As the ‘50s became the ‘60s, rock ‘n’ roll was at a crossroads. Buddy Holly had died in a plane crash; Elvis was in the army; Jerry Lee Lewis was shunned for marrying a young cousin; Little Richard had denounced the music as devil’s music; and Alan Freed was banned due to the payola scandals.

 

Though he would lose 20 months on questionable legal charges himself, Chuck Berry found the ‘60s more kind than not. He was recognized as a hero by the stars of the British Invasion, who liberally covered his greatest hits, and his work for Chess during the first six years of the decade was a wonderful continuation of his ground breaking ‘50s recordings. The ‘60s hits weren’t as plentiful, but the era covered by this new set is filled with Berry classics-to-be such as “No Particular Place To Go,” “You Never Can Tell,” “Nadine (Is It You?),”“Come On,” and “Promised Land,” great instrumentals like his two jams with Bo Diddley (“Chuck’s Beat,” “Bo’s Beat”), and an increased concentration by Chuck on blues, including a series of great covers of classics like “The Things I Used To Do,” “Worried Life Blues,” and “Drifting Blues” These were the years prior to Berry leaving Chess for three years at Mercury, and he made the best of them.

 

This 4 CD set contains 108 recordings, 18 previously unreleased tracks, 2 songs previously only available on a publishing sampler, plus numerous other rarities. Besides the hits, the great blues covers, and other familiar fare, the rarities include a 45 minute live in concert segment recorded in Michigan during October of 1963 that was intended for release but was shelved and features hot versions of “Guitar Boogie,” “Johnny B. Goode,” and “Let It Rock,” among others. There is also a previously unreleased July 1965 session wherein Chuck performs a pair of Big Joe Turner hits, “Honey Hush” and “Shake Rattle & Roll,” and the package also includes previously unreleased instrumental versions of “Brown Eyed Handsome Man,” “My Mustang Ford,” and “Wee Wee Hours.” 

 

All of this great music is amplified by in-depth liner notes by Chuck Berry biographer/discographer Fred Rothwell and features complete session by session recording credits, period graphics and photos, and a ’60 to ’66 singles discography.  As with the “Complete ‘50s Chess”, this set was compiled by author Rothwell and Universal’s reissue producer Andy McKaie.

 

-      108 Classic Tracks Digitally Remastered On 4 CDs

-       18 Previously Unreleased Tracks Including A 45-Minute Live Concert From 1963

& Instrumental Versions Of Berry Classics “Brown Eyed Handsome Man” and “My Mustang Ford”

-       Features Original Stereo Versions Of The Hits “No Particular Place To Go,” “You Never Can Tell,” And “Nadine (Is It You?)” 

-      Track-By-Track Credits, Great Period Graphics & Photos, A Singles Discography, and Extensive Liner Notes by Berry Biographer Fred Rothwell