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GREAT LIVES - NODDY HOLDER ON CHUCK BERRY (320kbs-m4a/64mb/28mins)
BBC Radio 4 broadcast: 20th December 2022
In 1972 Chucky Berry was onstage in Coventry. Seeking some audience participation Chuck launched into a cover of an unusual novelty record called 'My Ding-a-Ling'.
One of the men who can be heard in the crowd singing about their 'Ding-a-Ling' was Noddy Holder whose band Slade were supporting Berry on his UK tour. This track became Berry's only UK number one and by default, one of Noddy's seven. Paul Gambaccini also saw Berry live in the 1970s and remembers him playing hits like 'Johnny B. Goode' and 'Maybellene', but never performing for a minute longer than the agreed contracted length of his set.
Paul and Noddy join Matthew Parris to discuss the life of this influential pioneer who along with Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard is said to have invented rock n roll. They talk about Berry's musical influences, his rise to stardom, his shrewd approach to business and some of the darker moments that blight Berry's legacy.
Produced by Toby Field for BBC Audio, Bristol.
CHUCK BERRY: 40 YEARS ON (320kbs-m4a/132mb/57mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 29th December 2017
Another chance to hear Anthony Wall's acclaimed profile of rock 'n' roll pioneer Chuck Berry, made in 1977, but not broadcast until June 2017 on 6 Music. Berry passed away in March aged 90.
Wall's poetic programme explores Berry's extraordinary life and music through exclusive interviews recorded in the mid-70s.
Chuck Berry was a founding father of rock 'n' roll, whose songs (Johnny B. Goode, Promised Land, Roll Over Beethoven and many more) have become standards, covered by the likes of Elvis, the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
Chuck wasn't an easy character though, and rarely gave interviews. On the occasions that he did, he was generally less then forthcoming. Anthony Wall, longstanding series editor of the BBC television arts strand Arena, began his career as a radio studio manager in the 70s. He also moonlighted as the rock critic for the Morning Star and, in this capacity, interviewed Chuck twice and found him in a mellow mood. Thankfully, Anthony had the foresight to record both interviews in broadcast quality. Between his shifts on the Today programme, he lovingly wove these rare interviews together with Chuck's songs and quotes from other interviews he'd done with the likes of Chess label-mate Muddy Waters and rockabilly hero, Carl Perkins.
Anthony offered the programme to Radio 1. They turned it down, but asked for the raw interviews. Anthony told them that they could have the whole programme or nothing. They refused, so it remained on the shelf for forty years gathering dust until June 2017.
When Chuck Berry died, it occurred to Anthony that, since so little had been heard from the man himself about his extraordinary life and music, it was about time that the programme was finally broadcast. BBC Radio 6 Music was delighted to oblige.
Chuck Berry - Johnny B Goode [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Memphis Tennessee [Chess]
Nat King Cole - Ramblin' Rose [EMI]
The Nat King Cole Trio - (Get Your Kicks On) Route 66 [Capitol]
Chuck Berry - Route 66 [Chess]
Muddy Waters - Hoochie Coochie Man [MCA]
Chuck Berry - Hoochi' Coochi' Man [Rebound]
Chuck Berry - Bio [Chess]
The Beach Boys - Do You Remember
Chuck Berry - Have Mercy Judge [Chess]
Jimi Hendrix - Johnny B Goode [Polydor]
Elvis Presley - Promised Land [RCA]
The Band - Promised Land [Capitol]
Buddy Holly - Brown Eyed Handsome Man [Polygram TV]
Waylon Jennings - Brown Eyed Handsome Man [RCA]
The Rolling Stones - Little Queenie [London]
Jerry Lee Lewis - Little Queenie [See For Miles]
The Beach Boys - Rock And Roll Music [Capitol]
The Beatles - Rock And Roll Music [Parlophone]
Chuck Berry - My Ding A Ling [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Maybellene [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Promised Land [MCA]
Chuck Berry - Sweet Little Sixteen [Chess]
Chuck Berry - No Money Down [Music Club]
Chuck Berry - You Can't Catch Me [MCA]
Chuck Berry - No Particular Place To Go [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Rock And Roll Music [Chess]
Chuck Berry - You Never Can Tell [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Big Boys [Dualtone Music Group]
THE CHUCK BERRY STORY - 6. EPISODE 6 (320kbs-m4a/62mb/27mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 26th April 2017
Chuck Berry, who died on 18th March 2017 aged 90, was a pioneering and highly influential singer, songwriter and guitarist. Known as the Shakespeare of rock 'n' roll, he was also one of its founding fathers. There's another chance to hear a 6-part series first broadcast in 2003, presented by Who vocalist and Berry fan, Roger Daltrey.
This final edition recalls Berry's 70s career, which included the uncharacteristic novelty number one My Ding-a-Ling. Jack White from the White Stripes discusses Berry's legacy, with plus contributions from British guitarists Big Jim Sullivan and Jimmy Page as well as keyboard player Ian McLagan and Bruce Springsteen.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in 2003.
Chuck Berry - London Berry Blues [Chess]
Chuck Berry - My Ding A Ling [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Rock And Roll Music [Music For Pleasure/EMI]
Michael Cox - Sweet Little Sixteen [EMI]
Chuck Berry - Jo Jo Gunne [Chess]
Bob Dylan - Subterranean Homesick Blues [Sony Music/Columbia]
Bruce Springsteen - Nadine [Instant]
Chuck Berry - Little Queenie [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Rockin' At The Philharmonic [Chess]
Chuck Berry - You Never Can Tell [Castle]
Chuck Berry - Oh Yeah
THE CHUCK BERRY STORY - 5. EPISODE 5 (320kbs-m4a/62mb/27mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 25th April 2017
Chuck Berry, who died on 18th March 2017 aged 90, was a pioneering and highly influential singer, songwriter and guitarist. Known as the Shakespeare of rock 'n' roll, he was also one of its founding fathers. There's another chance to hear a 6-part series first broadcast in 2003, presented by Who vocalist and Berry fan, Roger Daltrey.
This fifth episode explores the influence of Berry on key British acts of the mid-60s, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Kinks and the Animals.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in 2003.
Chuck Berry - Go Go Go [Chess]
The Beatles - Memphis Tennessee [Apple]
The Animals - Around And Around [See For Miles]
Chuck Berry - Around And Around [Music Club]
The Rolling Stones - Around And Around [Decca]
Chuck Berry - You Can't Catch Me [MCA]
The Rolling Stones - Come On [ABKCO]
The Beach Boys - Surfin' U.S.A [EMP]
Chuck Berry - Sweet Little Sixteen [Chess]
The Beach Boys - Fun Fun Fun [Capitol]
Bo Diddley & Chuck Berry - Bo's Beat [Checker]
Chuck Berry - Maybelline [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Big Ben [Pye International]
Chuck Berry - Beautiful Delilah [Charly]
Chuck Berry - Still Got The Blues [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Sweet Little Rock And Roller
THE CHUCK BERRY STORY - 4. EPISODE 4 (320kbs-m4a/62mb/27mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 21st April 2017
Chuck Berry, who died on 18th March 2017 aged 90, was a pioneering and highly influential singer, songwriter and guitarist. Known as the Shakespeare of rock 'n' roll, he was also one of its founding fathers. There's another chance to hear a 6-part series first broadcast in 2003, presented by Who vocalist and Berry fan, Roger Daltrey.
This edition recalls Berry's 1962 conviction under the Mann Act, which resulted in 18 months' imprisonment and also inspired classics such as Promised Land, Nadine and No Particular Place to Go.
First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in 2003.
Chuck Berry - Have Mercy Judge [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Worried Life Blues [Ace]
Chuck Berry - O Rangutang [Chess International]
Chuck Berry - Bye Bye Johnny [MCA]
Chuck Berry - I'm Talking About You [Spectrum]
Chuck Berry - Come On [Connoisseur Collection]
Chuck Berry - No Particular Place To Go [Telstar]
Chuck Berry - Promised Land [MCA]
Chuck Berry - Nadine [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Memphis Tennessee [Virgin]
Chuck Berry - Let It Rock [Geffen]
THE CHUCK BERRY STORY - 3. EPISODE 3 (320kbs-m4a/62mb/27mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 20th April 2017
Chuck Berry, who died on 18th March 2017 aged 90, was a pioneering and highly influential singer, songwriter and guitarist. Known as the Shakespeare of rock 'n' roll, he was also one of its founding fathers. There's another chance to hear a 6-part series first broadcast in 2003, presented by Who vocalist and Berry fan, Roger Daltrey.
Part 3 recalls more of Berry's influences, including Nat King Cole's Calypso Blues, which inspired Berry's Havana Moon, which in turn inspired the rock'n'roll classic Louie Louie. Plus a look at Berry's touring with the likes of Fats Domino and Frankie Lymon and the appeal of his lyrics for teenagers. First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in 2003.
Nat King Cole - Calypso Blues [Capitol]
Chuck Berry - Havana Moon [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Drifting Heart [Chess]
Richard Berry & The Pharoahs - Louie Louie [Ace]
Chuck Berry - Wee Wee Hours [Ace]
Chuck Berry - Down Bound Train [Chess]
Elvis Presley - Maybelline [BGR]
Chuck Berry - Guitar Boogie [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Roll Over Beethoven [Telstar]
Chuck Berry - Brown Eyed Handsome Man [MCA]
Chuck Berry - Too Much Monkey Business [BMG]
THE CHUCK BERRY STORY - 2. EPISODE 2 (320kbs-m4a/62mb/27mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 19th April 2017
Chuck Berry, who died on 18th March 2017 aged 90, was a pioneering and highly influential singer, songwriter and guitarist. Known as the Shakespeare of rock 'n' roll, he was also one of its founding fathers. There's another chance to hear a 6-part series first broadcast in 2003, presented by Who vocalist and Berry fan, Roger Daltrey.
Part 2 recalls Chuck's upbringing in St Louis, Missouri, a rare recording of the Cubans, a few of his greatest "car" songs and Maybellene. First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in 2003.
Chuck Berry - Johnny B Goode [Sanctuary]
Chuck Berry - St. Louis Blues
Louis Jordan - Ain't That Just Like A Woman [Coolnote]
Tommy Dorsey Orchestra - Boogie Woogie [MCA Coral]
Chuck Berry - My Mustang Ford [Chess]
Chuck Berry - I Want To Be Your Driver [Chess]
Chuck Berry - No Particular Place To Go [Telstar]
Chuck Berry - You Can't Catch Me [MCA]
Chuck Berry - Jaguar And Thunderbird [MCA]
Chuck Berry - Thirty Days [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Blue Feeling [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Oh Maria [Bear Family]
Muddy Waters - I Got My Mojo Working [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Wee Wee Hours [Ace]
Bob Wills - Ida Red [Flame]
Chuck Berry - Maybelline [Chess]
Nat King Cole - Calypso Blues [Capitol]
THE CHUCK BERRY STORY - 1. EPISODE 1 (320kbs-m4a/62mb/27mins)
BBC Radio 6 Music broadcast: 18th April 2017
Chuck Berry, who died on 18th March 2017 aged 90, was a pioneering and highly influential singer, songwriter and guitarist. Known as the Shakespeare of rock 'n' roll, he was one of its founding fathers. There's another chance to hear a 6-part series first broadcast in 2003, presented by Who vocalist and Berry fan, Roger Daltrey. This first episode offers a look at Chuck's seminal 50s Chess recordings and his enormous significance for British acts. First broadcast on BBC Radio 2 in 2003.
Chuck Berry - Johnny B Goode [Universal]
The Beatles - Rock And Roll Music [Parlophone]
Chuck Berry - Carol [Castle Communications]
Chuck Berry - Sweet Little Sixteen [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Back In The USA [Music Club]
Chuck Berry - School Day [Music Club]
Chuck Berry - Reelin' And Rockin' [Chess]
Chuck Berry - Little Queenie [Chess]
Chuck Berry - No Money Down [Music Club]
Chuck Berry - Almost Grown [MCA]