CHUCK BERRY - ROCKIN' AT THE HOPS
Chuck
Berry's way more than just rocking for sock hops here – as the set has the
seminal figure working at the height of his powers – in a raw, stripped-down
setting that still packs way more punch than you might remember if you only
think of Chuck in terms of all those over-used cliches! The approach is almost
more blues than rock – as the core combos have key work from Chess staple
Willie Dixon on bass, plus piano from Johnnie Johnson and some occasional tenor
from Leroy C Davis. But the real highlight is Berry and his mean guitar – and
his sinister style of singing – almost a midwest counterpart to the nasty
gritty grooves that the young Johnny Guitar Watson was laying down on the west
coast at the time! Titles include "Worried Life Blues", "Too
Pooped To Pop", "I Got To Find My Baby", "Broken
Arrow", "Let It Rock", "Down The Road Apiece", and the
cool instrumental "Mad Lad". ~ Dusty Groove
KOKO TAYLOR - BASIC SOUL
Basic
soul, plenty of blues, and a fair bit of funk as well – a killer from Koko Taylor,
recorded in that best style of late Chess Records! Koko sings here more like a
funky female soul artist than on her later blues – and the record crackles with
energy right from the start, thanks to impeccable production from Willie Dixon
– who really knows how to keep things lean and mean! The core group is nice and
tight – and all Chicago-bred – Joe Young on guitar, Lafayette Leake on piano,
and Louis Satterfield on bass – and Gene Barge added just a bit of horns over
the top, to deepen the soul of the tunes. Titles include "Pollution",
"Tease Your Man", "That's The Way Love Is", "Un Huh My
Baby", "It's A Poor Dog", "I Need More & More",
and "Let Me Love You Baby". ~ Dusty Groove
BO DIDDLEY - ANOTHER DIMENSION
Funky Bo
Diddley – one of Bo's key early 70s sessions for Chess Records – all of which
have him stepping out in a much harder groove than years past! The sound here
is relatively tight – with Diddley guitar and vocals on top of some larger
arrangements from Bob Gallo – backings that mix together sounds from
contemporary rock and soul, but always with an ear for the roots that Bo
inspired in the first place – put forward towards a new generation with nicely
kicking rhythms and really fuzzy guitars! The standout number here is the break
classic "Go For Broke" – a drum-heavy instrumental that's worth the
price of the record alone – and other titles include the great original
"Pollution", plus versions of "The Shape I'm In",
"Down On The Corner", "Lodi", "Bad Side Of the
Moon", and "Bad Moon Rising". ~ Dusty Groove
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