CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - part 1

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 version you find. Here's another list of artists and band playing Chuck Berry's music.
Regarding all the new covers of “Run Rudolph Run” several of them are titled "Run Run Rudolph" but I have not used that on any of the entries.

MINDI ABAIR & THE BONESHAKERS (USA)

Blues, rock, funk. Mindi Abair, Randy Jacobs, Rodney Lee and Third Richardson, with the help from Derek Frank and Blanca Garza. Mindi is a saxophone player and vocalist, she was born 1969 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Run Rudolph Run (2:37) 2018

CD: All I Got For Christmas Is The Blues [Pretty Good For A Girl Records PGCD-02] ● USA, 2018

Now this a funky version, very unusual.

RANDY BACHMAN (Canada)

Guitarist, singer, songwriter, born 1943 in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Member of the pop/rock group Guess Who, and later Bachman-Turner Overdrive.

Run Rudolph Run (3:39) 2008

CD: Takin’ Care Of Christmas [Avalon Music 41516] ● Canada, 2008
CD: Takin’ Care Of Christmas [12 Hit Wonder 41516] ● Canada, 2014 (reissue)

A midtempo rockin’ version, with a children choir.
See also Bachman & Cummings

FRANKIE BALLARD (USA)

Joseph Vincent Camilleri, born 1948, is a Maltese-born Australian singer, songwriter and saxophonist. The family moved to Australia when he was two. Apart from recording as a solo artist he’s been a member of well-known bands like Jo Jo Zep And The Falcons and The Black Sorrows, both of which are featured in the Berry Covers songbook.

Run Rudolph Run ( : ) 1995

CD single: All Saints Hotel [Head Records D-1248] ● Australia, 1995

See also Jo Jo Zep And The Falcons, and The Black Sorrows
Actually, to add a little to the Run Rudolph Run entry by Jo Jo Zep on page 1277 (Vol.3). The song was recorded and released in 1975. In addition to the mentioned Various LP and CD it was also released on single in 1975, Mushroom K-6194, as Jo Jo Zep And His Little Helpers. And the song was credited to Chuck Berry.

CAPTAIN RAT AND THE BLIND RIVETS (USA)

Captain Rat is Fred Wisniewski on drums and vocals. The Blind Rivets are Tim Vear (guitar, vocals), Todd Modern (keyboards, vocals), Richard Cabal (saxophone, vocals), Mark Rubel (bass, vocals).

Run Rudolph Run (3:12) 1982

33 1/3 EP: Run Rudolph Run [Pogo Records PEP-001] ● USA, 1982

Recorded at Faithful Sound Studios, Urbana, Illinois. Record label out of Champaign, Illinois.

CHESTERFIELD KINGS (USA)

Very popular garage rock quintet from Rochester, New York. I have found 11 albums released by the band, and 17 singles. Band members have been changing throughout the years since they started back in 1980. The members on the Berry cover below are: Greg Prevost (vocals), Ted Okolowicz (lead guitar), Jeff Okolowicz (rhythm guitar), Andy Babluk (bass) and Mike Boise (drums). I found a live clip on You Tube and they are a solid rock band that sounds like the Rolling Stones.

Run Rudolph Run ( : ) 1998

CD single: Living Eve Records LSD-98FC ● USA, 1998

This single didn’t sell anything(?) as it was a limited edition Christmas release for the Fan Club.
In 1981 they had a single out titled “You Can’t Catch Me” which was an original song and not Berry.

CLOVERS (USA)

The group itself goes way back to 1946 and Washington D.C. and had hits in the ‘50s with songs like “Blue Velvet”, “Devil Or Angel”, “Love Potion No. 9” and more. However, the album below is a compilation of Christmas tracks recorded by various old vocal groups like The Orioles, The Rainbows, The Jewels, The Velons and the Clovers. I won’t mention any names here as I don’t know how many (if any) of the original band members were left.

Run Rudolph Run ( 2:31) 1989

Various LP: A Capital Christmas [BJM Records BJM-002] ● USA, 1989

This is a modern rockin’ version, enhanced by a horn section, shoo-be-doah, shoo-be doah …

PASCAL COMELADE (France)

Pascal Paul Vincent Comelade, born 1955 in Montpellier. He uses very unusual and different instruments like singing saw, toy piano but also guitars, accordion, piano and drums. His first album came in 1980, and he’s recorded so many… However, since I don’t have any of his releases it is a little difficult to find out how many versions there are of “Sixteen”. One has Pascal playing Toy piano and one has Mark Cunningham, both at 2:34 length. There is also an earlier version featured on a self released album compilation from 2010 titled ”Galletto Présente Enregistrements PC- 75-90” featuring recordings from 1975-1984, and the song runs for 4:33.

Sweet Little Sixteen (1:26) 1987 (instr)

LP: El Primitivismo [Les Disques Du Soleil Et De L’Acier DSA-54011] ● France, 1987

Here Pascal plays toy piano and drums, plus has Damned Pat on distant vocals (!)

EP: Rock Del Veneno [Les Disques Du Soleil Et De L’Acier DSA-54012] ● France, 1988

EP released as a limited and numbered edition of 100 copies. The song here is a remixed version of the LP track above.

Sweet Little Sixteen (2:33) 1991 (instr) (live)

CD: Stranger In Paradigm [Vand’Oeuvre 0630] ● France, 2006

This was recorded live in Barcelona in 1991. VERY unusual electronic pop version which is hard to recognise. The album itself is a compilation of songs from the ‘90s and 2000s. Limited numbered edition of a 1000 copies.

CROSS-SCHACK-OSTERMANN (Denmark)

Rock/blues trio. Billy Cross, singer, guitarist (born William Schwartz in 1946 on Manhattan, New York) has been living in Denmark since 1980. Mik Schack (aka Michael Hans Greve Schack who is Jazz musician and journalist), and Flemming Ostermann (rock/jazz guitarist and vocalist, Co-founder of the famous Danish band Savage Rose).

Nadine (4:08) 2006
No Money Down (4:25) 2006
Run Rudolph Run (4:16) 2006
Thirty Days (3:21) 2006

CD: Trio From Hell [Kick Music KICKCD-270] ● Denmark, 2006

Nine tracks on the album, and as you can see they are pretty long ones, from 3 and a half to 6 and a half minutes.
See also Billy Cross

GANG (Netherlands)

Sweet Little Sixteen (3:09) 1979

Various LP: Lift 4 [Universe Productions OP-4] ● Netherlands, 1979

This album has songs by five different white blues bands. It is in an album series from Lift 1 to Lift 5.

HOLLYWOOD BRATS (UK)

A rock band from London formed in 1971 and disbanded in 1974. Original members were: Andrew Matheson (vocals), Casino Steel (keyboards), Eunan Brady (guitar), Wayne Manor (bass), Lou Sparks (drums).

Sweet Little Sixteen (3:29) 1973 (live)

2-CD: Sick On You [Cherry Red CDBRED-676] ● UK, 2016

Previously unissued track. The CD set also contains their debut “lost” album first released in 1980, and everything is remastered by Norwegian Casino Steel and enhanced by previously unissued outtakes, rarities and live tracks. Produced in collaboration with original singer Andrew Matheson.

HOTT ROXX (Canada)

A rock’n’roll band (sextet) active in the late ‘70s consisting of Jim Tovey (vocals), John King (guitar, vocals), David Harrison (guitar), George Bland (keyboards, harp), Scott Shelson (bass, vocals), Tony Ciaccia (drums). They had one single, “Here We Go Again” FOX-1005) and one album, “Rock’n’Rolls Gone Hollywood” FO-7002, out in 1978. So the single below must have been some sort of promotion for the band, but the album doesn’t include a version of “Little Queenie”. The title track of their album is a typical Berry soundalike, it even mentions Johnny B. Goode …

Little Queenie (4:22) 1977 (live)

45: Force 1 Records FO-1003 ● Canada, 1977

Pre-U.S. Release Canada Radio Exclusive. Recorded in Toronto March 1977. A record to get your “Hott Roxx” off.
This is what’s written on the label.
Please see page 1650 Mystery Cover Version (Vol. 4) for more info regarding this release.
However, at that time I didn’t know anything about it. Later on I thought it could be the Canadian band April Wine because they released an album recorded live in Toronto March 1977 (which didn’t include “Little Queenie”). But it seems it was not.
So what was the purpose for the release of this promo single by the Hott Roxx?
Anyway, now at last we are hopefully at the end of this question mark. No Rolling Stones and no April Wine.
(Thanks to Discogs)

IMPERIAL STATE ELECTRIC (Sweden)

THard rock quartet, Nicke Andersson (vocals, guitar), Tobias Egge (guitar, vocals), Dolf DeBorst (bass, vocals), Tomas Eriksson (drums, vocals). They have seven albums out on Psychout Records from 2010-2018 and many singles.

Sweet Little Sixteen (3:01) 2010

10” LP: In Concert! [Psychout Records PSYCH-011 LP] ● Sweden, 2010

Noisy rendition. 6 tracks. Produced by Nicke Andersson. In concert? It sounds studio to me.

ANDREAS JONSSON & The Pink Cadillac Band (Sweden)

Born 1986. From Värmland. Singer, songwriter, guitarist who’s made a name for himself as a musician, producer, arranger and has collaborated with people like Ingvar Karlsson (Sven-Ingvars), Louise Hoffsten, Linda Gail Lewis. His band Pink Cadillac is known for playing the real stuff from the ‘50s.

Carol ( : ) 2014
Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 2014
Roll Over Beethoven ( : ) 2014

LP & CD: Well That’s Rock ‘n’ Roll [Andreas Jonsson AJMP-02] ● Sweden, 2014

Again it is interesting to notice that Berry has three covers on the album, plus one from the Beatles and Bruce Springsteen, a couple from Jerry Lee, and one from Little Richard and Carl Perkins a.o.

Little Queenie (3:27) 2018
No Particular Place To Go (2:48) 2018

LP & CD: We’re Ready [Andreas Jonsson Self released] ● Sweden, 2018

This was re-released in February 2021 in connection with their We’re Ready Tour.

KOOL RAY And The Polaroidz (USA)

Doug Johnson (guitar), John Parkhurst (guitar), Dee Person (bass), Denny Propst (drums). Maybe they are all doing the vocals?

I’m Talking About You (1:58) 1980
Sweet Little Sixteen (2:52) 1980

LP: Introducing [Stuff Records SR-80-001] ● USA, 1980

Recorded at Creative Audio, Urbana, Illinois. A cool(!) and straight rock’n’roll album with songs from Berry, Cochran, Beatles, Richard and Orbison. 13 tracks including two original songs.

TERRY MANNING And The WILD ONES (USA)

Terry Don Manning from El Paso, Texas. He’s played with Bobby Fuller and fronted The Wild Ones. He’s worked at Stax Studios in Memphis, and also done a lot of engineering and producing. Apart from the album below, he’s released three albums, among others a tribute to Bobby Fuller in 2013.

Sweet Little Sixteen ( : ) 1963

LP: Border Town Rock ‘N Roll 1963 [Norton Records ED-374] ● USA, 2012
CD: Border Town Rock ‘N Roll 1963 [Norton Records CED-374] ● USA, 2012

Recorded 12 October 1963 at the TCA Clubhouse, El Paso, Texas. Previously unissued. This album (Volume 7) is in a series titled El Paso Rock.

98 DEGREES (USA)

Andrew Lachey, Jeffrey Timmons, Justin Jeffre and Nick Lachey. A Grammy–nominated boy band. They have seven albums out including two Xmas concepts. All members are from Ohio. They have sold over 10 million albums and have had several Top 40 single hits.

Run Rudolph Run (3:23) 2017

LP: Let It Snow [UMe B-0027412-01] ● USA, 2017
CD: Let It Snow [UMe B-0027310-02] ● USA, 2017

A good pop version with a horn section, although the short guitar solo makes it a little rockin’.

ROCK MACHINE (France)

Studio musicians.

Around And Around ( : ) 1978
Carol ( : ) 1978
Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 1978
Sweet Little Sixteen ( : ) 1978

LP: A Stone Collection [Carabine 26 519] ● France, 1978

Also featuring a few soundalikes like “Route 66”. The front cover proclaims: A Non Stop Dancing Record...
But what does Johnny B. and Sixteen have to do with the Stones, except that they have played them live?

SHORTY AND THE HEARTBEATS (Ireland)

Brian “Shorty” O’Kane (bass, vocals, guitars), Iggy Ward (guitars), Rosey Hunter (vocals, tambourine), Gary Hunter (drums).
For some strange reason there are seven additional vocalists (!) on the album.

Sweet Little Sixteen (2:50) 1986

LP: Sweet Little Sixteen [Homestead Records SRT6KL-1060] ● UK, 1986

Recorded at Homestead Studios, Randalstown, which is a small town in Country Antrim, Northern Ireland.