I’m going to preface this review with a bit of personal background, so bear with me. I was born the year that Chuck Berry hit the radio airwaves, so I experienced his music secondhand for the most part. Well, except perhaps for “My Ding-A-Ling.” But, what I experienced had an impact on me.
I remember my Dad singing “Brown-Eyed Handsome Man” to my mother. I remember Chuck Berry on black and white television in the ‘60s scooting across the stage in his might-as-well-be-trademarked duck-walk while wailing on his guitar. I remember playing my own very first air-guitar to “Johnny B. Goode.”
While I knew that Chuck Berry was responsible for, and had the first hit with, “Roll Over Beethoven,” I was of the age where “which Beatle is the cute one” was on my mind. Now I listen to both artists and I like Chuck Berry’s original version so much better.
My parents liked his music; I liked his music. When I was so very young, I didn’t know much of how race issues played for rock and roll performers. I was very aware of civil rights issues affecting the nation on a whole, but tended to love rock and roll, or rhythm and blues, no matter the race of the artist. I didn't care about payola. I just liked the music. As I’ve grown older, I’ve looked more into the background of Chess and Sun Records, the early pioneers of the rock ‘n’ roll industry.
That, my friends, is where this four-DVD set is a valuable and intriguing history of an era.
The first two discs in the set are a re-release of the concert material and documentary bits leading up the original Hail, Hail Rock ’n’ Roll concert movie celebrating Chuck Berry’s 60th birthday in 1986 (released in 1987). I must have been living under a rock or something back then, because I never saw it in theaters. It's okay, though - the new DVD set is remastered and a better quality production!
Article comments
1 - DJRadiohead
Excellent review. I also experienced Chuck Berry's music after the fact. Actually, I started listening to it only in the past couple of years and am just amazed by how much great material there is and what an influence he has been.
I've been debating which version of this I am going to get. I think the completist and student in me is going to require the 4-Disc set. Either way, it's not a matter of "Will I own it?" It's a matter of "Which one will I get?"
2 - Jackie
Thanks! One thing I forgot to mention in the review, one person really, is Johnnie Johnson - Chuck Berry's original pianist. He actually seems to have created Berry's guitar riffs on the piano. If you want a lot of the history and interviews, I'd go for the 4-DVD. The 2-DVD is most of the music. Your choice! ;-)
3 - -E
Congrats, this article was picked for one of this week's Ed Picks. Keep up the good work.