Chuck Berry - Complete Chess Singles As & BS 1955-61 (CD)

Chuck Berry was one of the key figures in the rock 'n' roll explosion of the mid-'50s, as musical styles that had been part of R&B and country for a number of years came together in a cross-cultural hothouse fuelled by the power of mass media and the rebellious attitudes of the baby boom generation. So distinctive and individual are Chuck's guitar technique and songwriting style that his hits from that era have become some of the touchstones which characterise the whole genre of rock 'n' roll. His trademark guitar intros and riffs, and songs like "Johnny B. Goode" and "Roll Over Beethoven" have become part of the universal language of rock 'n' roll to the extent that any group of reasonably competent musicians could perform a passable version of them without a rehearsal. Signed to the Chess label on Muddy Waters recommendation in 1955, he scored a million seller with his first hit "Maybellene", and over the next few years recorded a string of classics, the songs articulating the experiences of teen life and the new consumerism in brilliantly observed lyrics as well as a musical style that combined the best of R&B and country. Even B sides like "Round And Round", "Reeling And Rocking" and "Memphis Tennessee" have become classics which have been essential elements of many bands' repertoire over the years. This great value 50-track 2-CD set comprises every A &B side released by Chuck during these phenomenal formative years, and it's a must-have for every true fan of rock 'n' roll.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Maybelline
2. Wee Wee Hours
3. Thirty Days (To Come Back Home)
4. Together (We Will Always Be)
5. No Money Down
6. The Downbound Train
7. Roll Over Beethoven
8. Drifting Heart
9. Brown Eyed Handsome Man
10. Too Much Monkey Business
11. You Can't Catch Me
12. Havana Moon
13. School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell)
14. Deep Feeling
15. Oh Baby Doll
16. La Jaunda
17. Rock and Roll Music
18. Blue Feeling
19. Sweet Little Sixteen
20. Reelin' and Rockin'
21. Johnny B. Goode
22. Around and Around
23. Beautiful Delilah
24. Vacation Time
25. Carol

Disc: 2

1. Hey Pedro
2. Sweet Little Rock and Roller
3. Jo Jo Gunne
4. Run Rudolph Run
5. Merry Christmas Baby
6. Anthony Boy
7. That's My Desire
8. Almost Grown
9. Little Queenie
10. Back in the U.S.A
11. Memphis, Tennessee
12. Broken Arrow
13. Childhood Sweetheart
14. Let It Rock
15. Too Pooped to Pop
16. Bye Bye Johnny
17. Worried Life Blues
18. I Got to Find My Baby
19. Mad Lad
20. Jaguar and Thunderbird
21. Our Little Rendezvous
22. I'm Talking About You
23. Little Star
24. Come on
25. Go-Go-Go