Putting Berry in historical perspective, up there with Elvis Presley and above Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and Carl Perkins, Lydon concisely explains what Berry did with the subject matter — youthful turbulence and yearning — shared with these other artists:
- No one touched on these feelings with more humor and empathy than Chuck Berry. Wallets filled with pictures, waiting for that three o’ clock bell to ring, hamburgers on the snack shop grill, joy riding with your buddies, and parking by the river with those girls ‘too cute to be a minute over seventeen’ - Chuck got it all.
No wonder he went on to influence the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, the Beach Boys, the Who, the Kinks, T. Rex and “every group of kids who’ve gotten together in somebody’s basement to bang out rock ‘n’ roll.” After all, Lydon continues, Berry’s “been the outside voice that’s awakened the inner voice of all these hopeful young artists and given them that indispensable ‘you can do it’ shove.”
In addition, there’s a timelessness to that sense of awakening and discovery as Lydon stirringly affirms, “These are twenty-eight great records, as crisp and tangy as the day Chuck laid them down.
"It still amazes me how good they make me feel… Rock on, Chuck Berry!”
And Hail! Hail! Happy Birthday!
Article comments
1 - Mark Saleski
great job gordon. you know, i'm not much for greatest hits packages but i do have this one...and it's pretty much perfect.
2 - DJRadiohead
I own the Anthology, which expands this set by a few numbers. I bought it because this one is out of print. When I saw Great 28 in a used CD store, I bought it anyway. Some of the best rock and roll ever.
And... according to a story about Chuck's 80th, I read next year an album of new material is going to be released. That is going to be seriously great. I am predicting big things for it.
3 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Thanks Mark: This was pretty much one of the exceptions for me in greatest hits albums, too. Still sounds great.
4 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Thanks DJ. I hope that album of new material comes out, but I also hope it's not along the lines of "My Ding-a-Ling." (Oh no, now I got that song going through my head...)
5 - Mark Saleski
not too long ago, i picked up "Blue", which is a fine record too. i'd also like to get "Rockit".
his non-collection stuff is hard to find in stores.
6 - gonzo marx
Chuck Berry > Elvis...
nuff said;
Excelsior?
7 - DJRadiohead
It really is tough to find any of the actual "albums." A remastered version of St. Louis to Liverpool was released and I have it. I also have After School Session. Still, there are so many of his actual records with songs that aren't so famous I would love to hear.
8 - Mark Saleski
yep. when i saw "Blues" in the bin, i snatched that sucker up!
9 - Bliffle
Chuck Berry is still alive!? Great scott, and now he's only 10 years older than me!
About 30 years ago I had the pleasure of conversing with Berry for several minutes, wherein he claimed that he really invented Rock 'n Roll (not Big Joe Turner or later impostors like Elvis or Bill Haley) because he traveled without a band and taught young musicians across the land to play R&R riffs as his backup groups. Thus, they learned.
He always sounds great and he's very witty.
10 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
That's great, Bliffle, that you met and had a chance to talk to a legend. I've heard the same thing--that he kind of wings it for his tours. Gets a band together at the last minute and gets the show on the road.
11 - gonzo marx
Bliffle in #9...
the Way he tells it is the Way i've heard it from olde timers when i was young, so fucking long ago...
hence the Equation in #6
i'm way envious that Bliffle got to talk with such an Artist... a real american Original
Excelsior?
12 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
gonzo--I agree that CB > EP, and I think the proper expression is "ye olde timers."
13 - gonzo marx
heh...
hoist by me own petard, ye might say...
Excelsior?
14 - tink
Good going, Gordon!
15 - gonzo marx
:::blinks twice:::
"tink" ?
you don't know Nym Nadal by any chance?
nah, couldn't be...
/end hijack
Excelsior?
16 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Thanks tink--'twas a labor o' reelin' and rockin'.
17 - tink and nym
TINK of nym and tink here...