• Voto:
Se nella culla del rock and roll Elvis Presley ha messo la faccia, i colpi di bacino e quel carisma che lo ha reso una leggenda tipicamente americana, è indubbio che pochi come Chuck Berry possano affermare di averci posato il cuore. Charles Edward Anderson Berry è stato certamente tra quei basilari "eletti di rottura" che hanno inserito le pietre d'angolo del pop e del rock nel XX secolo.
Del rock and roll Berry rimane l'icona insuperata: di questa alchimia sfrontata e pericolosa ne detiene la formula, avendo modellato espressione e linguaggio definitivo dello strumento principe di tale liturgia: la chitarra elettrica. Come si sa, a metà degli anni 50 quello strano ibrido tra country e blues che Alan Freed per primo ha definito Rock abbandona repentinamente quel ghetto musicale fatto di etichette come "Race" o "Rhythm and blues" in cui le case discografiche piazzavano i prodotti destinati ai neri americani poveri. In un batter di ciglio, tale genere diventa linguaggio musicale universale e comun denominatore generazionale, benché rivolto in particolare ai giovani bianchi. La sei corde di Berry diventa il simbolo di questo cambiamento epocale. Da essa convergono e si irradiano riff e assoli micidiali e alieni, carnose scale blues sublimate nella giostra veloce e indiavolata del passo boogie, capaci di stordire un intero emisfero e spingendo tutti coloro che in seguito esalteranno il genere, da Keith Richards a Hendrix, a imbracciare lo strumento
Berry, l'artista di colore amatissimo anche dai WASP, primo animale del palco grazie ai vari rituali che esaltavano la micidiale potenza messianica del suo strumento (celeberrimo il suo "passo d'oca"), è altresì tra i primi a creare un proprio immaginario, sensibile al mutare dei tempi. Negli anni di "A rebel without a cause", egli capisce che il segreto del rock sta nel carpire le pulsioni del pubblico di teenager, completando il lavoro di Presley e ponendo le basi per quella proto-liberazione sessuale a colpi di rock and roll che nel decennio successivo troverà piena realizzazione con Rolling Stones e Doors. Sintomatica in tal senso tutta la sua tematica "scolastica" da consumato marpione, con archetipi pop quali "School day", "Sweet little sixteen" o la filastrocca lasciva "My Ding-A-Ling", benché nell'ampio catalogo berryiano non manchino inni anti-razzisti come "Too much monkey business", derive intimiste come "Deep feeling", o momenti persino lugubri e ossessivi come "Memphis Tennesse".
Impossibile scegliere un solo album: molto meglio consigliare un'ampia retrospettiva come "The Chess Box", in cui ovviamente figurano tutti i suoi immarcescibili cavalli da battaglia, quasi tutti resi sincopati e febbrili dal basso di Willie Dixon, dalla pirotecnica batteria di Fred below (si senta la già citata "School day") e dal piano di Johnnie Johnson. Non si può non citare almeno "Maybellene" (il primo grande successo del 1955, il paradigma degli assoli scintillanti del nostro), "Roll over Beethoven", "Johnny B. Goode", "Carol" e ovviamente quella "You never can tell" la cui apparizione della scena di ballo di "Pulp Fiction" non ha fatto che confermare la freschezza eterna del repertorio di Chuck Berry.Elenco tracce e testi
01 Maybellene (02:21)
Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing the things you used to do.
As I was motivatin' over the hill
I saw Maybellene in a coup de ville.
A Cadillac a-rollin' on the open road,
nothin' will outrun my V8 Ford.
The cadillac doin' 'bout ninety-five,
she's bumper to bumber rollin' side by side.
Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing the things you used to do.
Pink in the mirror on top of the hill,
it's just like swallowin' up a medicine pill.
First thing I saw that Cadillac grille
doin' a hundred and ten gallopin' over that hill.
Offhill curve, a downhill strecth,
me and that Cadillac neck by neck.
Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing the things you used to do.
The Cadillac pulled up ahead of the Ford,
the Ford got hot and wouldn't do no more.
It then got cloudy and it started to rain,
I tooted my horn for a passin' lead
the rain water blowin' all under my hood,
I knew that was doin' my motor good.
Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing the things you used to do.
The motor cooled down, the heat went down
and that's when I heard that highway sound.
The Cadillac a-sittin' like a ton of lead
a hundred and ten a half a mile ahead.
The Cadillac lookin' like it's sittin' still
and I caught Maybellene at the top of the hill.
Maybellene, why can't you be true?
Oh Maybellene, why can't you be true?
You've started back doing the things you used to do.
02 Wee Wee Hours (03:04)
In the wee, wee hours
That's when I think of you
In the wee, wee hours
That's when I think of you
You say, but yet I wonder
If your love was ever true
In a wee little room
I sit alone and think of you
In a wee little room
I sit alone and think of you
I wonder if you still remember
All the things we used to do
One little song
For a fading memory
One little song
For a fading memory
Of the one I really love
The only one for me
03 Thirty Days (02:24)
I'm gonna give you thirty days to get back home
I done talked to the gypsey woman on the telephone
She gonna send out a world wide hoodoo
that'll be the very thing that'll suit ya
I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
Oh thirty days thirty days
Oh thirty days thirty days
I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
Gonna send out a world wide hoodoo
that'll be the very thing that'll suit ya
I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days.
I done talked to the judge in private early this morning
And he took me to the sheriff's office to sign a warning warrant?
Gonna put a false charge again ya against ya
That'll be the very thing that'll send ya
I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
Oh thirty days thirty days
Oh thirty days thirty days
Baby I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
Gonna put a false charge again ya
that'll be the very thing that'll send ya
I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
If I don't get no satisfaction from the judge
I'm gonna take it to the FBI and voice my grudge
If they don't give me no consolation
I'm gonna take it to the United Nations
I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
Oh thirty days thirty days
Oh thirty days thirty days
Babe I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
You don't give me no consolation
I'm gonna take it to the United Nations
I'm gonna see that you be back home in thirty days
04 You Can't Catch Me (02:43)
I bought a brand new airmobile
It was custom made
It was a Flight DeVille
With a powerful motor
And some hideaway wings
Push in on the button and you will hear her sing
Now you can't catch me
Baby, you can't catch me
'Cause if you get too close
You know I'm gone like a cool breeze
New Jersey Turnpike in the wee wee hours
I was rolling slowly 'cause of drizzlin' showers
Here come a flattop, he was movin' up with me
Then come wavin' goodbye
In a little, old suped-up mini
I put my foot in my tank and I begin to roll
Moanin' sirens, 'twas the state patrol
So I let out my wings and then I blew my horn
Bye-bye New Jersey I become airborne
Now you can't catch me
Baby you can't catch me
'Cause if you get too close
You know I'm gone like a cool breeze
Flyin' with my baby last Saturday night
Wasn't a gray cloud floatin' in sight
Big full moon shinin' up above
Cuddle up honey, be my love
Sweetest little thing I ever seen
I'm gonna name you Mabelline
Flyin' on the beam set on flight control
Radio tuned to rock 'n' roll
Two, three hours a-passed us by
Altitude dropped to 505
Fuel consumption way too fast
Let's get on home before we run out of gas
Now you can't catch me
No baby, you can't catch me
'Cause if you get too close
You know I'm gone like a cool breeze
05 No Money Down (02:58)
As I was motivatin'
Back in town
I saw a Cadillac sign
Sayin' "No Money Down"
So I eased on my brakes
And I pulled in the drive
Gunned my motor twice
Then I walked inside
Dealer came to me
Said "Trade in you Ford
And I'll put you in a car
That'll eat up the road
Just tell me what you want
And then sign on that line
And I'll have it brought down to you
In a hour's time"
I'm gonna get me a car
And I'll be headed on down the road
Then I won't have to worry
About that broken - down, raggedy Ford
"Well Mister I want a yellow convertible
Four - door de Ville
With a Continental spare
And a wide chrome wheel
I want power steering
And power brakes
I want a powerful motor
With a jet off - take
I want air condition
I want automatic heat
And I want a full Murphy bed
In my back seat
I want short - wave radio
I want TV and a phone
You know I gotta talk to my baby
When I'm ridin' alone"
Yes I'm gonna get that car
And I'm gonna head on down the road
Yeah, then I won't have to worry
About that broken - down, raggedy Ford
"I want four carburetors
And two straight exhausts
I'm burnin' aviation fuel
No matter what the cost
I want railroad air horns
And a military spark
And I want a five - year guarantee
On everything I got
I want ten - dollar deductible
I want twenty dollar notes
I want thirty thousand liability"
That's all she wrote
I got me a car
And I'm headed on down the road
No money down
I don't have to worry
About that broken - down, raggedy Ford
06 Downbound Train (02:49)
The Downbound Train - Chuck Berry
A stranger lying on a bar room floor
Had drank so much he could drink no more,
So he fell asleep with a troubled brain
To dream that he rode on that down bound train.
The engine with blood was sweaty and damp
And brilliantly lit with a brimstone lamp,
And imps for fuel were shovelling bones
While the furnace rang with a thousand groans.
The boiler was filled with lager beer
The devil himself was the engineer,
The passengers were most a motley crew,
Some were foreigners and others he knew.
Rich men in broadcloth, beggars in rags
Handsome young ladies and wicked old hags.
As the train rushed on at a terrible pace
Sulphuric fumes scorched their hands and face,
Wider and wider the country grew
Faster and faster the engine flew,
Louder and louder the thunder crashed
Brighter and brighter the lighting flashed,
Hotter and hotter the air became
Till their clothes were burned
and they were screaming with pain.
Then out of the distance there came a yell
Ha ha said the devil we're nearing home,
Oh how the passengers shrieked with pain
And begged old Satan to stop that train.
The stranger awoke with an anguished cry
His clothes wet with sweat and his hair standing high,
He fell on his knees on the bar room floor
And prayed a prayer like never before.
And the prayers and vows were not in vain
For he never rode that down bound train.
07 Brown Eyed Handsome Man (02:18)
Oh, arrested on charges of unemployment
He was sitting in the witness stand
The judges wife called up the district attorney
She said, "Free that brown-eyed man.
If you want your job, you better free that brown-eyed man."
Flying across the desert in a TWA,
I saw a woman walkin' 'cross the sand.
She'd be walking thirty miles en route to Bombay
To meet a brown-eyed handsome man,
Her destination was a brown-eyed handsome man.
Way back in history, three thousand years,
In fact ever since the world began,
There's been a whole lotta good women shedding tears
Over a brown-eyed handsome man,
A lot of trouble was a brown-eyed handsome man.
Well, a beautiful daughter couldn't make up her mind
Between a doctor and a lawyer man.
Her mother told her, "Daughter go out and find yourself
A brown-eyed handsome man,
Just like your daddy was, a brown-eyed handsome man."
Marlo Venus was a beautiful lass,
She had the world in the palm of her hand
She lost both her arms in a wrestling match
To win a brown-eyed handsome man,
She fought and won herself a brown-eyed handsome man.
2-3 the count with nobody on
He hit a high fly into the stands
Roundin' third, he was a-headin' for home
It was a brown-eyed handsome man that won the game
It was a brown-eyed handsome man.
08 Drifting Heart (02:49)
Who set my heart
Ever - drifting?
You, from the start never lifting
I fight it but it downs me
Despite the joy around me
I can't free myself from sorrow
All through the day it's a wonder
Fall will the night, still I wonder
If I'm the only
Or are you as lonely
Come home to me tomorrow
Why should the past so change
How you feel!
Oh but I ask you
"Forgive, if you will"
These lonely hours are
So hard to bear
I don't deny that I was unfair
You paid enough to be gay
Who made me love you this way?
So give me the chance
To renew our romance
For this time I know it will stay
Oh yes, this time I know it will stay
09 Roll Over Beethoven (02:24)
Well gonna write a little letter
Gonna mail it to my local D.J.
It's a rockin' little record
I want my jockey to play
Roll over Beethoven
I gotta hear it again today
You know my temperature's risin'
And the jukebox's blowin' a fuse
My hearts beatin' rhythm
And my soul keeps singing the blues
Roll over Beethoven
And tell Tchaikovsky the news
I got a rockin' pneumonia
I need a shot of rhythm and blues
I think I got it off the writer
Sittin' down by the rhythm review
Roll over Beethoven
We're rockin' in two by two
Well if you feel you like it
Well get your lover and reel and rock it
Roll it over and move on up
Just jump around and reel and rock it
Roll it over
Roll over Beethoven
A rockin' in two by two , oh
Well early in the mornin'
I'm a givin' you the warnin'
Don't you step on my blue suede shoes
Hey diddle diddle
Gonna play my fiddle
Ain't got nothing to lose
Roll over Beethoven
And tell Tchaikovsky the news
You know she wiggles like a glow worm
Dance like a spinnin' top
She got a crazy partner
Oughta see 'em reel an rock
Long as she's got a dime
The music will never stop
Roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven
Roll over Beethoven
And dig these rhythm and blues
10 Too Much Monkey Business (02:56)
Runnin' to and fro, hard workin' at the mill
Never failed in the mail, yet come a rotten bill
Too much monkey business, too much monkey business
Too much monkey business for me to be involved in
Salesman talking to me tryin' to run me up a creek
Says you can buy it, go on try it, you can pay me next week
Ah, too much monkey business, too much monkey business
Too much monkey business for me to be involved in
Blonde haired, good lookin' tryin' to get me hooked
Wants me to marry, get a home, settle down, write a book
Ha, too much monkey business, too much monkey business
Too much monkey business for me to be involved in
Same thing every day, gettin' up, goin' to school
No need to be complainin', my objections overruled
Ah, too much monkey business, too much monkey business
Too much monkey business for me to be involved in
Pay phone, somethin' wrong, dime gone,
Well, me I ought to sue the operator for tellin' me a tale
Ah, too much monkey business, too much monkey business
Too much monkey business for me to be involved in
I been to Yokohama, been a fightin' in the war
Army bunk, army chow, army clothes, army car
Ha, too much monkey business, too much monkey business
Too much monkey business for me to be involved in
Workin' in the fillin' station, too many tasks
Wipe the windows, check the tires, check the oil, dollar gas
Uh-uh, too much monkey business, too much monkey business
I don't want your botheration, go away, leave me be
Too much monkey business for me
11 Havana Moon (03:08)
Havana moon, Havanna moon
Me all alone with jug of rum
Me stand and wait for boat to come
Is long de night, is quiet de dark
De boat she late, it's twelve o'clock
Me watch de tide easin' in
Is low de moon but high de wind
Havana moon, Havana moon
Me all alone, me open de rum
Is long de wait for boat to come
American girl come back to me
We'll sail away across de sea
We'll dock in New York
De buildin's high
We find a home in de sky
Havana moon, Havana moon
Me still alone, me sip de rum
Me wonder when de boat she come
To bring me love, oh sweet little thing
She rock'n'roll, she dance and sing
She hold me tight, she touch me lips
Me eyes they close, me heart she flip
Havana moon, Havana moon
But still alone me drinkin' de rum
Begin to think de boat no come
American girl she tell a lie
She say "Till then," she mean "Goodbye "
Havana moon, Havana moon
Me lay down alone, was good de rum
Me fall asleep, de boat she come
De girl she look till come de dawn
She weep and cry, return for home
De whistle blow, me open me eyes
Was bright de sun, was blue de sky
Me grab me shoes, me jump and run
Me see de boat head for horizon
Havana moon, is gone de rum
De boat she sail, my love she gone
Havana moon, Havana moon
Havana moon, Havanna moon
14 Oh Baby Doll (02:38)
*Baby Doll when bells ring out the summer free
Oh Baby Doll, will it end for you and me?
We'll sing the old alma mater
And think of things that used to be
I remember so well back when the weather was cool
We used to have so much fun when we were walking to school
If we stopped off to hear the latest songs that they sing
Sometimes we'd just make it in before the bell would ring
(*Repeat X 2)
When the teacher was gone, that's when we had a ball
We used to dance and play all up and down the hall
We had a portable radio, we was ballin' the jacks
But we'd be all back in order when the teacher got back
(*Repeat)
15 I've Changed (03:06)
I have changed, nothing like I used to be
I have changed, darling, nothing like I used to be
When I cared so much for you, was love blinded and I couldn't see
I sat down a many evening with my mind in a total ruin
Wondering where on earth you were and what you might be doing
But I've changed, nothing like I used to be
When I cared so much for you was love blinded and I couldn't see
I have waited for you at morning, right behind a sleepless night
But now my eyes are wide open and I see you wasn't right
Yes, I've changed, nothing like I used to be
When I cared so much for you, I was love blinded and I couldn't see
If you still love me baby, you gonna have to come across
We will tear off together so there will be no loving lost
'Cause I've changed, nothing like I used to be
When I cared so much for you, was love blinded and I couldn't see
16 Reelin' and Rockin' (03:17)
Some-times I will, then again I think I won't.
Some-times I will, then again I think I won't.
Sometimes I do, then again I think I don't.
Well, I looked at my watch it was nine twenty one
'twas at a
rock 'n' roll dance havin' nothin' but
fun.
We were rollin' reelin' and a-
rockin'.
We were reelin' and a- rockin' and
rollin' till the break of dawn
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'...
Well, I looked at my watch, it was nine forty-three,
And
every time I'd spin, she'd spin with me.
We were
reelin', reelin' and a-rockin', ...)
Well, I looked at my watch, it was nine fifty-four,
I
said, "Dance ballerina girl, go, go, go!"
We were rollin,
reelin' and a-rockin' ...
Well, I looked at
my watch, it was ten o-five,
Man, I didn't know
whether I was dead or alive!
But I was rollin',
reelin' and a-rockin'....
Well, I looked at
my watch, it was ten twenty-six,
But I'm a keep on
dancin' till I got my kicks!
We were reelin',
reelin' and a- rockin'.....
Well, I looked
at my watch, it was ten twenty-eight,
I gotta get my kicks
before it gets too late!
We were reelin', reelin'
and a- rockin' ....
Well, I looked at my watch,
it was ten twenty-nine,
I had to hold her hand, she was
still holdin' mine!
We were reelin', reelin'
and a-rockin'. ....
Well, I looked at my watch,
and to my surprise,
I was dancin' with a woman who was
twice my size!
We were reelin', reelin' and
a-rockin'. .....
Well, I looked at my watch, and
it was time to go,
The band leader said, "We ain't
playin' no mo' ! "
We were reelin',
reelin', and a-rockin'....
18 Sweet Little Sixteen (03:11)
They're really rockin Boston
In Pittsburgh, P. A.
Deep in the heart of Texas
And 'round the Frisco Bay
All over St. Louis
Way down in New Orleans
All the Cats wanna dance with
Sweet Little Sixteen
Sweet Little Sixteen
She's just got to have
About half a million
Framed autographs
Her wallet's filled with pictures
She gets 'em one by one
She gets so excited
Watch her look at her run
Oh mommy mommy
Please may I go
It's such a sight to see
Somebody steal the show
Oh daddy daddy
I beg of you
Whisper to mommy
It's all right with you
Cause they'll be rockin on bandstand
In Philadelphia P.A.
Deep in the heart of Texas
And 'round the Frisco Bay
All over St. Louis
Way Down in New Orleans
All the Cats wanna dance with
Sweet Little Sixteen
Sweet Little Sixteen
She's got the grown up blues
Tight dress and lipstick
She's sportin' high heal shoes
Oh, but tomorrow morning
She'll have to chang her trend
And be sweet sixteen
And back in class again
Cause they'll be rockin on bandstand
In Philadelphia P.A.
Deep in the heart of Texas
And 'round the Frisco Bay
All over St. Louis
Way Down in New Orleans
All the Cats wanna dance with
Sweet Little Sixteen
19 Johnny B. Goode (02:39)
Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood
Where lived a country boy named Johnny B. Goode
Who never ever learned to read or write so well
But he could play a guitar just like a ringing a bell
Go go
Go Johnny go!
Go
Go Johnny go!
Go
Go Johnny go!
Go
Go Johnny go!
Go
Johnny B. Goode!
He used to carry his guitar in a gunny sack
Go sit beneath the tree by the railroad track
Oh, the engineer would see him sitting in the shade
Strumming with the rhythm that the drivers made
The people passing by, they would stop and say
Oh my, but that little country boy could play
Go go
Go Johnny go!
Go
Go Johnny go!
Go
Go Johnny go!
Go
Go Johnny go!
Go
Johnny B. Goode!
His mother told him "Someday you will be a man,
And you will be the leader of a big ol' band.
Many people coming from miles around
To hear you play your music when the sun go down
Maybe someday your name'll be in lights
Saying Johnny B. Goode tonight."
Go go
Go Johnny go
Go go go Johnny go
Go go go Johnny go
Go go go Johnny go
Go
Johnny B. Goode
22 Beautiful Delilah (02:15)
Beautiful Delilah, sweet as apple pie
Always gets a second look from fellas passin' by
Everytime I see her she's with a different guy
Beautiful Delilah, that's the reason why
*Rebecca don't allow me to fool around with you
You are so tantalizing, you just can't be true
Beautiful Delilah dressed in the latest style
Swingin' like a pendulum walkin' down the aisle
Deep romantic eyes, speak so low and mild
Maybe you will settle down and marry after a while
(*Repeat)
Beautiful Delilah bathin' in the sun
Audience of seventeen, and notice not a one
Local Casanova
Wouldn't be outdone
Let her steal his heart away and break it just for fun
(*Repeat)
24 Carol (02:48)
Oh Carol, don't let him steal your heart away
I'm gonna learn to dance if it takes me all night and day
Climb into my machine so we can cruise on out
I know a swingin' little joint where we can jump and shout
It's not too far back off the highway, not so long a ride
You park your car out in the open, you can walk inside
A little cutie takes your hat and you can thank her, ma'am
Every time you make the scene you find the joint is jammed
Oh Carol, don't let him steal your heart away
I'm gonna learn to dance if it takes me all night and day
And if you wanna hear some music like the boys are playin'
Hold tight, pat your foot, don't let 'em carry it away
Don't let the heat overcome you when they play so loud
Oh, don't the music intrigue you when they get a crowd
You can't dance, I know you wish you could
I got my eyes on you baby, 'cause you dance so good
Oh Carol, don't let him steal your heart away
I'm gonna learn to dance if it takes me all night and day
Don't let him steal your heart away
I've got to learn to dance if it takes you all night and day
Oh Carol
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