CBID - And they play Chuck Berry music - 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: 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. [continued]

An Australian group called John Kennedy’s Love Gone Wrong had a single out in 1986 titled “Run Rudolph Run” which is not the Berry number strangely enough. It’s a self written song where they use the title between the verses. It sounds like a leftover from the Beach Boys in the ‘60s. Again it’s always a chance to take if you haven’t heard the song, and this is a very good example.
An American guitar player called Lightnin’ Red had an album out in 1972 called “The Super Guitar Of …” (Stereo Gold Award MER-351) featuring “Guitar Boogie” credited to Chuck Berry, but that’s the Arthur Smith’s version he’s playing.

ALARM CLOCKS (USA)

Originally a garage rock trio from Parma, Ohio, formed in 1965. Bruce Boehm (guitar), Mike Pierce (vocals, bass), and Bill Schwark (drums). They recorded a single in ’66 released on their own Awake label. Nothing happened and the band disbanded in 1967. The single though became later on popular among collectors and in 1996 turned up on a compilation album “Back From The Grave”. Various old songs made up an album “Yeah!” on Norton Records in 2000. The group reformed in 2006 and added a fourth member, guitar player Tom Fallon, and they had a new album out on Norton. Busy guys.

Carol ( : ) 2009 (live)

LP: Live Nov.7, 2009 [My Mind’s Eye Records NME-003] ● USA, 2010

Recorded live at the Beachland Tavern, Cleveland, Ohio. Limited Edition of 300 copies. Record has a white cover with artwork pasted on and insert with song titles, and the labels have handwritten song titles.

ARA VA DE BO (Spain)

Nuri* (lead vocals), Ricard Casals** (lead vocals), Joaquin "Max" Sunyer (guitar), Josep "Kitflus" Mas (keyboards), Primitiu Sancho (bass), Jordi Colomer (drums).

Carol** (2:59) 1977 (Spanish lyrics)
Rock And Roll Music* (3:46) 1977 (Spanish lyrics)

LP: Ara Va De Rock [Pardal 709 L.P.] ● Spain, 1977
CD: Ara Va De Rock [Actual Records 80 2008/14] ● Spain, 1998 (reissue)

Seems like this is an educational album for children.
See also Max Sunyer

AUTOMATICS (UK)

Punk-rock quartet. They had a single out in 1978 and later a few in the 2000s, and seven albums from 2000 to 2009.

You Can’t Catch Me (3:49) 2000

LP: The Missing Album [Destroy Records BURN-001] ● UK, 2000

BARBARA STANN (Spain)

Rock quintet, all men despite the band name. Hector Fernandez (vocals, ac.guitar), Jorge Garcia (el.guitar, vocals), Pedro Pasamontes (guitars), José Antonio Danta (bass, vocals), and Sergio Ramos (drums, vocals). Add. musician: Lluis Vidal (piano).

Carol (2:31) 1992
Carol (2:31) 1992 (Spanish version)

CD: Another Girl [3 Cipreses CR-9C-0910] ● Spain, 1992
LP: Another Girl [3 Cipreses 4C-0910] ● Spain, 1992*

Okay rockin’ version but the Spanish one sounds best. The CD has 15 tracks, but the LP* only features 11 tracks, which means the Spanish version is not included.

BASICS (Australia)

Rock trio, formed 2002 in Melbourne. Michael Hubbard (lead guitar, vocals) replaced by Tim Heath in 2005, Kris Schroeder (bass, vocals), Wally De Backer (drums, vocals). Most of their songs are originals, often written by Kris Schroeder, so it’s interesting to see they selected a Berry tune to cover, where they, by the way, are enhanced by a horn section.

You Never Can Tell (3:05) 2019

LP: B.A.S.I.C. [The Three Basics 3B0170562] ● Australia, 2019
CD: B.A.S.I.C. [The Three Basics 3B0170579] ● Australia, 2019

But a pretty ordinary version.

CARROLL BATEMAN And The UNTOUCHABLES (USA)

Singer and guitarist together with Ted LeMire (saxophone), Tom Vanyo (bass, vocals), Richie Pommer (drums).

No Particular Place To Go (2:50) 1966 (live)?

LP: Songs From Last Night [Smigar Records M-101] ● USA, 1966

I have a feeling this is very local. Record label out of Minneapolis, Minnesota.

BETTERDAYS (UK)

Rhythm & blues quintet from Plymouth. Mike “Shane” Hayne (lead vocals). Richard Broczek (guitars), Bob Pitcher (keyboards, vocals), Mike Weston (bass, vocals), Frank Tyler (drums). Formed in 1960 as a rock’n’roll group but who more and more added rhythm & blues to their repertoire. They released an EP on the Oak label in the early ‘60s and a single in 1965 on Polydor, but promotion and sales were poor so they disbanded in 1966.

Too Much Monkey Business (2:10) 1994

CD: No Concessions [Aftermath NAFT-1001] ● UK, 1994
2-LP: Backlash [N.T.B. Records 1003] ● UK, 2017

This re-issue in 2017 contains more songs than the 1994 version. The album has both early unreleased songs and newer recordings from the reunion of the band in 1994.

BLACK CAT JOE & MISS CORINA (France)

Black Cat Joe (vocals, guitar, harmonica, bass drum & cymbal), Miss Corina (washtub bass, maracas, tambourine). I have found two albums and two EPs by them. They play folk blues and primitive rock’n’roll. You can find several You Tube clips where they a.o. perform both “Carol” and “Roll Over Beethoven”.

Johnny B. Goode ( : ) 2013
You Never Can Tell ( : ) 2013

CD: A Thousand Miles From Nowhere [Kerozen, no cat number] ● France, 2013

BLACK LIPS (USA)

Flower-punk band from Atlanta, Georgia formed in 1999. They have released over 12 albums and a LOT of singles and EPs since 2002.

Too Much Monkey Business ( : ) 2004 (live)

7” 33 1/3 EP: Live At The Jam Club [Shake Your Ass Records SYA-009] ● Italy, 2004

Recorded live on a two-track at Jam Club in Mestre, Italy (near Venice). Limited numbered edition.

BLACK KNIGHTS 2005 (UK)

Back in the ‘60s, really 1965, they had a single out on Columbia “I Gotta Woman” produced by George Martin. This reunion band consisted of Mal Jefferson (guitar, harmonica, vocals), Frank Hopley (piano, vocals), Ritchie Ballard (bass), Allan Schroeder (drums, vocals), the latter was a founding member of the original group.

Johnny B. Goode (3:20) 2005
Nadine (3:29) 2005
No Particular Place To Go (2:30) 2005

CD: Back In Black [Mastersound MS CD.570] ● UK, 2005

LYNDA CARTER (USA)

Lynda Jean Cordova Carter from Phoenix, Arizona, born in 1951. She’s an actress and singer. Won Miss World USA in 1972. Played the role of “Wonder Woman” for three seasons in the ‘70s TV series. So far she has released four studio albums, from 1978-2018.

You Never Can Tell (C’est La Vie …) (3:21) 2011

CD: Crazy Little Things [Potomac Records PP-4003] ● USA, 2011

Pretty good pop version.

CASH (USA)

Rock quintet. Kathy Turner (vocals), Howard “Bunk” Beenken (guitar), Isaac Josef Anthony (organ), Tim James (bass), Hank Laake (drums)

Johnny B. Goode / Roll Over Beethoven [in a rock’n’roll medley] (10:10) 1972 (live)

LP: Caught Live At The Golden Hawk [Catch Records LAM-128] ● USA, 1972

Recorded live at the Golden Hawk on 9 September 1972 in Des Moines, Iowa. In addition to the Berry covers the medley consists of: Long Tall Sally, Great Balls Of Fire, Shake Rattle And Roll and Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ On.
It’s not easy to find on line tracks from obscure albums, so I can’t comment here.

CHANTAL (Germany)

German classical group or instrumental-ensemble with ten to fourteen musicians gathered.

Roll Over Beethoven (4:54) 2003 (live) (instr)

CD: Live At The Cavern [Zounds Music 27000 60022] ● Germany 2003

Recorded live at The Cavern Club in Liverpool 22 February, 2003. This is in a series titled Audiophile Edition  – Volume 4.
Again, I wonder why they include Beethoven, except that Beatles recorded it and had a hit with it, but still ? The Beatles wrote plenty of their own. As a matter of fact of the 14 tracks on the album, 13 are from the pens of Lennon-McCartney.

CO-DEPENDENTS (Canada)

Rock’n’roll-country quartet from Calgary, Alberta, consisting of Billy Cowsill (lead vocals, ac. guitar), Steve Pineo (el. guitar, vocals), Tim Leacock (bass, vocals), Ross Watson (drums). They existed from 1998 to 2004.

You Never Can Tell (3:02) 2001 (live)

CD: Live At The Mecca Café – Volume 2 [Indelible Music NIRC-0009] ● Canada, 2006

Album recorded live at the Mecca Café in Calgary, 27, 29, 30 June 2001. Here we have 18 mostly covers of rock’n’roll, soul, R&B songs from various well known artists and groups.

CORMAN (France)

Alias Marc Simon, a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter. In the ‘90s he performed and recorded with Claude Saut as Corman & Tuscadu. He’s also recorded a lot as Marc Simon. To be quite honest I am not sure where he’s from, France or Italy? Most of the albums by him are from France. It’s not easy when you have songs recorded in French, English, Italian and German.

Carol (4:09) 1997

CD: Anatomia [Baracca & Burattini 489171 2] ● Italy, 1997

I have only found one release of this album from Italy. And this is also the only release as Corman.

CRAZY ROCKERS (Netherlands)

Four piece indo-rock band. See Volume 3, page 1146 for biographical info.
However, there were some missing links in there. I didn’t have the exact year for the first two Berry covers and I missed the timing. And the CD “Story Of The Crazy Rockers” was also missing. Now their Berry covers collection is complete and correct, so far.

Bye Bye Johnny (2:32) 1964
Rock And Roll Music (2:18) 1964

LP: Drivin’ With The Crazy Rockers [Delta DL-502] ● Netherlands, 1964
CD: Story Of The Crazy Rockers [Sam Sam Music CDHL-1006] ● Netherlands, 1992

Reelin’ And Rockin’ (2:13) 1964

45: Delta DS-1116 ● Netherlands, 1964 (PS)
CD: Story Of The Crazy Rockers [Sam Sam Music CDHL-1006] ● Netherlands, 1992

You Never Can Tell (3:21) 1998

CD: In Session [KoKo Records 98201] ● Netherlands, 1998

Vocals by Sugar Lee Hooper.

CREOLE STRING BEANS (USA)

Six piece Swamp pop/R&B group from New Orleans, Louisiana.

You Never Can Tell ( : ) 2009

CD: Creole String Beans [String Bean Music SM-001] ● USA, 2009

Recorded at Word Of Mouth Studio, New Orleans. There are a couple of live performances by the band of this song on You Tube.

CROSSTONES (USA)

A rock band led by guitarist Bobby Emmons.

Run Rudolph Run (2:46) 1980

LP: It’s Christmas Time [Clifton Records CL-2001] ● USA, 1980

This runs too fast in a country rock way, enhanced by a horn section which makes it a little nagging. Record label out of Clifton, New Jersey.

KIKKI DANIELSSON (Sweden)

See Volume 3, page 1153 for biographical info.

Run Rudolph Run (2:42) 2016

CD: Christmas Card From a Painted Lady [Universal Music UNI-0602557-24198] ● Sweden, 2016

Slower and pretty dull version, unfortunately.

DELILAH DeWYLDE And The Lost Boys (USA)

Delilah DeWylde (vocals, upright bass), Lee Harvey (guitar), and DJ McCoy (drums). Delilah hails from Western Michigan and started with her high octane rockabilly back in 2004. She’s released three albums and two EPs from 2008-2012.

Run Rudolph Run ( : ) 2012

45: Merry Christmas From Delilah DeWylde… [Girl Friday Records GFR-003] ● USA, 2012

Released in limited quantities; 100 copies on green vinyl, and then re-issued in 2013 on red vinyl with 130 copies.

DOLLHOUSE (Sweden)

Garage rock band from Enköping, Sweden. They were active from 2000 to 2011. Unfortunately no info when the Berry number below was recorded.

Too Much Monkey Business ( : ) 2010 (?)

45: Ghost Highway Recordings GHR-130 ● Spain, 2016

Interesting release with Dollhouse on one side with the Berry number and Jake Starr And The Delicious Fullness on the other with a Bo Diddley cover “Gunslinger”. There are two picture sleeves (color drawings), the Berry side has a “Dollhouse” leaning on a jukebox like on Berry’s LP “New Juke Box Hits”. The Diddley sleeve is showing “Jake Starr” in disguise as Bo as on his Checker LP “Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger”. Limited editions of a 100 hand numbered copies each on black, green and blue vinyl.

MAX SUNYER (Spain)

Real name Joaquin Antoni Sunyer Llop. Jazz-rock guitarist, born in La Pobla de Massaluca, Terra Alta in 1947. He’s been active since the mid ‘60s. He studied classical guitar playing from the late ‘60s during four years. Musicians on the album below are: Jordi Querol (vocals), Max Sunyer (guitar, harmonica), Pepe (bass), J. M. Vilaseca (drums).

Carol (2:53) 1972
Rock And Roll Music (2:51) 1972
Roll Over Beethoven (2:45) 1972

CD: 1972 [PDI S.A. F-80.3325] ● Spain, 1994 (reissue)

I can’t seem to find the original album, so maybe this is something that never came out originally(?) It’s a straight rock’n’roll album with ten tracks and again Berry’s music is represented the most.
See also Ara Va De Bo