Chuck Berry was one of the architects of rock ’n’ roll, although his biggest hit was the innuendo-heavy Seventies novelty song My Ding-a-Ling.
Fortunately, this posthumous release evokes his Fifties heyday, even if he wasn’t quite capable of the same quick-fire riffs and raw vocals in his old age. Berry’s first album in four decades is a family affair that features his children and a grandson in the backing band.
His wife of 68 years is honoured with the heartfelt boogie-woogie of Wonderful Woman and Lady B Goode, a reworking of the classic Johnny B Goode.
Berry continued to tour into his late eighties, and he still sounds hungry on the rollicking rock ’n’ roll of Big Boys and the valedictory blues of Dutchman.
A generous parting gift from one of the greats.
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(Dualtone/Decca)
