Berry,Chuck 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.

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 26. Hey Pedro 27. Sweet Little Rock and Roller 28. Jo Jo Gunne 29. Run Rudolph Run 30. Merry Christmas Baby 31. Anthony Boy 32. That's My Desire 33. Almost Grown 34. Little Queenie 35. Back in the U.S.A 36. Memphis, Tennessee 37. Broken Arrow 38. Childhood Sweetheart 39. Let It Rock 40. Too Pooped to Pop 41. Bye Bye Johnny 42. Worried Life Blues 43. I Got to Find My Baby 44. Mad Lad 45. Jaguar and Thunderbird 46. Our Little Rendezvous 47. I'm Talking About You 48. Little Star 49. Come on 50. Go-Go-Go