Chuck Berry has said that he might record a new album in the spring. Now 80 years old, he will be the oldest rock'n'roller to ever release an album of rock'n'roll, a new milestone. Chuck Berry is the most influential artist in the history of rock. He has had over 200 of his songs covered by other artists. He is the single biggest influence on The Beach Boys, and also a big inspiration for The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. But we are now in 2007. The world is a vastly different place from the world in 1955. What would he write about today? His classic songs were jubilant, rebellious celebrations of American teen culture from the mid-fifties to the mid-sixties. But his last chart hit, the 1972 novelty song, "My Ding-a-Ling", was not really in touch with the times, although it has a certain charm. His last studio album, "Rock it", was released by Atco in 1979. I hope he'll succeed!

This could be really interesting. I wonder what sort of music has been an influence on him since 1979? Or maybe he'll be a bit more bluesy and traditional?

I've seen him live seven times and he always plays a little blues in his set, so maybe that will be his approach.

Whatever he releases would be welcome just to hear what an 80 year old rock and roll survivor would have to say. As Googa mentioned above, this would be a milestone for a performer, but it would also be a milestone for fans of rock and roll.
I'd take a stab and say that it would not be one of those albums with several guest performers contributing, a la the Jerry Lee Lewis album (though fantastic) given Berry's history of not enjoying sharing the spotlight, but part of me would love to hear another Berry/Keith Richards collaboration!
However it turns out, and all of my speculation aside, I am looking forward to hearing any new Chuck Berry! Please keep us posted, and thanks for sharing the news!

Steve In Louisville

Count me in along with those who would love to see a new Chuck Berry album.

I saw him live at BB King's in New York last June... here's the setlist, for those who might be interested.

1) Roll Over Beethoven

2) School Day

3) Sweet Little Sixteen - introduced as "a sweet one."

4) Every Day I Have The Blues - during this song he introduced his son, who was playing guitar: "This is my son, his mother is still my wife, and I'm proud of him."

After he finished this one he said "In October, I'll be 80," to which the audience responded with cheers and applause. (At the time of the performance, Chuck was only four months away from his 80th birthday. For the sake of comparison, Frank Sinatra's last live performance, February 1995, was ten months prior to his 80th.)

5) Unfortunately, I was not familiar with this song and can't tell you what it was. He introduced it with "Here's one from Missouri." It was kind of a bluesy number with light, upbeat lyrics: the last line was "a woman whose software matches this hard drive of mine."

6) Let It Rock

7) Carol - segues into...

8) Little Queenie - segues back to...

9) Carol - ended cold "that's it!"

10) Memphis

11) It Hurts Me Too - introduced with "this is the blues."

12) Around And Around

13) My Ding-A-Ling

Afterwards he pointed to someone in one of the front rows and said "this man helps me remember these suckers."

14) Rock And Roll Music

15) Johnny B. Goode - yes, he duckwalked!

16) Reelin' And Rockin' - he asked for six girls to come up on stage and dance while he did the number, but at least 10 came up there...

and while they danced, Chuck left the stage.

Hey... I'd be happy for an album of newly-recorded versions of his hits... I enjoy the Mercury re-recordings he did in the 1960s, and I think a collection of his hits recorded in 2007 would be interesting.

This would, of course, be in addition to totally new songs...

...and in addition to an expanded, re-mastered CD of Hail Hail Rock And Roll...

I can imagine a "Chuck Berry and Friends" type release, with a bunch of superstars teaming up with Berry on remakes of his classic songs. Everybody's doing it these days.

I totally agree. If fact, I'll bet this is the only way it gets made, a la Jerry Lee and John Lee Hooker. No matter how independent he is, he still has to have a producers and company's backing.

This is one comeback album that I'm REALLY looking forward to hearing.

Very welcome news!

It's finally on the horizon:


http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ ... rs-w445376

WOWOWOWOWOW!!! Great news. I've been waiting for the follow-up to Rock It for all these decades. Heck. I'm almost 90 now.

Amazing that the progenitor of the whole rock & roll genre is still with us, when so many others are gone.

There's Chuck, Jerry Lee and Little Richard. Am I missing anyone?

Fats Domino

Yep. My apologies to Fats for forgetting him.

Will he tour to support the album?

Okay, okay... I'm just verbally misbehaving there. But I'm thrilled that this is going to be a reality.

It's amazing that when Hail Hail Rock N Roll came out, everyone was going all gaga that Chuck Berry was (omygawd) SIXTY years old! Today, thanks to the passage of time, a still-active rock star turning 60 is not newsworthy. Heck, Bruce Springsteen is 67 and nobody thinks of him as old (although in this context, Springsteen might be an extreme example).

As a guitarist and songwriter Chuck Berry could quite possibly be the single most important figure in the history of Rock in terms on influence. Unfortunately as a person he is also quite possibly the least likeable.

Don't know much about the last half of that but certainly the first half is an understatement.
He opened the first FZ concert I ever saw back in 1971. He was very drunk but put on the finest opening act I have ever seen. My theory is each writer has a limited number of songs in their head and he ran dry but not after putting out more, many more quality rock n roll tunes than anyone in history.
he is a one of a kind act. I hope he is around at 190 years old.

I think that Roger Waters and David Crosby would give him a good run for the least likable person in rock and roll.

There's Dion DiMucci, who managed to avoid getting on the plane that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper. And he's still making vital, vibrant music to this day.

Don Everly, but sadly not Phil.

Wanda Jackson too who was once billed as the female Elvis and one of the lesser Sun stars, Sonny Burgess.