R.I.P. CHUCK BERRY!!!

[Henry]

Don't look so sad, I know it's over.
But life goes on, and this old world will keep on turning.
Let's just be glad we had some time to spend together.
There's no need to watch the bridges that we're burning.

For the Good Times

[Richard Harvey]

Although this wasn't entirely unexpected, I barely slept last night thinking about it. Who'd have thought a few years back that both Little Richard and Fats Domino would out live Chuck Berry?!

It'd odd they haven't gone public with a proper release date. I'd hate to think they're waiting for the extra publicity of an obituary to push sales up.

Richard wrote the above less than 3 weeks ago... No doubt the "new" album will be rush-released now, something I'm excited about despite the immense sadness of Chuck not being around to enjoy it.

Chuck always had a air of immortality about him. He was always the fittest and most lithe of all the legends, despite being the oldest. I heard the news last night, I'd just finished playing a gig with a celtic punk band, and the owner of the venue put Chuck's greatest hits on.
What can you say? We've all grown up with Chuck's music, enjoyed his shows, winced at the bum notes and cheered the rocking and duck-walking. I'll cherish the memories of the shows I saw and the brief meetings with him, but most of all, continue to enjoy his music.
Luckily, last night, I had one of the Hip-O-Select boxes in my van, I'd been listening to it last week, and I played it as I drove home in the early hours.

He meant a lot to a lot of us here, especially Wolfie. Isn't it wonderful there's to be new music from him soon?

[Rocky]

The new album is set for June release.

[martin bates]

I won't re-post the whole piece - but thanks for sharing that Peter Guralnick article, Ian.

Martin.

[wolfgangguhl]

"Once in Persia reigned a king who upon his royal ring carved these words so true and wise
Which when held before his eyes gave him counsel at a glance of his life of changing chance
Solemn words and these are they: "Even this shall pass away"
Trains of camels through the sand brought him gems from Samarkand
Fleets of galleys through the sea brought him pearls to match with thee
But he counted not his gain nor his treasure, mine or main
"What is wealth ?", the king would say, "Even this shall pass away"
In the revel of his court, at the zenith of his sport
When the palms of all his guests burned with clapping at his zest
He among his figs and wine would cry, "Oh, loving friends of mine
Pleasures may come, but they cannot stay, like even this shall pass away ?"
The most beautiful woman ever seen was the bride he chose his queen
Pillowed on their royal bed, whispering to her soul he said:
"Though a bridegroom never pressed dearer bosom to his chest
But mortal flesh must come to clay and even these shall pass away"
Towering over the village square, thirty meters in the air
Rose his statue, carved in stone, as the king stood there alone
Gazing at his sculptured name, said to himself, "So what is fame ?
Fame, it's but slow decay, even this shall pass away"
Fighting furiously on a battlefield, once a javelin pierced his shield
Soldiers with a loud lament bore him bleeding to his tent
Groaning from his tortured side, "Pain is hard to bear", he cried
"Oh, but with patience day by day, even this shall pass away"
Sick and sore with cancer; weak and tired and old, just minutes yet to go to pass the gates o' gold
Spake he with his dying breath, "Life is done, so what is death ?"
Then in answer to the king fell a sunbeam on his ring
Reflecting words he failed to say: "Even this shall pass away"

Chuck Berry.
`Pass Away` from his last released studio album `Rock It` . 1979

[wolfgangguhl]

"Since Chuck’s passing on Saturday, the Berry family has received many inquiries from friends, fans and media about the status of his forthcoming album CHUCK, which was originally announced on his 90th birthday, October 18, 2016.

Working to prepare the release of this record in recent months and in fact over the last several years brought Chuck a great sense of joy and satisfaction. While our hearts are very heavy at this time, we know that Chuck had no greater wish than to see this album released to the world, and we know of no better way to celebrate and remember his 90 years of life than through his music.

For months now plans have been in place, and preparations have been made with our friends at Dualtone Records, to reveal further details and music from the album this week. As a tribute to Chuck Berry, and with gratitude to his fans around the world, we will be following through on those plans in the coming days."

www.chuckberry.com

[wolfgangguhl]

Chuck Berry's music sales explode after his death Saturday
http://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/m ... 44da3.html

[wolfgangguhl]

Little Richard on Chuck Berry's Death: 'I Lost One of My Best Friends In Music'
http://www.billboard.com/articles/colum ... th-tribute

[wolfgangguhl]

Previously unreleased material (professionally filmed in 2003):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3YXiWaT07Y

[Richard Harvey]

The first single's out... I'm pleased to report you can click it without worrying ;]

http://dualtone.com/chuck_berry

[Richard Harvey]

It's a duet, someone else starts singing the last verse, and that's not Chuck playing the last solo. Anyone know who it is?

It's great. It's a fun rocker along the theme of becoming an adult, which he's sung about before. There's even a bit of French in there, he did that lots. I've played it four or five times, and I love it! It sounds better produced than the Rock It sessions, and there's no double-tracking vocals that kind of spoiled that album a little bit. I'd love to know when it was recorded. He does sound older than other studio recordings we've got of him, but he still sounds great.

[PeterC]

It's a duet, someone else starts singing the last verse, and that's not Chuck playing the last solo. Anyone know who it is?

It's great. It's a fun rocker along the theme of becoming an adult, which he's sung about before. There's even a bit of French in there, he did that lots. I've played it four or five times, and I love it! It sounds better produced than the Rock It sessions, and there's no double-tracking vocals that kind of spoiled that album a little bit. I'd love to know when it was recorded. He does sound older than other studio recordings we've got of him, but he still sounds great.

Love it!! The kind of thing he should've been releasing over the past decades.

It's also on youtube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8Zoh-apWRE

[PeterC]

Previously unreleased material (professionally filmed in 2003):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3YXiWaT07Y

Gloriously shambolic, with Chuckles having a ball!

[wolfgangguhl]

Regarding the album: It is surely going to be great, but it was recorded around 2001 - 2002, at a time when Chuck was 74 - 76 years old, with only little details (overdubs, guitar licks) that might have been added later. So much for the energetic 90-year-old that the press now reports about...

[PeterC]

Could the overdubbed vocal and guitar be CBII?