On March 18, 2017, Charles Edward Anderson “Chuck” Berry died aged 90. He was musician (guitar), singer and songwriter, one of the pioneers and most important figures of rock and roll music. His songs “Maybellene” (1955), “Roll Over Beethoven” (1956), “Rock and Roll Music” (1957) and “Johnny B. Goode” (1958), defined the contours of rock and roll music, and changed the face of popular music. His unique guitar solos and stage appearance made lasting influence on subsequent rock artists, including names like The Beatles or The Rolling Stones. In 1984, Berry was awarded “Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award”. He was among the first musicians to be inducted into the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame” on its opening in 1986. In 2004, “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked him at number 5 on its list of the “100 Greatest Artists of All Time”. The same magazine ranked his compilation album “The Great Twenty-Eight” at number 21 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. His songs “Johnny B. Goode,” “Maybellene,” and “Rock and Roll Music”, are included in the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll”. “Johnny B. Goode” is the only rock-and-roll song included on the “Voyager Golden Record”. In 2014, Berry was made a laureate of the “Polar Music Prize”.
Tag Archives: The Beatles
The Beatles: Beatles For Sale
On December 4, 1964, “Parlaphone” label released “Beatles for Sale”, the fourth Beatles studio album. It was recorded August – October 1964, at “EMI Studios” in London, and was produced by George Martin. The album cover photo was by Robert Freeman. The album was certified Platinum in the US by the “RIIA”.
Personnel:
- John Lennon– lead, harmony and backing vocals; rhythm and acoustic guitars; piano, harmonica; tambourine, handclaps
- Paul McCartney– lead, harmony and backing vocals; bass, acoustic guitars; piano, Hammond organ; handclaps
- George Harrison– lead, harmony and backing vocals, lead vocals; lead, acoustic and 12-string guitars; African drum, handclaps
- Ringo Starr– drums, tambourine, maracas, timpani, cowbell, packing case, bongos
- George Martin– piano
Track listing:
All tracks by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
- No Reply
- I’m a Loser
- Baby’s in Black
- Rock and Roll Music – Chuck Berry
- I’ll Follow the Sun
- Moonlight – Roy Lee Johnson
- Kansas City/Hey, Hey, Hey, Hey – Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Richard Penniman
- Eight Days a Week
- Words of Love – Buddy Holly
- Honey Don’t – Carl Perkins
- Every Little Thing
- I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party
- What You’re Doing
- Everybody’s Trying to Be My Baby – Carl Perkins
The Beatles: Abbey Road
On September 26, 1969, “Apple Records” label released “Abbey Road” the eleventh Beatles (The) studio album. It was recorded February 22 – August 20, 1969, at “EMI Studios”, “Olympic Studios” and “Trident Studios” in London, and was produced by George Martin. The album recording sessions were the last in which all four Beatles participated. Although “Let It Be” was the final Beatles album before the band’s dissolution in April 1970, most of the album had been recorded before the “Abbey Road” sessions began. The album cover was designed by “Apple Records” creative director Kosh, and It is the only original UK Beatles album sleeve to show neither the artist name nor the album title on its front cover. The cover has become one of the most famous and imitated images in the history of recorded music. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Abbey Road” at number 14 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”. The album was certified Diamond in Argentina by “CAPIF”; 3 x Platinum in Australia by “ARIA”; Diamond in Canada by “Music Canada”; Platinum in Germany by “BVMI”; 5 x Platinum in New Zealand by “RMNZ”; 2 x Platinum in UK by “BPI”, and 12 x Platinum in the US by “RIIA”.
Personnel:
- John Lennon– lead, harmony and backing vocals; lead and rhythm guitars; acoustic and electric pianos, Hammond organ and Moog synthesizer; white noise generator and sound effects; percussion
- Paul McCartney– lead, harmony and backing vocals; lead, rhythm and bass guitars; acoustic and electric pianos, Hammond organ and Moog synthesizer; sound effects; wind chimes, handclaps and percussion
- George Harrison– lead, harmony and backing vocals; lead, rhythm and bass guitars; Hammond organ, harmonium and Moog synthesizer; handclaps, percussion
- Ringo Starr– lead and backing vocals, drums, percussion
- George Martin– piano, harpsichord, organ, harmonium; percussion, mixing
- Billy Preston– Hammond organ
- Mal Evans– “anvil”
- Something” and “Here Comes the Sun” orchestrated and conducted by George Martin and George Harrison
- “Golden Slumbers”, “Carry That Weight” and “The End” orchestrated and conducted by George Martin and Paul McCartney
- Mike Vickers – Moog programming
- Geoff Emerick – recording, mixing
- Phil McDonald – recording, mixing
- Alan Parsons – engineer assistant
- George Martin – mixing
Track listing:
All tracks by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, except where noted.
- Come Together
- Something – George Harrison
- Maxwell’s Silver Hammer
- Oh! Darling
- Octopus’s Garden – Ringo Starr
- I Want You (She’s So Heavy)
- Here Comes the Sun – George Harrison
- Because
- You Never Give Me Your Money
- Sun King
- Mean Mr. Mustard
- Polythene Pam
- She Came in Through the Bathroom Window
- Golden Slumbers
- Carry That Weight
- The End
- Her Majesty
The Byrds: Mr. Tambourine Man
On June 21, 1965, “Columbia” label released “Mr. Tambourine Man”, The Byrds debut album. It was recorded January 20 – April 22, 1965, at “Columbia Studios” in Hollywood, and was produced by Terry Melcher. “Rolling Stone” magazine ranked “Mr. Tambourine Man” at number 232 on its list of the “500 Greatest Albums of All Time”.
Personnel:
- Jim McGuinn – vocals. lead guitar
- Gene Clark- vocals, rhythm guitar, tambourine
- David Crosby – vocals, rhythm guitar
- Jerry Cole – rhythm guitar
- Leon Russell- electric piano
- Larry Knechtel- electric bass
- Chris Hillman- electric bass
- Michael Clarke- drums
- Hal Blaine– drums
- Barry Feinstein – photography
Track listing:
- Tambourine Man – Bob Dylan
- I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better – Gene Clark
- Spanish Harlem Incident – Bob Dylan
- You Won’t Have to Cry – Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn
- Here Without You – Gene Clark
- The Bells of Rhymney – Idris Davies, Pete Seeger
- All I Really Want to Do – Bob Dylan
- I Knew I’d Want You – Gene Clark
- It’s No Use – Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn
- Don’t Doubt Yourself, Babe – Jackie DeShannon
- Chimes of Freedom – Bob Dylan
- We’ll Meet Again – Ross Parker, Hughie Charles
The Beatles: Long Tall Sally
On June 19, 1964, “Parlaphone” label released “Long Tall Sally”, the fifth Beatles (The) EP. It was recorded March and June 1964, at “EMI Studios” in London, and was produced by George Martin. The EP was released in mono and was first British EP that included songs not previously released on an album or single in the UK.
Personnel:
- John Lennon – lead vocal, guitar
- George Harrison – guitar
- Paul McCartney – lead vocal, bass
- Ringo Starr – lead vocal, drums, cowbell
- George Martin – piano
- Robert Freeman – photography
Track listing:
- Long Tall Sally – Enotris Johnson, Richard Penniman, Robert Blackwell
- I Call Your Name – John Lennon, Paul McCartney
- Slow Down – Larry Williams
- Matchbox – Carl Perkins
John Lennon & Yoko Ono and Plastic Ono Band: Some Time In New York City
On June 12, 1972, “Apple” label released “Some Time in New York City”, album by John Lennon & Yoko Ono and Plastic Ono Band. The double album features studio recordings and the live album “Live Jam”. “Some Time in New York City” is Lennon’s third post-Beatles solo album and fifth one with Yoko Ono. It was recorded on:
- Studio – December 1971 – 20 March 1972
- Live – 15 December 1969, at “Lyceum Ballroom” in London, and 6 June 1971, at “Fillmore East” in New York City
The album was produced by Phil Spector, Yoko Ono and John Lennon.
Personnel:
- John Lennon – vocals, guitars
- Yoko Ono– vocals
- Jim Keltner– drums, percussion
- Elephant’s Memory:
- Stan Bronstein – saxophone, flute
- Wayne ‘Tex’ Gabriel – guitar
- Adam Ippolito – piano, organ
- John La Boosca – piano
- Gary Van Scyoc – bass guitar
- Richard Frank Jr. – drums, percussion
Live Jam
15 December 1969
- John Lennon – vocal, guitar
- Yoko Ono – vocal, bag
For everyone except himself and Ono, Lennon made up pseudonyms:
- Eric Clapton (Derek Claptoe) – guitar
- George Harrison (George Harrisong) – guitar
- Delaney & Bonnie (Bilanie & Donnie) – guitar, percussion
- Nicky Hopkins (Sticky Topkins) – electric piano
- Billy Preston (Billy Presstud) – organ
- Klaus Voormann (Raus Doorman) – bass
- Jim Gordon (Jim Bordom) – drums
- Keith Moon (Kief Spoon) – drums
- Alan White (Dallas White) – drums
- Bobby Keyes (Robbie Knees) – sax
Uncredited:
- Jim Price– trumpet
6 June 1971
- John Lennon – vocals, guitar
- Yoko Ono – vocals, bag
- Frank Zappa– vocals, guitar
- Ian Underwood– vocals, keyboard, woodwinds
- Bob Harris – vocals, keyboards
- Don Preston– Mini-Moog
- Jim Pons– vocals, bass guitar
- Klaus Voormann– vocals, bass guitar
- Aynsley Dunbar– drums
- Howard Kaylan– vocals
- Mark Volman– vocals
Track listing:
All tracks by John Lennon and Yoko Ono, except where noted.
Side one
- Woman Is the Nigger of the World
- Sisters, O Sisters – Yoko Ono
- Attica State
- Born in a Prison – Yoko Ono
- New York City – John Lennon
Side two
- Sunday Bloody Sunday
- The Luck of the Irish
- John Sinclair – John Lennon
- Angela
- We’re All Water – Yoko Ono
Side three
Performed live at the Lyceum Ballroom in London, England on 15 December 1969, for a UNICEF charity concert
- Cold Turkey – John Lennon
- Don’t Worry Kyoko – Yoko Ono
Side four
Recorded live at the Fillmore East in New York City with Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention on 6 June 1971
- Well (Baby Please Don’t Go) – Walter Ward
- Jamrag
- Scumbag – John Lennon / Yoko Ono / Frank Zappa
- Au
Paul Weller: Stanley Road
On June 7, 1995, “Go! Discs” label released “Stanley Road”, the third Paul Weller album. It was recorded in 1995, at “The Manor” in Oxford, and was produced by Paul Weller and Brendan Lynch. The album’s cover was by the artist Peter Blake, designer of “The Beatles’ Sgt Pepper’s” album artwork . In 1998 “Q” magazine readers voted “Stanley Road” the 46th Greatest album of all time.
Personnel:
- Paul Weller – vocals, guitar, piano, shakers, organ, percussion, novatron, Hammond Organ, Wurlitzer
- Steve Cradock– acoustic and electric guitar, backing vocals
- Noel Gallagher– acoustic guitar
- David Liddle – acoustic slide guitar
- Steve Winwood– piano, Hammond Organ, Wurlitzer
- Helen Turner – Hammond Organ, Novatron Strings, organ
- Brendan Lynch– Cyremin, Mini-Moog, tambourine, accordion, finger cymbals
- Mick Talbot– Fender Rhodes, pipe organ, Hammond Organ
- Yolanda Charles – bass
- Robert– bass, backing vocals
- Mark Nelson – bass
- Steve White– drums, percussion
- Joy Hawley – cello
- Carleen Anderson – vocals, backing vocals
- Constantine Wier – Voodoo vocal
Track listing:
All tracks by Paul Weller, except where noted.
- The Changingman – Brendan Lynch, Paul Weller
- Porcelain Gods
- I Walk on Gilded Splinters – John Creaux
- You Do Something to Me
- Woodcutter’s Son
- Time Passes
- Stanley Road
- Broken Stones
- Out of the Sinking
- Pink of the White Walls
- Whirpools’ End
- Wings of Speed
The Beatles: Beatles for Sale (No 2)
On June 4, 1965, “Parlaphone” label released “Beatles for Sale (No 2)”, an EP by the Beatles. It was recorded in 1964, at “EMI Studios” in London, and was produced by George Martin. It was released only in mono.
Personnel:
- John Lennon- vocals, rhythm guitar
- George Harrison- lead guitar, backing vocals
- Paul McCartney- vocals, bass guitar, acoustic guitar
- Ringo Starr- drums, percussion
Track listing:
All tracks by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, except where noted.
- I’ll Follow the Sun
- Baby’s in Black
- Words of Love – Buddy Holly
- I Don’t Want to Spoil the Party
Nina Simone
On April 21, 2003, Eunice Kathleen Waymon aka Nina Simone, died aged 70. She was singer, songwriter, musician (piano), arranger, and civil rights activist. In her career, Simone has recorded more than forty albums. Many famous musicians have cited Simone as their influence, among the others: Aretha Franklin, Adele, David Bowie, Antony and the Johnsons, Dianne Reeves , Sade , Beyoncé, Janis Joplin , Nick Cave, Jeff Buckley, Van Morrison, Elkie Brooks, Lena Horne, Bono, Cat Stevens, Peter Gabriel, Mary J. Blige, Lauryn Hill, Elton John, Alicia Keys and Lana Del Rey. John Lennon cited Simone’s version of “I Put a Spell on You” as a inspiration for the Beatles’ song “Michelle”.
For her work, Simone received various awards including:
- In 2000, “Grammy Hall of Fame Award”for her interpretation of “I Love You, Porgy”
- Honorary degrees in music and humanities, from the “University of Massachusetts Amherst” and “Malcolm X College”
- Honorary degree by the “Curtis Institute of Music”
- In 2002, city of Nijmegen, in Netherlands, named a street the “Nina Simone straat”
- In 2009, Simone was inducted into the “North Carolina Music Hall of Fame”
- In 2010, her home town Tryon, in North Carolina, placed her statue in the “Trade Street”
The Beatles: Beatles for Sale
On April 6, 1965, “Parlaphone” label released “Beatles for Sale”, the eight Beatles (The) EP. It was recorded in 1964, at “EMI Studios” in London, and was produced by George Martin. The EP contains four tracks from the album with the same name and was only released in mono.
Personnel:
- John Lennon- vocals, guitars, harmonica
- George Harrison– guitars
- Paul McCartney- vocals, bass guitar
- Ringo Starr- drums, percussion
Track listing:
- No Reply
- I’m a Loser
- Rock and Roll Music
- Eight Days a Week
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