• Track Listing

Bear Family has always wanted to put out a Chuck Berry comp. Now, after all the others have tried, Bear Family—arguably the ultimate archival reissue label—emerges with the ultimate Chuck Berry compilation. Behold: here you will find every single side and LP track, starting with a rare pre-Chess single with Joe Alexander from 1954. You’ll find all his legendary Chess recordings—the singles and albums from 1955–66 and 1969–74—as well as all the Mercury recordings, the Atco album, every surviving alternate take and live performances from 1956–72. In his exclusive introduction, Paul McCartney provides historical perspective and loving nostalgia about the arrival and lasting impact of Chuck’s sound, songs and guitar work. The two hardcover books (356 pages in a clothbound slipcase) feature recently discovered photos from Chuck’s uncle; you’ll see a young, relaxed Chuck performing at blues hotspots in and around St. Louis and hanging out with friends and family. Chuck’s biographer Bruce Pegg provides a definitive essay, which joins a comprehensive discography to go along with hundreds of published and unpublished photos (check out those stellar 1964 photos by Jean-Marie Perrier). Track one (as it should be): his 1955 breakthrough "Maybellene;" after that: "You Can’t Catch Me," "Brown Eyed Handsome Man," "Too Much Monkey Business," "Johnny B. Goode," "Roll Over Beethoven," "Little Queenie," "Oh Maria" (with Joe Alexander); the instrumentals "Guitar Boogie," "Night Beat," "Long Fast Jam," "Ingo," "Blue on Blue," "Mad Lad," "Woodpecker," "After It’s Over," "Liverpool Drive," "Chuck’s Beat" and "Blues for Hawaiians;" the demo of "Rock and Roll Music" (and the master); "Sweet Little Rock and Roller;" alternate takes of "Rock Cradle Rock," "Route 66," "Come On" and "It Wasn’t Me," live versions of "School Day," "Memphis," "Maybellene," "Johnny B. Goode," "Dust My Broom," "Too Much Monkey Business," "C.C. Rider," "It Hurts Me Too," "Reelin’ & Rockin’," "My Ding-A-Ling," "Nadine" and all the rest plus audio interviews and commercials starring Chuck. "If you tried to give rock ’n’ roll another name, you might call it ‘Chuck Berry’," John Lennon said; in that sense, what we have here is the most complete portrait of rock ’n’ roll ever presented! Bear Family.