#21 on Rolling Stone Top 500 albums list
You could search as hard as you want and not find a better Chuck Berry greatest hits then this one. Released in 1982, The Great Twenty-Eight is a collection of 28 singles from the 50's by this influential character. If you look at just about every band since the 50's, they have been influenced by either Elvis or Chuck Berry. Berry's catchy lyrics and guitar riffs caught the attention of many people and he was a perfect icon for his time.
Stand out Tracks(although I shouldn't be doing this, it IS a greatest hits)
Maybellene
Havana Moon
Memphis
Johnny B. Goode
Rock And Roll Music
No Particular Place To Go
Come On
1. Maybellene - It kicks off with a jumpy rock and roll number. Great guitar intro, and you will find yourself tapping your foot the whole time. Willie Dixon, blues legend, is on bass, and gives off one of the best performances of the bass in the 50's. 5/5
2. Thirty Days - This is an average song. It basically is a weaker version of Maybellene. The rhythm is exactly the same, and the intro sound very similar. The solo near the end saves the song. 3/5
3. You Can't Catch Me - Very fun song. It's about a flying car he buys and nobody can catch it, obviously. I particular like the jumpy piano in this song. 4.5/5
4. Too Much Monkey Business - Not much to say about this song, typical 50's song wth a very good solo in it. Apparently has been covered by The Kinks. 4/5
5. Sweet Little Sixteen - Ever heard Surfin' USA by The Beach Boys? Then you have heard this song. The Beach Boys kept the music, but changed the lyrics to make it sound like a surfing song. This lyrics are even really similar because he's naming a bunch of cities, as they do in The Beach Boys version. Sweet Little Sixteen>Surfin' USA 5/5
6. Roll Over Beethoven - If The Beatles cover it, it can't be a bad song. The beginning sounds like Johnny B. Goode. It's about rock and roll taking over classical music. 4.5/5
7. Havana Moon - This is the least Chuck Berry-like song on the album. It's not jumpy, but it's not depressing either. Kind of in between. This is one of my favorite songs by Berry. Excellent guitar work. 5/5
8. Carol - This song has been covered by many artists, including The Doors, The Rolling Stones, and Ted Nugent. Not too different than a lot of Chuck Berry songs, but for some reason, it stands out from them. Probably because of the guitar riff. 5/5
9. Beautiful Delilah - Above average song. Another song where you will tap your foot for, it is one of the more jumpy numbers on here. 4/5
10. Memphis - This is the only song on the album with a depressing feel. It is my favorite Chuck Berry song, if you ask me, it's better then Johnny B. Goode. The guitar and vocals are simply amazing. Everyone should listen to this song at least once. 5/5
11. Sweet Little Rock And Roller - Describes the music of the 50's perfectly. About a girl who falls in love with rock and roll. Solo is great as always. Has been covered by Rod Stewart. 3.5/5
12. I'm Talking About You - The bass riff is the best part of the song. It really drives the song, and I think it's really cool when all the music stops except for the bass riff and vocals. 4.5/5
13. Almost Grown - Not that great of a song. The backing vocals are kind of neat, but besides that, it's not too special. 2.5/5
14. Back In The U.S.A. - This sounds like a Beach Boys song. Obviously, because Chuck Berry was their biggest influence. Of course, the backing vocals aren't as good, but you can just feel the influence. Unlike most Berry songs, the piano plays a more important role then the guitar does. 4/5
15. School Days - This is one of those songs where you can just hear the influence on it. Guitar riff is splendid, guitarists should check this song out. For all you AC/DC fans, they did a cover of this song. If you are a fan, I suggest you check out both versions. 5/5
16. Rock And Roll Music - Chances are, you have heard at least one version of this song. It has been covered by: The Beatles, Elvis Presley, The Beach Boys, REO Speedwagon, Bill Haley and His Comets, and so on. So as you can guess, this has to be one of the most influential songs. 5/5
17. Oh Baby Doll - The chorus in this song is something that everyone can love, both vocally and lyrically:
"Oh Baby Doll!/When bells ring out the summer free". For some reason I love that part. This song is about looking back on his days in school. 4.5/5
18. Reelin' And Rockin' - The vocals are in this form throughout the song:
"Well, I looked at my watch, it was nine thirty-two/There's nothin' I'd rather do than dance with you/We were rollin', reelin' and a-rockin'..." The suttering guitar riff intro is great and mysterious. Once again, you will tap your foot the whole song. 4.5/5
19. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man - Not much to say about this song, typical Chuck Berry. Nothing really stands out too much. Nice little song, but that's all there is to say about it. 3/5
20. Johnny B. Goode - If there's one Chuck Berry song everyone has heard, it's Johnny B. Goode. It is one of the most famous songs in rock, has one of the most well-known riffs and one of the best solos in rock. You probably hear it all the time on oldies radio. This song is the perfect example of how Chuck Berry was the king of rock and roll. 5/5
21. Around And Around - I think whoever organized the songs on this album should have sandwiched Johnny B. Goode with two better songs, because this and Brown-Eyed Handsome Man are nowhere near Johnny B. Goode. That is, unless this is in chronological order, which I am not sure if it is or not. As for the song, mediocre riff and lyrics. Nothing to get excited about. 2.5/5
22. Let It Rock - If you like Johnny B. Goode(who doesn't) then you will like this song also. Why? Because it is almost the same song. The intro is the same except its shorter, and the vocals/lyrics are similar. It might sound cheap, but I'm going to give it a
5/5 anyway.
23. Bye Bye Johnny - Another song about Johnny B. Goode. But this time, he goes to make movies instead of joining a band. Unlike Let It Rock, the music is nothing like Johny B. Goode at all. 4/5
24. Little Queenie - The vocals are great in this song. Especially in the part where he is talking about, from what I can gather, is about asking the "little queenie" to dance to rock and roll music. Covered by Eric Clapton. 5/5
25. Come On - I love this line: "Everytime the phone rings sounds like thunder/ Some stupid jerk tryin' to reach another number" This is probably the jumpiest song on the album. I just wish he made it longer. 5/5
26. Nadine - Not too special. Standard blues-pattern Berry song. The only thing that is different about this song is that it has backing saxophones. 3/5
27. No Particular Place To Go - Probably the second most popular Chuck Berry song. You will hear this song on the radio all the time, so I bet most of you have heard it before. The guitar riff is one of the most well-known, and the solo reeks of influence. 5/5
28. I Want To Be Your Driver - I believe that this is the latest Chuck Berry song on here. It was from 1965, and it sounds like it. The screaming vocals are something for everyone to love. 4.5/5
That took a very long time. Well, I think this is an essential collection of singles. There are some songs on here that must be heard by everyone who loves rock music. I also recommend that guitar players check this out.
Rating: 5/5
And one more thing. Check out this site, it lists some bands who covered Chuck Berry songs. You would be surpirsed at some of them.
[url]http://www.chuckberry.com/music/covers.html[/url]
