Blues [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Chuck Berry

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 12, 2003)
• Original Release Date: August 12, 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Chess
• ASIN: B0000ALFWT
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #38,640 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Muddy Waters was his mentor, Willie Dixon his session bassist. Reversing Elvis Presley (a country kid who aspired to sing the blues), Chuck Berry was a blues musicians aspiring to play country. There have been Presley blues compilations, so it's only fitting that this co-founder of rock & roll should finally get his own. Ironically, Blues kicks off with a total rocker, "House of Blue Lights," which the Flamin' Groovies used as the blueprint for their classic cover, just as the Rolling Stones used this version of "Down the Road Apiece" as the mold for their own. "Route 66," however, is pure Nat King Cole, another Berry hero. Also imcluded are covers of Dixon's "I Just Want to Make Love To You," Charles Brown's "Driftin' Blues," and several relatively obscure Berry originals, including "Wee Wee Hours," the B-side to his first single. Climaxed by a tribute to his beloved hometown via W.C. Handy's classic "St. Louis Blues," Blues stands out as one of the most unique Berry compilations, offering a glimpse of the artist's musical roots. --Bill Holdship

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The King Of Rock & Roll, September 7, 2003

By	David Bradley "David Bradley" (Sterling, VA USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Mixed blessing, October 2, 2006

By	Laurence Upton (Wilts, UK) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chuck Berry Plays The Blues..., March 27, 2006

By	B. Bowman "Double B" (Jersey, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.