YOU ARE HERE: zharth.net / Zharth's Music Log / Week 131 (Chuck Berry Covers)
(Originally finalized on March 25, 2025)
Preface: During the last iteration of my Rock 'n' Roll theme, I shared a cover of a Chuck Berry song, and I got to thinking - that would be a great subject for a theme! Even taking into account that I've already dedicated a whole week to different interpretations of Berry's guitar anthem Johnny B. Goode, there are still more than enough great options to fill out the week, without resorting to repetition. Think of it as a way to honor the immeasurable influence of the true king of rock 'n' roll, as interpreted through the lens of just a few of the many artists that he inspired.
Monday: Electric Light Orchestra - Roll Over Beethoven [ELO 2, 1973]
Comments: Like the song I shared on my last Rock 'n' Roll theme, this is another Chuck Berry song that was also popularly covered by The Beatles. But I feel that the Electric Light Orchestra is best poised to re-interpret it, using as they do segments of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony to hammer home the point - that rock and roll is the new sensation. This may be sacrilege to ELO kiddies, but although the original album version of the song is over 8 minutes long, this is one case where I actually prefer the single edit - it keeps everything that makes the song work, while trimming down some of the filler.
Tuesday: REO Speedwagon - Little Queenie [R.E.O./T.W.O., 1972]
Comments: This is REO Speedwagon's other Chuck Berry cover, from considerably earlier in their career - just their second album. The band is in their element on this track, with additional saxophone accompaniment to add a layer of class to this rock 'n' roll ode to love at first sight on the dance floor.
Wednesday: The Blues Project - You Can't Catch Me [Projections, 1966]
Comments: If I end up neglecting some pretty prominent bands this week - like, say, AC/DC or The Rolling Stones (both vocal proponents of the Chuck Berry school of rock theory) - it's because I've already included some of their Chuck Berry covers on other themes (such as Early Stones and School Days). That just means there's more room for some lesser known covers, like this one by the oft overlooked "white boy blues" band from New York City, The Blues Project.
Thursday: The Hollies - Sweet Little Sixteen [Would You Believe?, 1966]
Comments: When I was doing research on The Hollies for my last episode of Band Connections, I struggled to relate to their softer, more folk/pop-oriented material. Then I discovered this - a swinging cover of the Chuck Berry song that The Beach Boys totally ripped off for Surfin' U.S.A.! Would you believe? Honestly, I didn't think The Hollies had it in them...
Friday: The Youngbloods - Monkey Business [Earth Music, 1967]
Comments: I want to state for the record that I have no hard feelings against The Yardbirds' incendiary version of Chuck Berry's Too Much Monkey Business - one of their first signature "rave-ups". I very nearly shared it for the Chinese Zodiac theme, before changing my mind last minute. I figured it was a shoe-in for this theme, but then I discovered that The Youngbloods (known for their recording of the hippie anthem Get Together, as well as the original version of Darkness, Darkness) recorded a pretty fantastic version of it themselves!
Saturday: Foghat - Maybelline [Foghat, 1972]
Comments: In addition to their popular cover of Willie Dixon's I Just Want To Make Love To You (featured on my theme dedicated to Reinterpreting The Blues), on their debut album Foghat also recorded a cover of the song that was Chuck Berry's very first hit single (under the original spelling Maybellene - as distinguished from the cosmetics company), as if to declare their dedication to both the blues and rock 'n' roll.
Sunday: George Thorogood & The Destroyers - It Wasn't Me [Move It On Over, 1978]
Comments: It should come as no surprise that George Thorogood was a huge fan of Chuck Berry. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that I could have filled this entire list with songs he's covered. Seriously, six of Thorogood's first eight studio albums feature a Chuck Berry cover (and one of 'em has two!). This is just the first one (and if you dig this groove, you should check out the rest), from The Destroyers' second album. The original song hails from Chuck's 1965 album Fresh Berry's, featuring accompaniment by Paul Butterfield and Mike Bloomfield!
Honorable Mention: The Georgia Satellites - Let It Rock (Bye Bye Johnny) [Shaken Not Stirred, 1996]
Comments: I may not be the biggest fan of The Georgia Satellites, and this might be a late album by a band that was already a little late for the style of music they liked to play, but the difficulty I've had in trying to procure a copy of this song (legitimate or otherwise) is ridiculous. It just goes to show what an invaluable resource modern YouTube is, that you can even find a song like this on there without much trouble. And it's a great song, that effortlessly melds two Chuck Berry songs together. I had to stick it on the list, because I thought it would make for a great outro.