Back in the late 1950s, Chuck Berry was one of the more exciting and quoted names in the birth of Rock and Roll music at this time. Without question, he propelled guitar-based music to a more respected and understood form of household appreciation, which has more or less remained to this day. This is Chuck Berry’s third release, and quite possibly, his most important album as well. Let’s hear this historical release, often seen as a classic in the early guitar-based music scene. It is also quite short at merely around half an hour-long, so it should be a quick and valuable listen.

Almost Grown begins with some basic singing, clanging guitar, upbeat piano and some simple music from a much simpler time. The lyrics are very basic, but the whole thing sounds very simple, pretty and wonderful. It is rather catchy, too. A great mixture of music and performance, Chuck Berry and his band know how to knock out a groove. There is a very nice sounding guitar solo which sounds very sweet. This music still stands tall, and it sounds very pretty and vibrant. The piano towards the end is also very vibrant. Nice tune to begin with.

Carol begins with some gorgeous Rock and Roll guitar playing, some joyful singing and a nice uptempo Rocking groove. This does sound very pretty and lovely and is an excellent example of musicianship. A really enjoyable and decent listen, this is a classic tune in its own right. Great lyrics and brilliant music, the guitar solo here is well played and very brilliant. Chuck Berry definitely knew how to impress people at the time, and this song is no exception. Very nice and upbeat music, this would have been covered many times, no doubt. The rolling drums throughout make this a great listen, all the way to the fade-out.

Maybellene begins with some loud guitar, uptempo beats and a loud punchy, tune. It is a fun listen about women and cars, which is a very retro sounding piece today. It does sound great and is very much traditional Rock and Roll music. Great music to hear, it just delivers very well. A short and sweet tune, this does sound very magical and uptempo listening throughout. A good and memorable piece of music.

Sweet Little Rock ‘N’ Roller begins with some very blues/country licks and sounds impressive. This song is joyful and expressive, although it is a simpler tune to listen to. Another straightforward, yet enjoyable piece of music from the late 1950s, the guitar solo on this one is very, very good. This sounds pretty and expressive, it is a gorgeous and supercharged piece of music. Less than three minutes long, these songs never lose their appeal. A great listen throughout, although highly minimal by today’s standards.

Anthony Boy is less than two minutes long. It is a bit of an oddity in Chuck Berry’s catalogue and isn’t the best song on this album. Still, it does sound cheerful and upbeat and is a pretty and impressive sound regardless. The clean guitar solo sounds euphoric and magical regardless. A good piece, although not a great one about school days. Interesting listening regardless.

Johnny B. Goode is the legendary Chuck Berry song that is accepted as a Rock and Roll classic. It begins with some great Rock and Roll riffing, before launching straight into another upbeat classic song. It is a true classic of musical standards and sounds great to this day. Even The Beatles covered this one, and it just sounds really great. An energetic and uplifting piece of music, this sounds really excellent. The guitar solo and the piano work here are impressive and outstanding, both complement each other on this recording. Classic tune, and definitely worth hearing. Excellent listening and straightforward music to hear.

Little Queenie is next and sounds like another swinging uptempo Rock and Roll number. It is catchy, well performed and unique. A really cool tune, this does sound uptempo and awesome, just nicely delivered. Stories of teenage love are here, but still, this sounds like something that young and fun-loving people will enjoy. A really cool piece of music, this fits well on this album. Nice effort by Chuck Berry. Great tune from start to finish.

Jo Jo Gunne comes afterwards, and this one seems a little throwaway, except for the drumming and energy of this piece. In any case, this once again fits the record very well. A nice piece of music, these songs still sound as powerful and earth moving as they did back in 1959. A good tune from this era, Rock and Roll was here to stay. There are some interesting drum fills and guitar work regardless, and this does sound excellent. A fine effort, this is awesome stuff. Nice music.

Roll Over Beethoven was later (again) covered by The Beatles quite famously. This is a golden oldie and a fantastic upbeat piece of music that does sound excellent. The lyrics, music and fast pace sound really cool. A refreshing and interesting piece about how things had changed since the days of classical music, this is a proven winner. Enjoyable, positive and supercharged, Chuck Berry could definitely impress. Great song and effort here. A nice and enjoyable listen from start to finish. Awesome stuff.

Around And Around is an interesting and cool listen from the start. This is fairly simple music, but impressive nonetheless. This is a good and enjoyable crowd making number from the 1950s that Chuck Berry could perform wonderfully. There is a very nice instrumental section in the middle of the song, proving that both Chuck Berry and his band could nail these tunes. A great and timeless listen, this does sound very pretty and classy. Even for a lesser number, this sounds instantly great. A good tune, like all the others here. Nice work.

Hey Pedro is a short piece of music with a Spanish introduction and a strange set of beats and percussion on it. This is an unusual one from Chuck Berry, it is a Latin-American styled take on Salsa/Samba style music, and is entertaining, although maybe not that necessary here on this album. A wonderful listen regardless, this is an oddity on this album. Good work.

Blues For Hawaiians is the last song on this album and the only song that wasn’t released as a single or B-Side prior to being packaged on this album. It begins with some interesting slide guitar and a slow downtempo groove, sounding rather odd. It’s enjoyable though. It just sounds like the sort of thing that a lazy holiday would need to produce musically. No words sung, just a slow groove and slide guitar present on this one. Very enjoyable, however. This is a pleasant musical piece that really didn’t need to be on this album but still sounds interesting anyway. Anyway, a good finish to an impressive record that people ought to seek out more often. Nice tuneful work, it just sounds enjoyable. Great to hear.

This is not the greatest album of all time, but despite that, this was a real game-changer back in 1959. The music on this album is fairly consistent and well-performed, even if at times it can be very much the same thing. Chuck Berry made his name very well here, and Johnny B. Goode in particular is a golden oldie. If you want to hear a bit of history, start here. A very, very good listening experience.

Simple yet fun.

8/10