Crawling through the internet I stumbled over a song I didn't listen to for ages. Johnny Vortex by Steve Gibbons Band was one of my favourites outside the punk/new wave sound. Steve Gibbons was almost 20 years on stage when he got a little famous in the late 70's for transmitting the sound of pub rock and rock and roll into a new era. Listening to covered songs by Chuck Berry, Bob Kelly and also his own songs were and are still a pleasure. Probably one of the best musicians/artists in his very own space of music in days long gone by.
Sadly the news arrived that there will be no duckwalk here on earth. Chuck Berry died last night at the age of 91. Not that I am a big fan from him I grew up with his early songs like No particular way to go and You never can tell. I also know that many guitar players references Chuck's guitar playing for creating their own sound. You all can read that his influence in Rock 'n' Roll is immense but for me he made some timeless little songs telling short stories of life. Berrys succinct lyrics were an important part of his art, in the group with the suggestive music they unfolded her fascination strength. Possibly in the song "Memphis, Tennessee": He begins like a normal love story in which a man wants to find out the phone number of a girl called Marie with the information. Then becomes slowly evident that it concerns a bitter separation history, and the father wants to speak only once with his 6-year-old daughter, before he never again sees again them. Perfect dramaturgy in form and contents, timeless pop. An effect from duration: Still in 1994 Uma Thurman and John Travolta twist in Quentin Tarantinos "Pulp Fiction" not possibly "Let's twist Again "by Chubby Checker, seperately to Chuck Berrys" You Never Can Tell" from 1964.
This track is from the legendary Ronnie Hawkins and it's based on a track originally from Chuck Berry. You can follow his career by clicking the link to Wikipedia. For me it's just another little masterpiece in Rockabilly. His cousin is Dale Hawkins, who gave us the wonderful Suzie Q.
Ronnie Hawkins and the Hawks - 40 Days
