If you were stranded on a desert island and could have only one Chuck Berry song on your i-pod, what would it be?
That's the question mulled over by the main characters in a book I've just had published called Somewhere In The Distance. It was inspired by the great music of the Sixties, including that of the legendary musician and songwriter who we are all honouring on this website.
The answers to the desert island poser range from No Particular Place To Go, to Johnny B Goode, to
You Can't Catch Me. But perhaps the most surprising choice is Beautiful Delilah, a much under-rated song from Chuck's late Fifties canon.
It's a hard decision to make when you consider all the many great songs penned by Chuck.

It was John Lennon who said ' If you tried to give rock and roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry.' He wasn't wrong there, that's for sure.

For the record, my all-time number one Chuck song is You Can't Catch Me. I recall as a teenager seeing the great man performing the song while executing his famous duck walk. I rushed down to the record store the next morning and bought the record, hurried back home and put it on the deck, doing my own duck walk across the lounge as that fabulous guitar sound filled the air. The walk may not have been as good as Chuck's, but boy did I get a kick out of doing it.
From then on I was hooked on his music.

Sadly, I won't be able to get to see Chuck on his upcoming tour of England. Hopefully, next time!
Meanwhile, hail, hail Mr Rock 'n' Roll.
Thanks for looking in
David Soulsby

I think right at the moment it would be "Bye Bye Johnny," the mono version, partly because I've spent the morning listening to it and thinking about it. It's got a unique drum beat by Odie Payne and some of Chuck Berry's best lyrics.

But if I were asked to pick for eternity tomorrow, or the next day, it might be "Sweet Little Sixteen," or "Nadine," or "Too Much Monkey Business," or "Oh Louisiana," or "Tulane," or even "Wee Wee Hours."

Those opening chords and bass on "Wee Wee Hours" sound like Muddy Waters when Muddy was alone with a guitar back in Mississippi-- and the whole song says something about Chuck Berry that I feel today after the collapse of the British tour.

Loneliness.

Hi David , You ask a very tough question here- but I will answer it quickly, as much as I love Johnny I'm going with Nadine!! A "Live" version minus the third verse and insert that great guitar solo with Chuck making that Gibson 355 wail and moan and groan like a little baby!!! Oh how am I going to do without the others.... ?? David I hope you get to see CB and his St. Louis Band in March 2010.

Doug

Move On Up Just A Trifle Further!!

Reelin and Rockin/House Lights--the version he did at Avo Session in 2007.

Back to Memphis, one of my personal favorites. Although, I'd change the title to "Back to London" since that's one of the places I wanted to be this week.

Here is a cover of "Back to London"

Bravo Peter....!! Excellent...