Do you have/know Maxi Singles containing Chuck Berry recordings? Sure, but what is a
Maxi Single?
There is one Chuck Berry record I know of, which is labeled a
Maxi Single: Chess UK 6145007 of March 1972 has a prominent MAXI SINGLE printing on its label. Other than that it looks like an ordinary 7-inch 45rpm single containing
Rock and Roll Music. The flip side contains two songs, though:
Johnny B. Goode and
School Day. So how do you name this. Morten Reff lists this record as a single, Chess called it a Maxi Single, to me it's an EP.
When I hear record collectors talking about a Maxi Single, they are usually referring to a 12-inch (LP-size) record which is played at 45rpm just like a 7-inch single. 12" singles were common in the late 70s and throughout the 80s. And yes, there have been 12-inch maxis containing Chuck Berry recordings - as you can see on the image below:
In the center of the image is the small Chess 1972 Maxi Single. To the left you see another Chess record. Chess GCHX-101 from 1988 is listed by Morten Reff as an UK EP. To me it is an Italian Maxi Single. We're both correct, probably. The 12-inch record has two tracks on each side, so calling it an EP makes sense. It was pressed in Italy, but according to Morten distributed from the UK.
To the right is the famous DINO 12CHUCK1 record from 1991. It has two Chess recordings on one side and a mixed medley of nine Berry hits on the other. Origin is the UK. This DINO record was concurrently also released as a 7-inch single and as a CD-single.
Finally in the upper center of the image you see a promotional copy of 12CHUCK1. This is a bit strange for a promotional copy as it has completely blank labels and came in a completely white sleeve. I have no idea how a DJ would know what to play from it.
Do you know any other Maxi Single containing Chuck Berry recordings? I'm talking about 12-inch 45rpm records.