Chuck Berry
Chuck Berry Is on Top

Release Date: 1959 | Tracklist

This is the pioneer of music as we know it. We can't say he started the first rock sound-well he pretty much did, actually. No other figure stands out as much as Chuck Berry in his spotlight until the Beatles and Elvis Presley took over nearly half a decade later. Though he served jail time for an armed robbery in 1944, he went on to become the most well known rhythm and blues artist in history, and his signature opening riff is unmistakable to generations of people. Ladies and gentleman, Chuck Berry.

Originally printed in 1959, this compilation features nearly every necessity from Berry. All of the oldest rock classics are here, Roll Over Beethoven, Johnny B. Goode, Almost Grown, Carol, Maybellene, et cetera. Chuck Berry was the first to lead the way into the modern sound, fusing jazz rhythms with a lead guitar that would belt out (among his patented intro riff) unique and original guitar solos in simple time, fastening the buckle on his fame and creating one serious whip on the musical industry. While the majority of musically oblivious people would consider this “jukebox” music at the time, they would still understand and recognize the characteristic Chuck Berry riff and its subsequent effect of earworm syndromes. Each song that graced the music boxes was unashamedly upbeat - and they made people want to move their body and dance.

Nearly every song here is a standalone classic. While they may not have the linear strength to form a cohesive album seeing that it is largely cobbled together from singles, the string of these pieces made at the height of Chuck Berry's career act as greatest hits compilation even half a century later, making this release invaluable. There are many versions of the record, some of which sadly omit the holiday common “Run Rudolph Run”, a Christmas song used favorably in media and movies. Its structure and chords are identical to a previous hit Little Quennie, save for the original lyrics She's too cute to be a minute over seventeen…come on Queenie, lets get with it. Another undisputed masterpiece “Roll Over Beethoven” would be a underrated classic until played upon by the Beatles and expanded gratuitously by Electric Light Orchestra nearly 20 years later. The original version only marked the Billboard chart at 42, but its status and figure to replace classical and jazz music into rock and roll became the theme of the century. Its structure is similar to Johnny B Goode, with lyrics that perfectly emulate a fifties diner scene - As long as she got a dime, the music will never stop/die

Around and Around is the jumpy dance motif of the album, there's also the ethnic humor of Hey Pedro, the casual bar instrumental Blues for Hawaiians and other tracks like Almost Grown and the jungle themed Jo Jo Gune that are all upbeat and warm jazzy numbers. Anthony Boy stole a traditional old folk theme and molded it into a humorous piano honky-tonk of a guitar strumming song. Of all the original hits, the most well known song in history is Johnny B Goode. It’s also quite possibly the greatest song ever made. From its Chuck Berry riff it also has the memorable line “But he could play a guitar just like a ringing a bell.” That very sentence would signify Chuck Berry himself. Its linear progression of band covers aims through the Beatles, Elvis Presley, AC/DC, Judas Priest, NOFX and Bad Religion, not to forget Michael J Fox’s Marty McFly cover in Back to the Future.

Berry made much more consistently impressive works of art to be found in St. Louis to Liverpool and After School Special, but from any standpoint Chuck Berry Is On Top is the epitome of original rock and roll, laden with the pop hooks that still influence modern songs today. What we have here didn't only prepare the way for rock and roll to evolve, it inspired nearly every shade of rock music seen today.

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