25 – Soundalikes Ɣ Soundalikes by Artist
25
SOUNDALIKES
Soundalikes by Artist
In this section you will find songs which are built heavily on the Chuck Berry sound
and guitar riffs, or strongly resemble one or other of Berry's songs. These 'soundalikes'
demonstrate in no small measure Chuck Berry's musical influence.
The information presented here was collected over five decades. 85% of the
songs listed are in my own collection, but I am also extremely grateful to all the
collectors and researchers who have contributed. It would simply have been
impossible for me to buy every single record reputed to have some Berry resemblance,
just to check it out.
To qualify for inclusion, songs generally had to project a strong Berry feel, either in
the song itself or in a typical Berry guitar solo, or a riff that is played over and over
again (sharp-eyed readers will notice that quite a few of the Berry tributes listed in
Volume 2 (pages 753-781) also appear here). I have excluded songs that only feature
bits and pieces of a Berry guitar riff.
Some of the selections are inevitably subjective. I have often read in a review that
so-and-so is a Berry soundalike, but when I listened to it, I could not recognise any
Berry similarity at all – at least, not enough to include it in this survey.
I have also included remakes of songs covered by Berry like 'Confessin' The Blues',
'Don't You Lie To Me', 'Down The Road A Piece', 'I Got To Find My Baby' and 'Route 66'
if they follow his arrangement. However, for songs like Richard Berry's 'Louie Louie'
(based on Berry's 'Havana Moon') and the Beatles' 'Come Together' (based on 'You
Can't Catch Me'), I have only listed the original recordings; cover versions of these
soundalikes are not included.
While this survey includes over 900 soundalikes, there are of course many more I
am not aware of. If you have any additions to the list below (or, indeed, to any of the
other chapters in this book or the Chuck Berry International Directory in general),
please write or email me at:
Morten Reff
Wienerbrødskj. 1
N-1440 DRØBAK
Norway
[email protected]
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25 – Soundalikes Ɣ Soundalikes by Artist
ACCELERATORS (UK)
Rockabilly band from Scotland consisting of Steve Smith (vocals, guitar), Dave Burnette (guitar),
Big Al McCubbin (double bass) and Frank Kosiba (drums).
Nadine (3:45) (The Accelerators)2000
CD: Right Behind You Baby [Raucous RAUCD-059] Ɣ UK, 2000
Despite the similar title, this is not Berry's 'Nadine', but rather a sequel to it: 'Greyhound bus',
'sixteen', 'go, cat, go' and 'Nadine take a drive with me', all with Berry guitar riffs. Interesting stuff.
STEPHEN ACKLES (Norway)
See Volume 3, page 1032 for biographical info.
Memphis News (1:51) (Stephen Ackles) 1987
MC: Memphis News [Hill MC-001] Ɣ Norway, 1987
CD: Rarities [Fox CDFX-1011] Norway, 1993
Recorded at Siljan Lydstudio, Skien in June 1987, this sounds like a mixture of Berry and Jerry
Lee Lewis. The line-up includes Ackles (piano, vocals), Paal Flaata (guitar), Jostein Berntsen
(guitar), Hans 'Eddie' Uleberg (organ), Carsten Holt (bass) and Bjarte Karlsen (drums).
Memphis News (1:52) (Stephen Ackles) 1988
LP: Stephen Ackles & The Memphis News [Hill HRLP-002] Ɣ Norway, 1988
Recorded at Siljan Lydstudio, Skien in spring 1988. On this occasion the musicians were:
Stephen Ackles (vocals, piano), Hans Uleberg (guitar), Hans Graasvold (guitar), Morten
Rosseland (bass) and Jan Ånnerød (drums). This one sounds even more Berryish, but with a hint
of Jerry Lee Lewis, thanks to guitarist Uleberg who plays almost exactly like Lewis's long-serving
guitar and fiddle-player, Kenneth Lovelace.
See also VOLUME 3 > Cover Versions
ART ADAMS (USA)
See Volume 3, page 1033 for biographical info.
I Wanna Hear It Again (2:48) (Ronald D. Hege) 2004
CD: Rockin' My Way Around [Collector CLCD-4490] Ɣ Netherlands, 2004
Rockabilly tribute written by Ronnie Haig.
See also RONNIE HAIG
VOLUME 2 > Influence on Other Artists >
Lyrics that mention Chuck Berry (page 744)
VOLUME 2 > Tributes > Tribute songs (page 767)
VOLUME 3 > Cover Versions
ARTHUR ADAMS (USA)
Blues singer/songwriter/guitarist born in Medon, Tennessee in 1943. A great admirer of
B.B. King, he honed his skills in Dallas in the early '60s, later moving to Los Angeles where he
became a sessionman and a recording artist in his own right, cutting solo albums for Blue Thumb,
A&M, Fantasy and others.
Good, Good, Good (3:31) (Arthur Adams) 1999
CD: Back On Track [Blind Pig BPCD-5055] Ɣ USA, 1999
Recorded in Los Angeles, this has a driving beat to it and features a solo that sounds like updated
Chuck Berry. Produced by Arthur Adams.
HASIL ADKINS (USA)
See Volume 3, page 1034 for biographical info.
W.P.A. (3:04) (Hasil Adkins) 1985
LP: He Said [Big Beat LP-34] Ɣ UK, 1985
Based on 'Johnny B. Goode'.
See also VOLUME 3 > Cover Versions
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25 – Soundalikes Ɣ Soundalikes by Artist
AD-LIBS (West Germany)
See Volume 3, page 1034 for biographical info.
Route 66 (2:40) (Bobby Troup) 1966
Various Artists EP: Route 66 [CBS S-0069] Ɣ West Germany, 1966
Various Artists LP: Beat Party In Stereo (Volume 2)
[CBS S-52328] Ɣ West Germany, 1966
The EP also includes one song by the Raves.
See also VOLUME 3 > Cover Versions
ÅGE ALEKSANDERSEN (Norway)
See Volume 3, page 1036 for biographical info.
Sommer (3:48) (Åge Aleksandersen) 2000
CD: Gamle Ørn [Norske Gram EKGCD-192] Ɣ Norway, 2000
This was a surprise in 2000, even though I knew that Åge was a great Berry admirer. Not only do
the lyrics sound like Berry's 'I'm Just A Name', the guitar solo (played here on a Fender
Telecaster by Andreas Aase) is also pure Berry. It again goes to show that, if you wanna play
rock'n'roll guitar, you end up playing like Chuck Berry. The song got a lot of radio play, and when
Åge and the band performed it on TV the guitarist even did the Berry walk!
See also VOLUME 3 > Cover Versions
JOHNNIE ALLAN (USA)
See Volume 3, page 1036 for biographical info.
Homebound Train (2:20) (John A. Guillot) 1983
LP: Thanks For The Memories [Jin LP-9026] Ɣ USA, 1983
CD: Promised Land [Ace CDCHD-380] Ɣ UK 1992
Based on 'Let It Rock'. Regarding credits, his real name is John Allen Guillott.
Oldie Goldie Days Of Old (3:13) (Johnnie Allan) 1996
CD: The Ultimate Louisiana Expierence [Jin LP-9052] Ɣ USA, 1996
Here the swamp pop legend is backed by super Cajun musicians like Rufus Thibodeaux and
Steve Riley, among others. The song is a tribute to the ones who started it all: 'I still dig the '50s
rock'n'roll', 'I wanna hear Diddley, Domino, Chuck and all the rest that I love so', 'Maybellene, just
a dream', 'Buddy should have lived', etc. This features a more authentic Louisiana arrangement
than the later version by Andy Lee Lang.
See also ANDY LEE LANG
VOLUME 2 > Influence on Other Artists >
Album titles based on Chuck Berry lyrics (page 733)
VOLUME 2 > Influence on Other Artists >
Lyrics that mention Chuck Berry (pages 745, 746)
VOLUME 3 > Cover Versions
ALLIGATORS (France)
See Volume 3, page 1037 for biographical info.
Rockin' Star ( : ) (J. Astrüc-A. Chenneviere) 1982 (live)
CD: Rockabillygator [Big Beat BBR-00033] Ɣ France, 1995
A solid rocker in the Berry mould from the French TV show Bop'n'Roll Party, transmitted in
January 1982. They also did a version of 'Route 66', but I haven't heard it, so it's not included in
this list. This CD is a 22-track reissue of a 10-track LP (from 1979) which did not include this cut.
See also VOLUME 3 > Cover Versions
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25 – Soundalikes Ɣ Soundalikes by Artist
ALL STARS (UK)
Features Jimmy Page (guitar), Jeff Beck (guitar), Nicky Hopkins (piano), Cliff Barton (bass) and
Carlo Little (drums). Berry clearly must have had a huge influence on both Jimmy Page and Jeff
Beck in their early years.
Chuckles (2:21) (Jimmy Page)1968(instr)
Various Artists LP: Blues Anytime (Volume 3) [Immediate IMLP-019] Ɣ UK, 1968
Various Artists LP: Best Of The British Blues (Volume 3)
[Immediate 048-90677] Ɣ West Germany 1970
This has 'Chuck Berry' written all over it: an uptempo instrumental where Jimmy Page plays all
those riffs he's listened to a thousand times. The backing sounds like that provided for Berry by
the Steve Miller Band at the Fillmore Auditorium in 1967. Because of the title this song is also
listed in the Tributes section (Volume 2, page 764).
Steelin' (2:38) (Jimmy Page) 1968 (instr)
Various Artists LP: Blues Anytime (Volume 3) [Immediate IMLP-019] Ɣ UK, 1968
Various Artists LP: Best Of The British Blues (Volume 3)
[Immediate 048-90677] Ɣ West Germany 1970
Jeff Beck plays nice slide guitar figures on this instrumental inspired by Berry's 'Deep Feeling'
(though it also includes elements of 'Blue Feeling' and 'Blues For Hawaiians'). And it's interesting
to note that pianist Nicky Hopkins had clearly been listening to Johnnie Johnson! Like 'Jeff's
Boogie' (see YARDBIRDS), this should really have been credited to Berry. As on the cut above,
the over-prominent bass makes it sound a little messy and also runs a little too fast sometimes.
See also VOLUME 3 > Cover Versions (YARDBIRDS)
KID ANDERSEN (Norway)
See Volume 3, page 1040 for biographical info.
I Really Love My Monkey (3:26) (Kid Andersen) 2003
CD: Rock Awhile [Blue Soul MBA-2312] Ɣ Norway, 2003
Recorded at Magic Sound Studios, Santa Cruz, California, this song is Berry from start to finish!
Andersen's rockin' lead guitar is supplemented by Paul Ivy on vocals and Junior Watson on
rhythm guitar. The lyrics are a little reminiscent of Ray Sharpe's 'Monkey's Uncle' from 1959.
See also VOLUME 3 > Cover Versions
OLE ANDERSEN (Norway)
See Volume 3, page 1040 for biographical info.
Berry Rides Again (2:54) (John Kay) 1974
Various Artists LP: Mere Rock [Flower ABM-418] Ɣ Norway, 1974
This is a cover of the 1968 Steppenwolf tribute (see STEPPENWOLF).
See also VOLUME 2 > Tributes > Tribute songs (page 761)
VOLUME 3 > Cover Versions
JOHN ANDERSON (USA)
Country singer/songwriter/guitarist born in Orlando, Florida in 1954. He moved to Nashville in the
early '70s and first hit the charts in 1977 with 'I've Got A Feelin' '. A string of hits followed, most
notably 1983's 'Swingin' ', which won the CMA Award for 'Single of the Year'. His popularity
waned in the late '80s, but early 1992 saw him back on top of the country chart with 'Straight
Tequila Night'.
Tokyo, Oklahoma (2:39) (Mack Vickery) 1985
45: Warner Bros. 7-28916 Ɣ USA, 1985
LP: Tokyo, Oklahoma [Warner Bros. 1-25211] Ɣ USA, 1985
The lyrics sound a little bit like 'Nadine'. This Mack Vickery composition was a No.30 country hit
for Anderson in 1985. Vickery also wrote Jerry Lee Lewis's Berry-soundalike hit, 'Rockin' My Life
Away' (see JERRY LEE LEWIS).
See also MACK VICKERY
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