Chuck Berry
The Great Twenty-Eight

THE REVIEW

"If you tried to give Rock n' Roll another name, you might call it Chuck Berry"
John Lennon


It was the 1950s in America.
The air of revolution was in the air, both socially and musically. In that extraordinary and fascinating era, called the "Good Old Fifties'", the revolution was knocking at the doors, and that revolution was called Rock N' Roll.

Rock N' Roll is a genre that has marked (and marks) a very important era, where music becomes a form of protest and a stance taken by the young. Long hair, sideburns, and smoke began to enter the lives of the ever more modern youth, seen as real criminals by the old conservative generation. Rock N' Roll is an antidote to adults, Rock N' Roll is a precious friend that comforts thousands of teenagers, giving them courage, urging them to take off the tie and plaid shirt and let their hair down. In short, it is the music that encourages living like adolescents.

A fundamental album to introduce the listener to the musical journey of the 50s is undoubtedly "The Great Twenty Eight", by the great "Guitar king of Rock N' Roll," Chuck Berry.
This musician studied guitar from a young age, driven by an innate passion for the blues, and he had the opportunity to perfect the technique of the "guitar double-stop": his personal invention that is the root and base of modern rock.

Berry does not come from a particularly poor family and, aside from some unpleasant episodes of racism and time in jail, he managed to carve out considerable media space. His hits are now famous all over the world, as are his endless accolades. In his brilliant lyrics, in his very rhythmic and classic melodies, Berry takes us on a time machine, to an idyllic America full of Cadillacs, or to a railway full of thirsty and hungry workers. The descriptiveness of the Chuck Berry song is impressive, resulting in a wonderful picture, as telling as a photograph.

To know Chuck Berry's biggest hits, my advice is to purchase "The Great Twenty Eight," which is certainly one of those albums that cannot be missing from the respectable collection of a connoisseur. The catchy "Maybellene," the very satirical "Roll over Beethoven," the unique "Johnny B. Goode," and many dozens of others are the songs that defined an era, which the good old octogenarian Chuck still plays around the world, with extraordinary energy, just like in the old days.


"Hail Hail Rock N' Roll
Delivered me from the days of old
Long live Rock N' Roll
Feeling is there, body and soul!!"
Chuck Berry, School days

__________________________
Francesco


P.S

I'll link a video of Chuck as an attachment! (Roll over Beethoven, 1965)