Tag Archives: Bruce Springsteen

Today: Chuck Berry recorded “Johnny B. Goode” in 1958 – 55 years ago

CB - johnny b goode

DeepdowninLouisiana’crossfromNewOrleans,
waybackupinthewoodsamongtheevergreens.
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 ringin’ a bell.

You can’t copyright guitar licks and maybe that’s good, because if you could, Chuck might have hoarded them as he does his Cadillacs,. Without The Chuck Berry Riff, we’d lose not just the Beach Boys, but essential elements of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bob Seger, and Bruce Springsteen — to mention only the most obvious examples. In a way, what was at the center of the first wave of the British Invasion could be described as a Chuck Berry revival.
~Dave Marsh (The Heart of Rock and Soul)

Live 1958:

another great live version (much later):

 From Wikipedia:

Released March 31, 1958
Format 7″ 45 RPM, 10″ 78 RPM
Recorded January 6, 1958 at Chess Studios, Chicago, Illinois
Genre Rock and roll
Length 2:30
Label Chess
Writer(s) Chuck Berry
Producer Little “Bongo” Kraus

Johnny B. Goode” is a 1958 rock and roll song written and originally performed by Chuck Berry. The song was a major hit among both black and white audiences peaking at #2 on Billboard magazine’s Hot R&B Sides chart and #8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The song is one of Chuck Berry’s most famous recordings, has been covered by many artists, and has received several honors and accolades. It is also considered to be one of the most recognizable songs in music history.

ChuckBerry

another version:

Go Go
Go Johnny Go Go (x4)
Johnny B. Goode

Written by Berry in 1955, the song is about a poor country boy who plays a guitar “just like ringing a bell,” and who might one day have his “name in lights.” Berry has acknowledged that the song is partly autobiographical, and originally had “colored boy” in the lyrics, but he changed it to “country boy” to ensure radio play. The title is suggestive that the guitar player is good, and hints at autobiographic elements because Berry was born at 2520 Goode Avenue in St. Louis. The song was initially inspired by Berry’s piano player, Johnnie Johnson, though developed into a song mainly about Berry himself. Though Johnnie Johnson played on many other Chuck Berry songs, it was Lafayette Leake who played piano on this song.

The opening guitar riff on “Johnny B. Goode” is essentially a note-for-note copy of the opening single-note solo on Louis Jordan’s “Ain’t That Just Like a Woman” (1946), played by guitarist Carl Hogan.

Louis Jordan – Ain`t That Just Like A Woman:

Musicians

  • Chuck Berry – vocals, guitar
  • Lafayette Leake – piano
  • Willie Dixon – bass
  • Fred Below – drums

Bruce Springsteen & Chuck Berry – Johnny B Goode (Live 1995):

Legacy

  • Berry’s recording of the song was included on the Voyager Golden Record, attached to the Voyager spacecraft as representing rock and roll, one of four American songs included among many cultural achievements of humanity.
  • When Chuck Berry was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, he performed “Johnny B. Goode” and “Rock and Roll Music,” backed by Bruce Springsteen and theE Street Band. The Hall of Fame included these songs and “Maybellene” in their list of the 500 songs that shaped Rock and Roll.
  • It was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999, for its influence as a rock & roll single.

Chuck+Berry

Accolades

List Publisher Rank Year of Publication
500 Greatest Songs of All Time Rolling Stone 7 2010
100 Greatest Guitar Tracks Q 42 2005
100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time Rolling Stone 1 2008
Top 3000 Songs Acclaimed Music 6 N/A
500 Songs That Shaped Rock Rock & Roll Hall of Fame N/A 1995
50 Greatest Guitar Solos Guitar World 12 2009

And Dave Marsh put in on number 2 in his brilliant list of “The 1001 Greatest Singles Ever Made“..

heartofrock

Album of the day:

The Anthology (2000):

Chuck berry anthology

Other January 06:

Continue reading Today: Chuck Berry recorded “Johnny B. Goode” in 1958 – 55 years ago

Today: Stephen Stills is 68

SS

An artist cannot be responsible for what people make of their art. An audience loathe giving up preconceived images of an artist.
~Stephen Stills

One thing the blues ain’t, is funny.
~Stephen Stills

He’s a musical genius
~Neil Young

Buffalo Springfield – For What It’s Worth 1967:

From Wikipedia:

Birth name Stephen Arthur Stills
Born January 3, 1945 (age 68)
Dallas, Texas, United States
Genres Rock, folk rock, blues rock, latin
Occupations Musician, songwriter, producer, political activist
Instruments Vocals, guitar, bass, piano,organ, percussion, drums, viola
Years active 1962–present
Labels Columbia, Atlantic, Reprise, Vision, Raven, Titan/Pyramid
Associated acts Buffalo Springfield, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, The Stills-Young Band, Au Go Go Singers, The Continentals, Manassas
Website Official website

SS2

Manassas – Stephen Stills – it does’nt matter (1972):

Stephen Arthur Stills (born January 3, 1945) is an American multi-instrumentalist and singer/songwriter best known for his work with Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills & Nash (and Young). He has performed on a professional level in several other bands as well as maintaining a solo career at the same time. Stills was ranked #28 in Rolling Stone Magazine’s 2003 list of “The 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time”. Stills became the first person to be inducted twice on the same night into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for his work with CSN and Buffalo Springfield. He is often considered one of the greatest musician/songwriters of the 20th century.

Album of the day:

Manassas (1972):

stills - manassas

A sprawling masterpiece, akin to the Beatles’ White Album, the Stones’ Exile on Main St., or Wilco’s Being There in its makeup, if not its sound. Rock, folk, blues, country, Latin, and bluegrass have all been styles touched on in Stephen Stills’ career, and the skilled, energetic musicians he had gathered in Manassas played them all on this album. What could have been a disorganized mess in other hands, though, here all gelled together and formed a cohesive musical statement.
~Rob Caldwell (allmusic.com)

Other January 03:

Continue reading Today: Stephen Stills is 68

The 20 best concerts of 2012 according to Egil

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I landed @ 45 concerts in 2012… a great year it has been.

Here is my list of the 20 best:

  1.  Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band (The Second night in Bergen, July)
  2. Bruce Springsteen & The E-Street Band (First Night Bergen July)
  3. Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires (First  Concert, Bergen, June)
  4. Justin Townes Earle (Bergen, June)
  5. Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires (Club concert, Bergen, June)
  6. Patti Smith (Bergen, June)
  7. Ron Carter, Bill Frisell & Joey Baron (NYC (Bluenote), January)
  8.  The South (Bergen, June)
  9. The Deep Dark Woods (NYC, January)
  10. Afghan Whigs (Oslo, August)
  11. Charles Bradley & His Extraordinaires (Oslo, August)
  12. Jonathan Wilson (Bergen, June)
  13. Lars Winnerbäck (Bergen, June)
  14. Bob Mould (Oslo, August)
  15. Abigail Washburn and Kai Welch (Bergen, June)
  16. Thåström (Bergen, June)
  17. Feist (Oslo, August)
  18. The Black Keys (Oslo, August)
  19. Robert Earl Keen (NYC, January)
  20. Tønes (Skudeneshavn, November)

 

Best Live-albums & Music Books – 2012 according to Egil

The Who - Live 1970

Lists are always fun…. here’s some more:

5 Best Live Albums released in 2012

Important list! If we had allowed Live albums on our “2012 best albums” list… all five would have featured… (at least if I would have had my way) and “Live At Hull” & “L.A. Friday” is even better albums than Dylan’s Tempest in my opinion… but than again I LOVE concert recordings.

  1. The Who – Live at Hull 1970 (recorded February 15, 1970)
    The-Who-Live-At-Hull-574058In 1970 The Who where at their live peak.. Daltrey had found his voice.. the other 3 where ready.. and the “Tommy” material is nothing but fantastic!  
  2. The Rolling Stones – L.A. Friday (Sunday 13th July 1975)
    LA Friday
  3. The Rolling Stones – Hampton Coliseum (Live 1981)
    Hampton81
  4. Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit – Live From Alabama
    jason isbell live alabama
    It is the best “new” live album this year.. by far..
    Brilliant stuff.
  5. The Rolling Stones – Tokyo (Live 1990)
    TRS - Tokyo 1990

5 Best Music Books I read in 2012

Continue reading Best Live-albums & Music Books – 2012 according to Egil

Best albums of 2012: number 11 to 15

Bruce Springsteen Wrecking Ball 11

11. Bruce Springsteen – Wrecking Ball

“They destroyed our families, factories, and they took our homes
They left our bodies on the plains, the vultures picked our bones”

This is an angry album, an angry album with triumphant music. It’s an album that is easily misunderstood, much like Born in the USA was. The music  sounds celebratory but the words are bitter and full of wrath. Wreckin Ball is Springsteen’s response to the ongoing financial crisis, and as openly political album as he’s ever made.

The scope is vast and he paints with broad strokes this time. He gives us a state of the union but the album also has intimate songs about the lives of individuals.  Bruce sings for the common man against a system that so clearly has failed him, he sings about how we’ll get through this together. He is still a romantic at heart.

…and the songs are even better live.

Hartfelt, angry, big rock’n roll full of hope.

– Hallgeir

Highlights:

  • Egil: (Land of Hope and Dreams), This Depression, We Are Alive & Wrecking Ball
  • Hallgeir: Rocky Ground, This Depression, Land of Hope and Dreams

 

American Aquarium Burn Flicker Die 12

12. American Aquarium – Burn. Flicker. Die.

Every now and then she still crosses my mind
by ‘every now and then’,  I mean ‘most of the time’
by ‘most of the time’, I mean ‘all of the time’

This is the album that I’ve played most in the car this year, it is so good to drive to. It is anthemic rock’n roll in the Tom Petty, Drive-by Truckers, and most of all Bruce Springsteen,  tradition. American Aquarium may not be original, but the delivery sets them appart from most all the other roots-rockers.

BJ Barham is one of the best lyricist in alternative country/roots rock today. He spits out his sentences in perfect succession. His texts are clever and street smart at the same time.

The album is produced by Jason Isbell (who also plays on the record) and it sounds really good! Caitlin Cary and Spooner Oldham also guests on Burn. Flicker. Die.

Straight  rock’n roll with “Zevonesque” lyrics and ferocious delivery.

– Hallgeir

Highlights:

  • Egil: Cape Fear River, Lonely Ain’t Easy & Burn. flicker. die
  • Hallgeir: Lonely Ain’t Easy, Jacksonville, Casualties and Burn. flicker. die

 

Hiss Golden Messenger Poor Moon 13

13. Hiss Golden Messenger – Poor Moon

This is Hiss Golden Messenger’s fourth album, but they’re new to me and what a great band they are. HGM consists of songwriter Mike C. Taylor and New York multi-instrumentalist Scott Hirsch, both formerly of San Fransisco based Court & Spark (Mike Taylor is sometimes alone  on the live events).

This  is country/soul. It is like Van Morrison’s celtic soul is mixed with Laurel Canyon songwriting and a bit of The Band thrown in, an incredibly potent mix.

It is a spiritual record, maybe even religious, the lyrics are dark and peppered with biblical themes, but the music often contradicts this ominous tone. The songs are what the first track on the album is called, Blue Country Mystic.

Spiritual, soulful americana.

– Hallgeir

Highlights:

  • Egil: Call him daylight, Jesus shot me in the head & Westering
  • Hallgeir: Call him daylight, Balthazar’s song,  Jesus shot me in the head

 

Alabama Shakes Boys and Girls 14

14. Amabama Shakes – Boys & Girls

“A lot of people are like, ‘I want to be different, I want to be original, I want to be an electronic band that mixes this and this’, instead of just writing songs together as people and being sincere about it.”
~Brittany Howard (interview with NME)

The Music: Fantastic fresh vocal, old southern soulful music in new pants, STAX/Muscle Shoals & then there is “Hold On” – one of the absolute strongest songs released this year.

Reminds me of:   a slow & soulful version of The White Stripes & Janis Joplin

Highlights:

  • Egil: Hold On, You ain’t alone & Be Mine
  • Hallgeir: Hold On, You ain’t alone, I found You

 

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15. Dinosaur Jr. – I Bet On Sky

“Don’t let me cheat you of the feeling you deserve.”

Dinosaur Jr. reunited in 2005 and they’ve released three albums after that, this year’s I Bet On Sky is the best of the magnificent tripplets. The melodic hooks and the sonic attacks are still there, they are so f***ing close to pop perfection! It as if  Nirvana and Big Star had a child, they’re that good.

It is a “riffy” journey back to the nineties, but they still sound relevant. I think they are better now than they ever where.

Riffs, hooks and melodies.

– Hallgeir

Highlights:

  • Egil: Don’t pretend you didn’t know, Almost Fare & Pierce The Morning Rain
  • Hallgeir: Don’t pretend you didn’t know, Almost Fare, Watch the Corners, See It On Your Side

The Complete List