Even at the age of 90, Chuck Berry’s rock’n’roll energy refused to dim. Shortly after the pioneer’s death last Saturday, 18 March, his family announced that there would be new material available soon.
And now we get to hear some of it in the form of Bad Boys, the first single to be taken from his album CHUCK. Featuring the same thundering rock’n’roll riff that kickstarted his classic 1958 track Johnny B. Goode, it’s the sound of a man who knew what he was great at and was quite content to continue being great at it.
“When I was just a little boy like you, I wanted to do the things the big boys do,” sings Chuck over rollicking pianos and buzzing guitar, in what is quite possibly not an ode to getting a National Insurance number.
Big Boys is one of 10 songs (and eight originals) that make up CHUCK, his first album since 1979’s Rock It. Some of the songs date back to the 1980s, but the majority of work on the album was undertaken in the last three years, despite Berry’s ill health.
The album will feature contributions from his children, with Charles Berry Jr on guitar and Ingrid Berry on harmonica and vocals. His long-serving backing band – bassist Jimmy Marsala, pianist Bob Lohr and drummer Keith Robinson – all play on the record.
“Working on my dad’s record has been one of the best experiences of my life,” said Charles Jr. “I will forever treasure the musical conversations we had, and the time we spent together completing it.”
CHUCK will be released on 16 June through Dualtone/Decca. The full tracklisting is as follows:
Wonderful Woman
Big Boys
You Go To My Head
3/4 Time (Enchiladas)
Darlin’
Lady B. Goode
She Still Loves You
Jamaica Moon
Dutchman
Eyes of Man.
