Chuck Berry - 18th October 1928 - 18th March 2017 😢

Woke up in the middle of the night and checked the news in passing and was more than a little stunned to read of the passing of one of the great Rock and Roll Legends, Chuck Berry.

He passed away yesterday at his home. This message was posted on his website:

"We are deeply saddened to announce that Chuck Berry – beloved husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather – passed away at his home today at the age of 90. Though his health had deteriorated recently, he spent his last days at home surrounded by the love of his family and friends. The Berry family asks that you respect their privacy during this difficult time."

Whilst we may morun his passing from this life, his musical legacy stands forever etched upon our hearts and lives. The music of Chuck Berry was something that was a part of my growing up and I always smile when I hear the familiar guitar sound that often introduced many of his hit singles.

I still hope that they will release the album Chuck that he was planning to put out. It was to be his first album for 38 years to consist of mainly new material and was being spoken of as his final album.

I could think of no better tribute than to play his Debut Album - After School Session - today. In May this year it will be the 60th Anniversary of its release!

After School Session - Chuck Berry

Chess

Produced by Leonard and Phil Chess

Released May 1957

Side One

Side Two

Personnel
    Chuck Berry – steel guitar on "Deep Feeling", vocals, guitar
    Johnnie Johnson – piano
    Willie Dixon – bass
    Fred Below – drums
    L. C. Davis – tenor saxophone on "Too Much Monkey Business" and "Drifting Heart"
    Jasper Thomas – drums
    Ebby Hardy – drums
    Otis Spann – piano
    Jimmy Rogers – guitar
    Jerome Green – maracas on "Maybellene"

Tracks on After School Session

That Were Released On Single

Released July 1955

B-Side to the Debut Single Maybellene.

Wee Wee Hours made #10 on the R&B Chart whilst Maybellene made #1 (and #5 on The Hot 100.

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No Money Down / The Down Bound Train

Chess

Released January 1956

US R&B Chart #8

 

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Together (We Will Always Be) was the B-Side to Thirty Days (To Come Back Home) released in October 1955.

As the B-Side it reached #2 on the R&B Chart.

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 Drifting Heart was the B-Side to Roll Over Beethoven released in May 1956. The single reached #29 on The Hot 100 and #2 on the R&B Chart.

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Brown Eyed Handsome Man / Too Much Monkey Business*

Chess

Released September 1956

US R&B Chart #4*

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Havana Moon was the B-Side to You Can't Catch Me that was released in November 1956.

School Day (Ring! Ring! Goes The Bell) / Deep Feeling

Chess

Released January 1957

US Hot 100 #3

US R&B Chart #1

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Bonus

Listen To The Best of The Chess Years Here.

     CD 1
1     Johnny B. Goode    
2     Maybellene    
3     Little Queenie    
4     School Days (Ring, Ring Goes The Bell)    
5     Carol    
6     Too Much Monkey Business    
7     No Money Down    
8     Come On    
9     Guitar Boogie    
10     Stop And Listen    
11     Together (We'll Always Be)    
12     Run Around    
13     Confessin' The Blues    
14     You Can't Catch Me    
15     The Way It Was Before    
16     It Don't Take But A Few Minutes    
17     Worried Life Blues    
18     I Got To Find My Baby    
19     Away From You    
20     I'm Talking About You    
21     Thirty Days    
22     Vacation Time    
23     Our Little Rendezvous    
24     Jaguar And Thunderbird    
25     Too Pooped To Pop    
    CD 2
1     Memphis, Tennessee    
2     Sweet Little Sixteen    
3     Brown Eyed Handsome Man    
4     Let It Rock    
5     Beautiful Delilah    
6     Thirteen Question Method    
7     Almost Grown    
8     Driftin' Blues    
9     Mad Lad    
10     Blues For Hawaiians    
11     Down The Road A Piece    
12     Blue Feeling    
13     Don't Lie To Me    
14     Low Feeling    
15     Broken Arrow    
16     Diploma For Two    
17     Roly Poly    
18     How You've Changed    
19     Deep Feeling    
20     Childhood Sweetheart    
21     Little Star    
22     That's My Desire    
23     Rip It Up    
24     Reelin' And Rockin'    
    CD 3
1     Back In The U.S.A.    
2     Roll Over Beethoven    
3     Sweet Little Rock And Roller    
4     Rock And Roll Music    
5     Bye Bye Johnny    
6     Downbound Train    
7     Route 66    
8     Around And Around    
9     Sweet Sixteen    
10     Rockin' At The Philharmonic    
11     Havana Moon    
12     Go Go Go    
13     Berry Pickin'    
14     Oh Baby Doll    
15     Drifting Heart    
16     In-Go    
17     Betty Jean    
18     Hey Pedro    
19     Anthony Boy    
20     La Jaunda    
21     Jo Jo Gunne    
22     Wee Wee Hours    
23     Merry Christmas Baby    
24     Run Rudolph Run