London HLM 9159 (original UK release) UK, 8. July 1960
Words & Music by: Side A – Chuck Berry; Side B – Chuck Berry
Musicians: Chuck Berry (vocals and lead
guitar on side A, steel guitar on side B), Matthew Murphy (guitar), Lafayette Leake (piano), Willie Dixon (upright bass), Odie Payne (drums)
Recording sessions: Produced by
Leonard and Phil Chess at Ter-Mar Records Studio, Chicago, IL; Side A – 29.
March 1960; Side B - 12. April 1960
Highest chart positions: This didn’t chart
This one has a bit of lesser-known material from Chuck Berry. Teen pop and artists like Frankie Avalon were in the mainstream by this time and Berry had a struggle in getting his singles up in the charts. His lawsuit, where he was sentenced to 5 years in prison in Mach 1960 (hence the song “Bye Bye Johnny”?) didn’t really help in the effort of regaining his success. He appealed the trial’s decision and finally served in prison from February 1962 to October 1963.
The US release of “Bye Bye Johnny” (Chess 1754, May 1960) had “Worried Life Blues” on the flip side, whereas “Mad Lad” was released as the B-side of “I Got To Find My Baby” (Chess 1763, August 1960). Neither of these two singles hit the charts.
A great blues guitarist, Matt “Guitar” Murphy worked with Berry on this one and provided a cracking rhythm with his guitar, especially on side A.
List price: UK release is not in the catalog. These have been sold in eBay for 18-23 euros. I paid 15 euros for this in Stockholm, Sweden (the plastic sleeve still has the price tag).
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