Great Twenty Eight [Best of]

It's a shame that Chuck Berry is not universally recognized as one of the greatest rock lyricists and most innovative figures. This CD will convince even skeptics of his brilliance. Without Chuck Berry, there would be no Beatles, Rolling Stones or Kinks, or at least in the forms they eventually took.

This CD contains all of Berry's original recordings, pristine and beautifully remastered. Who can deny that his way with words was umatched: "He never, ever learned to read or write so well, but he could play a guitar just like a-ringing a bell..." It's a tragedy that most people have grown up listening to inferior musicians do paltry cover versions of the songs Berry wrote and performed better than anyone else.

This set is an absolutely essential component of any collection, of any genre. Chuck Berry was a pioneer with words and music and his influence is sorely underestimated today. Had Chuck Berry been born white, he would be regarded as a rock God instead of being neglected and virtually forgotten in many circles. These 28 magnificent songs just about cover his catalogue of hits. This is a great sampling, but incomplete, so if you want to experience Berry's real genius, branch off into his lesser known songs. But for the money, this one rocks!

THE GOOD: You get CB's big hits here. These include, but are not limited to Maybellene, Roll Over Beethoven, School Day, Rock And Roll Music, Sweet Little Sixteen, Johnny B. Goode, and No Particular Place To Go. In addition you get other lesser-known tracks that are also excellent.

THE BAD: There is only one reason I didn't give this compilation five stars. It makes a mistake many other CB hits compilations make - The omission of the Christmas songs (meaning Run Rudolph Run, one of my favorite CB songs, isn't here.) Also, this compilation is out of print, meaning it ain't easy to find.

OVERALL: Despite minor shortcomings, this is THE BEST single-disc CB hits compilation out there. I recommend it over the two-disc anthology, even. However, due to the fact that it's tough to find, you may be better off just getting that one instead. Or, better yet, shell out the extra money and get the three-disc Chess Box instead. It's surprisingly affordable and worth the extra cash.