Agreed. Any fan of Berry knows several songs have a similar sound at times. But he gets a pass because he was the first to CREATE that sound. Imagine rock guitar with the single string sound and without the double that Berry created. That’s why other famous groups copied or borrowed or covered his riffs and licks, and began writing lyrics that weren’t just the typical 50s lovey-dovey stuff. 👏🏻 Just ask the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Beach Boys, The Eagles, John Lennon, etc. 😃 Berry said he learned from previous artists from the 40s, but he just took it to a new level and brand new sound. He also helped integrate music and radio and concerts forever. 👍
OK, I just bought the greatest hits collection last week and had the *exact* same reaction. Especially with "School Day" and "No Particular Place to Go" and some of the others you mention. There's a lot to be said for having a "signature" sound (you can immediately tell if a song was written by Chuck Berry), but some of this stuff is just plain all recycling. Oh well, I still do like the records.
@joemoe23 well, most people talk about his guitar playing, his soloing for being influential, and for bringing riffs to the forefront, not for musical creativity, and for me most of his songs were covered in better versions, the stones have the best carol, the beatles the best roll over beethoven and rock'n'roll music, the yardbirds the best Too Much Monkey Business and so on and so on. since those bands sound very different they make chucks music much more diverse. his best is johnny b goode.
Not even true. Chuck made the blueprint for how to write and perform rock and roll songs. He would usually use the same intro sounds and then the rest of the song will be different. Ive listened to his entire discography from 1950s to 70's. Elvis's songs "Dont Be Cruel" and "Paralyzed" are very similar. I love Elvis's music, but he cant compare to Chuck.
that riff from johhny isnt his. The guitar intro came from the Louis Jordan song "Ain't That Just Like A Woman." Jordan was a very influential R&B singer and a huge influence on Berry. So all his songs sound the same and are basically rythms taken from other people and modified. if these songs never got heard who knows what would have happened. The point is: Everyone does take inspiration from something!! Its all a copy of a copy.
