Recorded between May 21, 1955 and March 26, 1964. Includes liner notes by Joseph F. Laredo.
Digitally remastered by Erick Labson (MCA Music Media Studios, No. Hollywood, California).
This is part of MCA's 20th Century Masters: The Millennium Collection series.
Audio Remixer: Erick Labson.
Liner Note Author: Joseph F. Laredo.
Recording information: Lancaster Arts Festival, Coventry, England (05/21/1955-02/03/1972).
Photographers: Michael Ochs; Dick Waterman; Frank Driggs.
Rock & roll ground zero, which is to say that Chuck Berry may not have invented the music (there being no first rock record any more than there's a first romantic novel) but he definitely invented its grammar (comparisons with D. W. Griffith are thus totally appropriate). A one-CD, 11-song collection clearly doesn't do justice to the man's oeuvre, but there's nothing here that's less than classic, with the exception of his 1972 novelty hit "My Ding-a-Ling." As for the rest, it's all wit, wordplay, sly sexual allusions, and great guitar riffs--what more could anyone want?
Professional Reviews
Vibe (12/99, p.157) - Included in Vibe's 100 Essential Albums of the 20th Century - "...Blues feel, country bounce, witty words, teen spirit - Berry wired them all into 3-minute big bangs of modern music. The playbook."
