I’ve pretty much acknowledged that our Classics series is basically an excuse for me to wax poetic about my deep love for Chuck Berry and today’s post is no excuse. The London Chuck Berry Sessions was an album released in ’72 by Chess Records that featured some studio recordings, but side two featured three cuts from a live performance at the Lanchester Arts Festival in Coventry. I’ve been listening to these recordings a lot recently, and I’m fairly obsessed with the extended live version of ‘Reelin’ and Rockin’ from the festival. It’s such a good version, with typical Chuck Berry unabashed energy and flame, a lot of really good lyric changes and improvisation and although it’s an amazing soundboard recording, you can hear how much the audience is eating out of Chuck’s hand. I’m sure I say this constantly, but Chuck Berry rules and more to the point, is there a more simple or better way of putting anything than: “Sometimes I will then again I think I won’t”?
mp3 | Chuck Berry – Reelin’ and Rockin’ (London Chuck Berry Session)
Tags: chuck berry
