A Chuck Berry production from 1969. Concerto in “B Goode” would be the final album for the artist on Mercury Records. Since signing to the label only a few years prior, Chuck experimented with production techniques and tweaks to his established formula.
The Album
The album appears unusual at first glance, because it only contains five songs: Four on side A and a long song on side B.
The opening song, “Good Looking Woman”, is a typical uptempo track characteristic of the artist that gets the foot tapping. With the mix of guitar and harmonica underneath Chuck’s prominent vocals, it is a sound I never tire of. The only downside is the excessive use of reverb in places. The rest of this side is more mellow in mood, with a little funk infused in. It’s Too Dark in There is a basic Rhythm and Blues number featuring a pleasing Wah style guitar motif bubbling over the top of the motif.
The B side is taken up with the fascinating Concerto in B Goode, an 18-minute experimental instrumental that sounds like it had a basic template with much improvisation. I’m finding it hard to find the words to describe this one, because it really can only be explained internally when it is heard! Chuck utilises a mixture of production techniques while riffing over a subtly changing backing track. Some moments work beautifully to the point that you’re locked in, while others resemble nothing more than an incoherent noise. Berry inspired many Rock acts, some of whom went on to record long songs, so it is nice that the man himself had a crack at it.
The production on this album is fairly standard for the era, although the reverb is applied quite thickly to Berry’s vocals on some songs. It provides some atmosphere to the slower numbers, but it misses the true intimacy found on earlier albums.
Conclusion
This is an album with an experiment at its heart. The other songs showcase Chuck’s signature style, but they function as a support act to the titled main event. Whether the bold move of an exploratory long instrumental is a good one depends on your preference. Hearing Chuck pour all of the production into one big piece is fascinating, but it could feel like it lacks the cohesive structure of his standard-length songs. Overall, it’s worth checking out as a curiosity. Concerto in “B Goode” is available as part of a multi-album collection from BGO Records.
What do you think of Concerto in B. Goode? Let us know all your thoughts in the comments below, or leave a comment on social media.
The version of the album reviewed here is taken from the 2-CD set released by BGO Records in 2024. It covers four albums released on Mercury Records between 1967 and 1969: Chuck Berry in Memphis, Live at the Fillmore Auditorium, From St Louie to Frisco, and Concerto in “B Goode.”