(1982) Chess label gatefold jacket.  Purchased in 1989 or 1990 at Record Surplus used.  This two record set of original hits includes Chuck Berry’s releases from 1955 to 1965.  The tunes of this set are the stripped down basic rock and roll of the era. The lyrics sing of brushes with the law, driving a car, plenty of girl title songs, and the birth of the teenager.  Opening notes of songs like Roll Over Beethoven are a siren’s call to get up off your butt and dance.

1

1. Maybellene  (2:20)
2. Thirty Days  (2:22)
3. You Can’t Catch Me  (2:42)
4. Too Much Monkey Business  (2:52)
5. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man  (2:14)
6. Roll Over Beethoven  (2:22)
7. Havana Moon  (3:06)

2

1. School Days  (2:40)
2. Rock And Roll Music  (2:30)
3. Oh Baby Doll  (2:35)
4. Reelin’ And Rockin’  (3:14)
5. Sweet Little Sixteen  (3:00)
6. Johnny B. Goode  (2:38)
7. Around And Around  (2:40)

3

1. Carol  (2:44)
2. Beautiful Delilah  (2:06)
3. Memphis  (2:11)
4. Sweet Little Rock And Roller  (2:20)
5. Little Queenie  (2:40)
6. Almost Grown  (2:18)
7. Back In The USA  (2:25)

4

1. Let It Rock  (1:46)
2. Bye Bye Johnny  (2:02)
3. I’m Talking About You  (1:45)
4. Come On  (1:48)
5. Nadine  (2:33)
6. No Particular Place To Go  (2:40)
7. I Want To Be Your Driver  (2:14)

So many of these tunes were hits for other artists including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, to name a few.  Chuck Berry is the standard bearer of rock and roll; for many the true King of Rock and Roll. My Grandmother collected 45s and LPs.  When I would visit, we would play her records.  She had many Chuck Berry singles– purchased when they came out.  I inherited her records and every now and again I will play them.