Chuck Berry spent much of 1962 and all of 1963 in jail after being convicted on a Mann Act charge. When he emerged in January of 1964, the popular music landscape had been forever changed by the British Invasion. Fortunately artists like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones worshipped the founding father of rock 'n' roll. [The stones included "Carol" on their 1964 debut, and the Beatles included a cover of "Roll Over Beethoven" the same year on their second U.S. album.] Berry used this momentum to go into the studio to cut one of the strongest albums of his career. In addition to the hits "No Particular Place to Go" (No. 10), "You Never Can Tell" (No. 14), and "Little Marie" (a sequel to "Memphis" that went to No. 54), it also includes the standard "Promised Land." To some extent, this is Berry's final hurrah. A year after the album's release, he turns forty, and the elder statesman of rock seems to have lost much of his drive. He has one final hit (the double entendre novelty song "My Ding-A Ling" goes No. 1 in 1972), but by then Berry seems content to spend the remainder of his career on the oldies circuit. But ST. LOUIS TO LIVERPOOL is classic Berry, and it's made even better with the addition of three bonus tracks: "Fraulein,""The Little Girl From Central" and "O'Rangutang." If you need proof that Berry was still a vital artist after the British Invasion, this album proves it beyond a doubt. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED [Steve Vrana] 
This may be rock 's first great comeback album. Released in 1964 in the ecstasy of the early British Invasion , St. Louis To Liverpool captures the middle -aged Chuck Berry doing what he did best : pounding out song after song of relentless rock ' n' roll brilliance without much regard for anything else . Chuck had the repute Just been released from prison When He recorded this music Seems To add to the urgency , the sense of release That You can feel on every One Of These tracks . His guitar playing is unbelievably athletic , an exhilerating string of notes That ties together blues, country, and R & B to form That beautiful package called rock ' n' roll (okay , That was cheesy . But you get the point) . The disc Also benefits from a crisp , clear production That lets you hear every nuance of Berry's gorgeous playing and singing , as well as the delicious contours of Johnnie Johnson's barroom floor. The songs are some of the best in the Entire Chuck Berry catalog: Opener " Little Marie " brilliantly sets the peace , With its churning guitars , a strutting rhythm section , and a nearly hypnotic vocal . Also that song was one of the album 's three hit singles . The other two are just as good : " No Particular Place To Go" recycles the stop-start melody of earlier Berry's " School Days , " throwing in some hilarious lyrics for good measure . " You Never Can Tell " ( Which Was used quite mrmorably in Pulp Fiction) Chuck Proves That was one of rock ' n' roll 's greatest storytellers , and includes some smokin ' guitars and pianos For Those of you who do not speak Inglese ( how would you even be reading this review ?) . The album tracks are marvelous as well- " Our Little Rendezvous" is an endearingly greasy rocker with a hillbilly backbeat and lyrics That blackberries grow progressivly bizarre as the song goes on . " The Promised Land " is every bit as joyous and exuberant as " Johnny B. Goode, " and " You Two" is a delicious , swingin 'number with an incredible guitar solo . Covers of "Things I Used To Do" and "Merry Christmas Baby" show how Chuck was adept at playing the blues -he attacks the songs with some stinging guitar acrobatics and soulful vocals . " Liverpool Drive" is a high-speed instrumental pounder with a great burger - joint atmosphere. The album 's other instrumental, "Night Beat, " is a slow- burning blues rocker That Really burns . " Brenda Lee, " With its sumptuous guitar fills and thundering drums , is icing on the cake. [Laszlo Matyas] "Ridin' along in my automobile
My baby beside me at the wheel
I stole a kiss at the turn of a mile
My curiosity runnin' wild
Cruisin' and playin' the radio
With No Particular Place To Go."
My baby beside me at the wheel
I stole a kiss at the turn of a mile
My curiosity runnin' wild
Cruisin' and playin' the radio
With No Particular Place To Go."
One of his best + bonus cuts. Dig!!!
