HITS

Description

One of the most important pioneers of rock & roll, Chuck Berry combined blues, country, and a spirited, defiant teenage perspective in songs that influenced virtually every rock musician who came after him. Coupled with incisive, fast lyrics full of mischievous innuendos about cars and girls, Berry laid the groundwork not only for a rock and roll sound but also for a rock and roll attitude. Berry was among the first musicians to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame when it opened in 1986, and he appears on several "greatest of all time" lists from Rolling Stone magazine. He was ranked fifth on its 2004 list of the 100 greatest artists of all time. This splendid LP features some of Berry's best performances from the 1955-58 period, including many of his most famous compositions. "Almost Grown," recorded in 1959, climbed to number 3 on the R&B charts. Among the backing vocals on this track are none other than Etta James and Harvey & the New Moonglows, featuring a young Marvin Gaye. The song is included in the 1973 film American Graffiti. "School Days," recorded in 1957, soared to number 1 on the R&B charts and number 5 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was later covered by Eddie Cochran and AC/DC, among others. The final verse contains the lyrics "Hail, hail rock and roll," which would become the title of a concert film and a 1987 documentary about Berry. "Johnny B. Goode," recorded in 1958, jumped to number 2 on the R&B charts and number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is considered one of the most recognizable songs in the history of popular music and is cited as "the first rock & roll hit about rock & roll fame." It has been widely covered by various stars, such as Jimi Hendrix and Johnny Winter, and received several honors and accolades. "Johnny B. Goode" is ranked 7th among Rolling Stone's "500 Greatest Songs of All Time," and the same magazine declared it #1 among the 100 greatest guitar songs of all time in 2008. "Maybellene" reached number 1 on the American R&B charts in 1955. VINYL 180 GR – LIMITED EDITION