No single
person invented rock 'n roll, but Chuck Berry has a strong claim, as John
Lennon said "If you had to give rock and roll another name, you might call
it Chuck Berry".
His key works
from 1955 - 1959, recording in Chicago on the Chess label, are a ground-breaking
fountain of self-penned hits typically invoking an American life of cars, school,
girls (often suspiciously young), and rock 'n roll itself.
"Sweet
Little Sixteen" is a great example, describing an emerging teenager, her
love of music stars, but still controlled by the confines of her parents and
school. It was written by Berry after a Denver concert, where he had spied an
excited pubescent fan in a bright yellow dress, and her desperate quest for
autographs ("Her wallet's
filled with pictures").
Her alter-ego has great delight at the rock n' roll shows,
his lascivious admiration is clear "Tight dresses and lipstick / She's sportin' high heel shoes". But it
is an illusion as tomorrow she will be "back in class again" and enduring a wholesome image.
She is not
alone, rock 'n roll is sweeping across the USA, as Berry name checks locations,
which must have sounded so exotic for English listeners.
Even today the
music sounds alive and invigorating, guided by Berry's distinctive lead
guitar, aided by piano, bass and drums. A
potent concoction, hard to imagine its full impact in the 1950s.
Released as a
single in January 1958, "Sweet Little Sixteen" was his biggest US hit
at the time at number 2, and the opening track on his second album "One
Dozen Berrys".
Brain Wilson
loved it so much, that "Surfin' USA" was a direct copy, even shamelessly
listing places too. Berry's lawyers sued, and were given a 50% credit. A little
ironic as Berry had already reused the melody from "Little Girl From Central" he recorded
for a different label. The Beatles and Rolling Stones were also huge fans, with
frequent Berry songs in their early repertoires.
Perhaps
"Sweet Little Sixteen" does not seem as iconic as "Johnny B
Goode", but it came first, a classic
Berry rock 'n roll standard and its ripples spread far.
Hear Now - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLV4NGpoy_E
Hear Next -
There are countless Chuck Berry compilations, all of which should
include the classics.
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