Chuck Berry R.I.P.

I had to check my copy twice but how is it that Great Twenty-Eight doesn't have "Promised Land"?

being a sexual predator plus being good at your job does not make you “complex.” consider the message you’re sending to victims with this
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Saturday, March 18, 2017

You seemed to be more forgiving of Michael Jackson seven years ago.

The songs only hint at what a deeply mysterious man he was; his imagination couldn't keep apace with his demons and passions. I know the newssmen are themselves getting their wits togeher, but I wish they wouldn't talk about him in such abstract terms. He was, with Prince, the most brilliant popular musician of his generation -- why isn't his songwriting and production ever discussed as often as his dancing and celebrity goofiness?
― My name is Kenny! (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, June 25, 2009 7:17 PM

― clemenza,

oh I've changed since 2009 and have got a paper trail, thanks to more contact with college students. And I'm not sure what you're suggesting? I've nowhere indicated blanket dismissals.

wait -- are you confusing the tweet I pasted (with screenname) with my opinion?

Simply that you were ready to grant complexity to Michael Jackson that you seem to want to deny Chuck Berry. But I agree with J.D.; put all that aside for at least a few hours (I feel bad contributing to it).

where have I denied complexity? This is what I wrote "I'd love to read a feminist appreciation taking into account the reported aberrant sexual conduct." This is adding complexity!

"being a sexual predator plus being good at your job does not make you “complex.” consider the message you’re sending to victims with this"

That seemed directed at Berry--how else is that supposed to be read?

What you're missing is that's not something Alfred said - it's something some asshole tweeted, and he quoted (with attribution).

Always liked this underrated aero piece on "Back to Memphis":

http://lastplanetojakarta.com/articles/memphis.html

clem, I've twice pointed out that I didn't write it: I pasted it from Twitter.

at any rate I wrote an obit two hours ago.

Right--I missed that. Sorry. My impatience--or at least put-it-aside for the moment--is directed at the author of the tweet.

I'm probably working from the assumption that to quote something like that implies some level of agreement, and that it's not just thrown out there--in the context of people paying tribute to Berry--as a conversation starter. I guess I misunderstood the intention.

greil m wrote a very nice piece a while back about "more chuck berry," an old hits collection that popped up a lot in 70s-era critics' all-time best lists. reminded me that i'd really like to reread his autobiography one of these days.

https://greilmarcus.net/2016/02/10/more-chuck-berry-041201/

i'm guessing the "content strategist" who wrote that original tweet had not spent a lot of time thinking about chuck berry prior to this afternoon

There's nothing wrong with the tweet as a conversation starter -- if that's the intention. To remain at the level of the tweet is the end of crit.

I read something by Marcus or Christgau that the rationale for choosing More as the best available compilation was that it was all the best stuff from Golden Decade + "Come On." (But it still misses "Promised Land.")

The Berry chapter in the RS Encyclopedia of Rock is a superb piece of writing.

Wow, this photo: apparently, Michael Jackson made the mistake of introducing one of his sisters to Berry at the American Music Awards.

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7PaOvVVwAA71eb.jpg

her name is LaToya iirc

Ms. Jackson if you're--nah, just LaToya's enough.

Re covers: "Memphis" is far from my favourite Chuck Berry song (I remember my guitar teacher trying to teach it to me when I was 10 or something like that), but I think this is pretty good.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQR0K4JT-rA

("In 1956, when American was giving birth to rock and roll, one man was already trying to kill it.")

yeah Memphis is awesome

Sandy Bull's version of Memphis is great

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4_pXCTpjRg

Just remembered he shows up in Wim Wenders' "Alice in the Cities" singing "Memphis," and that the song parallels the film's plot somewhat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Bea9rR4F-4

Only the good die young.

Chuck was great.

RIP Chuck Berry

Saw him once in '86, around the release of that concert doc. He was ornery at the end of it when the crowd started to clamber onstage. I was entirely satisfied.

hail hail indeed

https://goodmusicspeaks.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/send-more-chuck-berry.jpg?w=660&h=412

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/C7P4yAQXkAArbWq.jpg

maybe i saw the same show as morbs in '86? he was playing with john entwistle, half of rockpile, chuck leavell, and treated them just like any other backup band with zero rehearsal. brilliant, regardless. miss u chuck.

no, mine was the same ol' usual no-name locals he habitually used.

think i saw him in berlin in '88 but can't find the ticket now. local band played desultory r 'n' r instrumentals to warm up the audience, he left it very late to get on stage, arrived with suitcase and guitar. strict hour set, all the classics and moves, band couldn't keep up with him, akin to a mid-90s fall gig for lack of togetherness and 100% rock n roll. a true great. going to dust off the vinyls now...

matt dc and vegemitegrrl entirely otm upthread.

RIP genius

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jKrHzps0XM

her name is LaToya iirc

I couldn't tell which sister it was (LaToya or Rebbie, but definitely not Janet) and she wasn't ID-ed when I saw the photo on Twitter.

What's not to love about his music? The way the guitar swings on this one, or the lyrical inventiveness, like the way he keeps checking his watch in Reelin and Rockin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5gx_b_XCvY

"Promised Land" is basically the ur-text for Southern Rock.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cK6MElklfvM

http://www.setlist.fm/setlist/chuck-berry/1986/the-ritz-new-york-ny-5bf64b3c.html

^98% sure this is the show i saw

ah, ok. this one was mine:

https://www.wolfgangs.com/chuck-berry/posters/poster/FEL861018.html

I'd seen this before somewhere--the reviews are funny. (Can't read them if I reduce the size.)

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gxlkC63prUQ/UICCLhE2p7I/AAAAAAAAKto/EDdI6kVIu_Q/s1600/sept80-10-11.jpg
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IErA3Ag4w-Q/UICCUYSPgnI/AAAAAAAAKtw/AM2NHuvcVPk/s1600/sept80-12-13.jpg

<3 the reviews, I can imagine that making the Ramones' day.

Thirty-six takes on Maybellene?! Is he for real? Jesus. I always figured they just came in, set up, played it once. It's such a fresh, barrelling performance, just crackling and young and vibrant and bold.

That could've included false starts, breakdowns, and general workings-on of the song, though. And, as with "Like A Rolling Stone," which took 20 takes but the 4th was used as the master, it might not have been the 36th take that was released.

Looks like the Joy Division track was mistitled. I wonder which one he was listening to.

Those reviews are hard to read, I should have just posted a link:

http://dangerousminds.net/comments/chuck_berry_reviews_sex_pistols_talking_heads_clash_and_many_more_1980

The comparison of Wire to Muddy Waters is fascinating, the kind of intuitive musician's connection I'd never pick up on. At the other end of the spectrum, I'm not sure if his comment about Lydon's anger is genuine or him just slyly feigning befuddlement--I suspect the latter, with a healthy dose of "Did I tell you about 1955?" mixed in.

I read something by Marcus or Christgau that the rationale for choosing More as the best available compilation was that it was all the best stuff from Golden Decade + "Come On." (But it still misses "Promised Land.")

I was attending an open mic night tonight where one guy got up and sang a Berry song. After he finished and everyone clapped, the organiser guy shouted "yeah lets all applaud a paedophile."

To which mass confusion ensued where the bloke singing thought he was talking about him. lol

lmao fuck

yeah the fake stereo on Golden Decade is not good. a lot of songs definitely sound wimpier than i remember them being.

I was a little worried his new album would be shelved or left unfinished, but Rolling Stone reports details about the release will be out later this week.

Johnny B. Goode/His Complete '50s Chess Recordings is so great and in mono

that version of Promised Land tipsy posted is awesome as hell

yes. i want so much more of that.

looks like this is the full 1972 show that included that Promised Land:

https://youtu.be/YtrOr3WKmyY?list=PL61vsQuhgyGcv8Pbh3KBG5y5USNRTazDR

might wanna listen to this at 9pm ET tonight

https://wfmu.org/2017/03/20/chuck-berry-tribute-thurs-night/

omg

http://images2.onionstatic.com/onion/5657/1/original/700.jpg