His Best, Volume 1

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Total Tracks: 20   Total Length: 52:14

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John Morthland

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John Morthland has been writing about music since the days of electronically rechanneled stereo and duophonic sound. His name has darkened the mastheads of Roll...more »

11.16.10
He created the rock ‘n’ roll vocabulary while playing guitar just like ringing a bell
1997 | Label: Geffen

What's left to say about Papa Chuck? Though already 29 years old when he scored his first hit ("Maybellene," 1955), he essentially created the rock 'n' roll vocabulary while playing guitar just like ringing a bell. He did so by seamlessly weaving dozens of American music influences into an immediately recognizable, wholly original sound. Most of his biggest hits and/or best-known songs are here, including "School Day," "Rock & Roll Music," "Sweet Little Sixteen," "Roll Over Beethoven," and that epic celebration of himself called "Johnny B. Goode."

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The only thing missing is volume 2

regnadkcin

You could try and find a single volume collection of Chuck Berry but you'll miss too much essential music. Start here with this outstanding volume 1 and then get volume 2. They're both remastered, well sequenced and a must have for any collection.

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Strictly focusing on his single tracks in a chronological manner, this first of two volumes in MCA’s Chess 50th Anniversary collection hits all the high spots of Chuck Berry’s career up to 1958. It also serves as the first compilation to really showcase his development as a songwriter over the first three years of his massive crossover success, including the seldom-anthologized “Downbound Train” (perhaps the darkest and most demonic ditty he ever recorded) juxtaposed against his car songs (“Maybellene,” “You Can’t Catch Me”), his calculated and carefully crafted instant classics for the 1950s teenage market (“Reelin’ and Rockin’,” “Sweet Little Sixteen,” “School Day”), and his celebrations of the music itself (“Rock and Roll Music,” “Johnny B. Goode,” “Roll Over Beethoven”). There’s a ton of great music here (with a second companion volume to complete the picture), and for a big chunk of what makes Berry perhaps rock & roll’s original triple-threat package (singer, songwriter, and guitar hero), there’s much here to tip the scales in its favor to recommend this volume as a first-time purchase. – Cub Koda

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