Search - Chuck Berry :: Blues

The King Of Rock & Roll

David Bradley | Sterling, VA USA | 09/07/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Chuck Berry was the master, the true King of Rock & Roll, and this album, which has few of the big Top 40 hits found on most Berry compilations, demonstrates his regency better than most.In the late 50s and early 60s, and then again in the late 60s and early 70s, Berry recorded dozens of songs that were filled with the smoke and BBQ ribs of the East St. Louis he came from; they were spicy and smart and grooved. Some of the best, if least well known, of those records are collected on BLUES. "House of Blue Lights," "Wee Wee Hours" and others display Berry's master of traditional Blues, the form he converted into the chugga-chugga Rock & Roll that altered American Pop for decades to come.There are uptempo tunes here, too, and some of them will be familiar to most Rock fans: "I Just Want To Make Love To You" was a standard cover for most Rock groups in the 60s and 70s, and "Down The Road Apiece" was covered--photo copied, some would say--by the early Rolling Stones, as was "Route 66," though Berry slips in a nifty bit of guitar dissodence that makes his version unforgettable. The CD ends on a piece of pure gold, one of Berry's greatest records which, as far as I know, never hit the charts. "St. Louis Blues" chugs like a steam train; the band smokes and Berry's guitar sings in that sloppy, happy way that his fans have always loved, but it has a nasty edge to it here, too.He was thE King of Rock & Roll."

Mixed blessing

Laurence Upton | Wilts, UK | 10/02/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The British label Ace had a similarly themed compilation out over a decade ago, entitled On The Blues Side, but theirs had a rather more generous 21 tracks, and a playing time of over 55 minutes. That compares favourably with the 40 minutes on offer here, and so remains the better buy, especially as it has more comprehensive liner notes.

If there are specific titles that you are after, though, Blues does have a couple not to be found on On The Blues Side. These are his version of Ella Mae Morse's House Of Blue Lights (unreleased until Chuck Berry's Golden Decade Vol. 3), How You've Changed (from One Dozen Berries, and covered at the time by the Animals), St Louis Blues (from Chuck Berry In London), Route 66 (from New Jukebox Hits, and the arrangement that was used as the basis for subsequent covers by such as the Stones and Dr Feelgood) and, most interestingly, his little known train song All Aboard. This out and out gem appeared previously on Chuck Berry On Stage, when it was drenched in fake audience effects, and appears here in its unadulterated studio form for the first time."

Chuck Berry Plays The Blues...

B. Bowman | Jersey, United States | 03/27/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This collection showcases an interesting aspect of the music of the "King Of Rock and Roll" by highlighting his blues oriented material from the early 1960's. Although Berry is not known primarily as a blues musician, he actually had formidable blues chops both as a singer and guitar player. The obvious connection between rock and roll and the blues doesn't make this fact very surprising. Many of the songs on this collection feature blues legend Willie Dixon on bass and Hubert Sumlin on guitar. I love Berry's version of "Wee Wee Hours", which is a great late night blues rendition. "Sweet Sixteen" is another one of my favorites, a mellow slow blues with an excellent vocal and guitar part by Berry. Although this is not necessarily essential listening for those interested in Chuck Berry's music, this disc is an enjoyable listen and I would recommend it to any fan of the blues."