Chuck Berry in the '60s: 1963

1963's On Stage (which doesn't include 'Surfin' USA') is one more archival release, a fake live recording. I don't have the 'enhanced' mixes with audience sounds, but I faked my own playlist of the album. You can't fault the material: 'Memphis Tennessee', 'Maybellene', 'Let it rock', 'Sweet little sixteen', 'Jaguard & Thunderbird' - but it's a repeat too far. They're all just the versions you know, no alternates. It just sounds like a jumble.

It's a shame, cause some of the exclusive material - unreleased recordings from the 1960-61 sessions - is certainly worth the effort. I count 6 tracks (half the album): 'Surfin' steel' - a groovy instrumental with slide -, a new recording of 'Brown eyed handsome man' that rocks, 'Still got the blues - a nice melodic blues -, 'Trick or treat' - not quite single material, but damn catchy pop rock'n'roll -, 'The man and the donkey' - Clash fans know this as 'Junco partner', I prefer Chuck's version -, and finally 'All aboard' - an ok train song.

Not a bad haul at all, but kinda lost on this wasted album. Put it on a reel of 'lost' Chuck nuggets.

1963-64: the return

Berry and Chess were anxious for new product, I gather. The same month he was released, Berry and his band were in front of an audience at the Walled Lake Casino in Detroit, recording a ramshackle, good natured comeback concert. The tracks, mixed and sequenced for LP release, were eventually released on the Hip-O-Select Complete Recordings box.

I wouldn't go as far as saying it's essential, but it's damn good fun. Berry is in great mood (but gruff voice). It's great hearing what Berry and his band sounded like when they were playing the clubs, rather than nailing 2&1/2 minute single takes in the studio. The elastic band stretches way out. Chuck does his comedy skits, songs are played and a couple of minutes later picked up again as if they don't recall. There are a lot of stretched out instrumental sections, guitar and piano solos or sometimes no one jumps in and they just groove on. Singalongs on nearly every track (this is one dedicated audience, they know all the verses), impromptu instrumental jams, medleys. It brings home how much there is to love about this band, and that's worthwhile.

Still, just a few weeks later Berry was in the studio. When the first two songs recorded turned out to be 'Nadine (Is that you)' and 'You never can tell', the live LP was sensibly scrapped. For his return, Berry lead a string classic singles high into the charts.