Chuck Berry in the '60s: 1962

1962-63: incarceration

In february 1962, the same months Berry started his term, Chess released Twist. The album compiles 14 Chuck Berry classics. If there's a better distillation of the essence of his work, I've yet to hear it. The album was No. 4 on Christgau's best album ever list, and I see why. As a compilation it does everything right, not getting lost in completeness or chronology - but presenting the essence of the artist in the most entertaining sequence possible. Look at that tracklist:

Side One
"Maybellene"
"Roll Over Beethoven"
"Oh Baby Doll"
"Around and Around"
"Come On"
"Let It Rock"
"Reelin' and Rockin'"

Side Two
"School Days"
"Almost Grown"
"Sweet Little Sixteen"
"Thirty Days"
"Johnny B. Goode"
"Rock and Roll Music"
"Back in the U.S.A."

It's just a pure joy to listen to. You know all the songs, but the rush is still there. Maybe it's been a long time since you heard the originals. Man, to think one man wrote all of them.

Twist effectively puts a spotlight on the great guitar playing going on: wild, uncontrolled and raw when it needs to be, freewheeling, in the moment, but highly accomplished. It had never hit me quite this way before.

None of the songs sound anything like twist of course.