His Best, Vol. 1

by Chuck Berry

Overview

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

Product Details

Release Date:	03/25/1997
Label:	Chess
UPC:	0076732937129
Rank:	110370

Tracks

1. Maybellene
2. Thirty Days
3. You Can't Catch Me
4. Downbound Train
5. Brown Eyed Handsome Man
6. Roll over Beethoven
7. Too Much Monkey Business
8. Havana Moon
9. School Day
10. Rock & Roll Music
11. Oh Baby Doll
12. Reelin' and Rockin'
13. Sweet Little Sixteen
14. Johnny B. Goode
15. Around and Around
16. Beautiful Delilah
17. Carol
18. Anthony Boy
19. Jo Jo Gunne
20. Memphis

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Chuck Berry   Primary Artist,Vocals,Guitar
Jimmy Rogers   Guitar
Jasper Thomas   Drums
Willie Dixon   Bass
Lafayette Leake   Piano
Fred Below   Drums
Ebby Hardy   Drums
Otis Spann   Piano
Jerome Green   Maracas
George "Harmonica" Smith   Bass
Johnnie Johnson   Piano

Technical Credits

Geary Chansley   Photo Research
Michael Diehl   Design
Popsy Randolph   Photography
Stanley Clarke   Composer
Will D. Cobb   Composer
Alan Freed   Composer
Phil Chess   Producer
Leonard Chess   Producer
Russell Fratto   Composer
Erick Labson   Digital Remastering
Chuck Berry   Overdubs,Composer
Andy McKaie   Compilation Producer,Producer