry-87.php

Enjoy reading!