Chuck Berry discography

Chuck Berry discography
Berry in 1958
Studio albums20
EPs8
Soundtrack albums2
Live albums12
Compilation albums31
Singles50

American rock and roll musician Chuck Berry's discography includes 20 studio albums, 12 live albums, 31 compilation albums, 50 singles, 8 EPs, and 2 soundtrack albums.

Berry's recording career began in 1955, with the release of his single "Maybellene", and spanned a total of 62 years, although the latter 4 decades featured few or no releases. His most prolific and successful period spanned the 1950s and early 1960s, during which time he recorded for Chess. By 1960 he had released most of his hits, including "Maybellene", "Roll Over Beethoven", "Sweet Little Sixteen", and "Johnny B. Goode". Legal troubles, resulting in his imprisonment in 1961, caused a reduction in his output, but his release in 1963, combined with an interest in his songs thanks to the British invasion, rejuvenated his career. By the time Berry left Chess in 1966, he had released 36 singles, 5 EPs, and 12 albums, including the fake live album, Chuck Berry On Stage and 2 compilation albums, as well as having featured in the soundtrack album for the film Rock, Rock, Rock!.

Berry subsequently signed to Mercury Records, where he stayed until 1970. During his tenure at Mercury, he released 5 albums, including his first real live album, as well as 5 singles, before he returned to Chess, where he released a further 5 singles and albums each, including The London Chuck Berry Sessions, which became his best-selling album, supported by his only #1 single, "My Ding-a-Ling". After his release from Chess in 1975, Berry's releases became sporadic, briefly recording for Atco in 1979, resulting in his final studio album released during his life, Rockit. His final, posthumous, studio album was 2017's Chuck.

Berry's discography includes a large amount of unofficial live albums, as he performed without being signed to any label for most of his latter years, as well as a number of re-packaged or unofficial compilation albums, owing to Chess Records complicated ownership history.

Overseas, Berry's discography differed from that in the US, most notably in the UK, where his early work was released mostly by London Records until 1960, then Pye Records until 1965, before being issued directly by Chess or Mercury. This resulted in a number of exclusive British EP releases on the one hand, and a number of unissued LPs and singles on the other.

In the US, Berry saw a total of 25 charting singles and 4 charting B-sides, as well as 5 charting albums. Of these, 2 singles have been certified Platinum by the RIAA, as well as 1 Gold single and 1 Gold album.

Albums

Studio albums

Title Album details[1][2][3] Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[4]
CAN
[5]
FRA
[6]
GER
[7]
NL
[8]
SWI
[9]
UK
[10]
After School Session
  • Released: May 1957
  • Label: Chess (LP-1426)
  • Format: mono LP
One Dozen Berrys
  • Released: March 1958
  • Label: Chess (LP-1432)
  • Format: mono LP
Berry Is on Top
  • Released: July 1959
  • Label: Chess (LP-1435)
  • Format: mono/stereo LP
Rockin' at the Hops
  • Released: July 1960
  • Label: Chess (LP-1448)
  • Format: mono LP
New Juke Box Hits
  • Released: March 1961
  • Label: Chess (LP-1456)
  • Format: mono LP
Two Great Guitars (with Bo Diddley)
  • Released: August 1964
  • Label: Checker (LP-2991)
  • Format: mono LP
St. Louis to Liverpool
  • Released: November 1964
  • Label: Chess (LP/S-1488)
  • Format: mono/stereo LP
124
Chuck Berry in London
  • Released: April 1965
  • Label: Chess (LP/S-1495)
  • Format: mono/stereo LP
Fresh Berry's
  • Released: November 1965
  • Label: Chess (LP/S-1498)
  • Format: mono/stereo LP
Chuck Berry's Golden Hits
  • Released: March 1967
  • Label: Mercury (MG-21103/SR-61103)
  • Format: mono/stereo LP
Chuck Berry in Memphis
  • Released: September 1967
  • Label: Mercury (MG-21123/SR-61123)
  • Format: mono/stereo LP
From St. Louie to Frisco
  • Released: November 1968
  • Label: Mercury (SR-61176)
  • Format: stereo LP
185
Concerto in B. Goode
  • Released: June 1969
  • Label: Mercury (SR-61223)
  • Format: stereo LP
Back Home
  • Released: November 1970
  • Label: Chess (LPS-1550)
  • Format: stereo LP
San Francisco Dues
  • Released: September 1971
  • Label: Chess (CH-50008)
  • Format: stereo LP
The London Chuck Berry Sessions
  • Released: June 1972
  • Label: Chess (CH-60020)
  • Format: stereo LP/8-track/cassette
8 6
Bio
  • Released: August 1973
  • Label: Chess (CH-50043)
  • Format: stereo LP
175
Chuck Berry
  • Released: February 1975
  • Label: Chess (CH-60032)
  • Format: stereo LP
Rock It
  • Released: 1979
  • Label: Atco (SD-38-118)
  • Format: stereo LP
Chuck
  • Released: June 2017
  • Label: Dualtone
  • Format: CD/Digital/LP
49 39 31 61 14 9
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Live albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[4]
CAN
[5]
UK
[10]
Chuck Berry on Stage
  • Released: August 1963
  • Label: Chess
  • Format: LP
29 6
Live at the Fillmore Auditorium
  • Released: September 1967
  • Label: Mercury
  • Format: LP
The London Chuck Berry Sessions
  • Released: October 1972
  • Label: Chess (CH-60020)
  • Format: stereo LP
8 6
Chuck Berry Live in Concert
  • Released: 1978
  • Label: Magnum
Alive and Rockin'
  • Released: 1981
  • Label: W.A.A.
Toronto Rock 'n' Roll Revival 1969 Vol. II
  • Released: 1982
  • Label: Accord
Toronto Rock 'n' Roll Revival 1969 Vol. III
  • Released: 1982
  • Label: Accord
Live!
  • Released: 1994
  • Label: Columbia River
Live on Stage
  • Released: 2000
  • Label: Magnum
Chuck Berry – In Concert
  • Released: 2002
  • Label: Magnum
Rockin' Rollin' New Year's Eve[12]
  • Released: 2020
  • Label: Liberation Hall
  • Format: LP
[a]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Compilation albums

Title Album details Peak chart positions Certifications
US
[4]
FRA
[6]
SWI
[9]
UK
[10]
Chuck Berry Twist
  • Released: February 1962
  • Label: Chess (LP-1465)
  • Format: LP
12
More Chuck Berry 9
Chuck Berry's Greatest Hits
  • Released: April 1964
  • Label: Chess (LP-1485)
  • Format: LP
34
The Latest and the Greatest
  • Released: May 1964 (UK)
  • Label: Pye International (NPL 28031)
  • Format: LP
8
You Never Can Tell
  • Released: September 1964 (UK)
  • Label: Pye International (NPL 29039)
  • Format: LP
18
Chuck Berry's Golden Decade
  • Released: 1967
  • Label: Chess (2CH-1514)
  • Format: Double LP
72
Chuck Berry's Golden Decade, Vol. 2
  • Released: February 1973
  • Label: Chess (2CH-60023)
  • Format: Double LP
110
Chuck Berry's Golden Decade, Vol. 3
  • Released: May 1974
  • Label: Chess (2CH-60028)
  • Format: Double LP
Motorvatin'
  • Released: 1976 (Europe)
  • Label: Chess (9288 690)
  • Format: LP
7
The Great Twenty-Eight
  • Released: 1982
  • Label: Chess (2CH-8201)
  • Format: Double LP (mono)
Motive Series
  • Released: 1982
  • Label: Mercury (6463129)
  • Format: LP
Chess Masters
  • Released: March 1983
  • Label: Chess (CXMP 2011)
  • Format: LP
Rock 'n' Roll Rarities
  • Released: March 1986
  • Label: Chess (2CH-92521)
  • Format: Double LP
More Rock 'n' Roll Rarities
  • Released: August 1986
  • Label: Chess (CH-9190)
  • Format: LP, CD, Cassette
The Best of the Best of Chuck Berry
  • Released: 1987/1994
  • Label: Gusto/Hollywood/IMG
  • Format: LP, CD, Cassette
The Chess Box
  • Released: 1988
  • Label: Chess (CHD3-80001)
  • Format: CD
Missing Berries: Rarities, Vol. 3
  • Released: June 1990
  • Label: Chess (CHC/D-9318)
  • Format: Cassette, CD
The Collection
  • Released: August 26, 1991
  • Label: MCA (MCAC-17751)
  • Format: Cassette
36 All-Time Greatest Hits
  • Released: 1996
  • Label: Universal Distribution
  • Format: CD
Let It Rock
  • Released: June 4, 1996
  • Label: Universal Special (MCAC/D-20931)
  • Format: Cassette, CD
The Best of Chuck Berry
  • Released: July 26, 1996
  • Label: MCA (MCAD-11560)
  • Format: Double CD
116
Guitar Legends (with Bo Diddley)
  • Released: February 11, 1997
  • Label: Universal Special (20974)
  • Format: Cassette, CD
His Best, Vol. 1
  • Released: March 25, 1996
  • Label: MCA/Chess (CHD-9371)
  • Format: CD
His Best, Vol. 2
  • Released: May 20, 1997
  • Label: MCA/Chess (CHD-9381)
  • Format: CD
The Best of Chuck Berry
  • Released: September 15, 1997
  • Label: Universal Distribution
  • Format: CD
Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller
  • Released: October 14, 1997
  • Label: MCA/Chess (CHD-80245)
  • Format: CD
20th Century Masters: The Best of Chuck Berry
  • Released: March 23, 1999
  • Label: MCA (MCAC/D-11944)
  • Format: Cassette, CD
134
Anthology
  • Released: June 27, 2000
  • Label: MCA/Chess (CHD-112304)
  • Format: CD
175 48 110
The Ultimate Collection
  • Released: September 5, 2000
  • Label: Universal International (17751)
  • Format: CD
Blues
  • Released: August 12, 2003
  • Label: MCA/Chess (B000053002)
  • Format: CD
Chuck Berry
  • Released: October 28, 2003
  • Label: Universal International (98017)
  • Format: CD
The Definitive Collection
  • Released: April 18, 2006
  • Label: Geffen-Universal
  • Format: CD
33 75
Johnny B. Goode: His Complete '50s Chess Recordings
  • Released: February 19, 2008
  • Label: Hip-O Select-Geffen-Universal
  • Format: CD
You Never Can Tell: His Complete Chess Recordings 1960–1966
  • Released: March 31, 2009
  • Label: Hip-O Select-Geffen-Universal (12465)
  • Format: CD
Have Mercy: His Complete Chess Recordings 1969–1974
  • Released: March 23, 2010
  • Label: Hip-O Select-Geffen-Universal (13790)
  • Format: CD
Rock And Roll Music – Any Old Way You Choose It
- The Complete Studio Recordings... Plus!
  • Released: November 4, 2014
  • Label: Bear Family
  • Format: CD
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Soundtrack albums

Title Album details
Rock, Rock, Rock!
  • Released: Dec 1956
  • Label: Chess (LP-1425)
  • Format: mono LP
Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll
  • Released: October 1987
  • Label: MCA (MCA/C/D-6217)
  • Format: LP/Cassette/CD

EPs

Title Album details
After School Session
  • Released: May 1957
  • Label: Chess (EP 5118)
  • Format: 7" 45 RPM
  • Origin: US
Rock and Roll Music
  • Released: 1957
  • Label: Chess (EP 5119)
  • Format: 7" 45 RPM
  • Origin: US
Sweet Little 16
  • Released: 1958
  • Label: Chess (EP 5121)
  • Format: 7" 45 RPM
  • Origin: US
Pickin' Berries
  • Released: 1958
  • Label: Chess (EP 5124)
  • Format: 7" 45 RPM
  • Origin: US
Sweet Little Rock and Roller
  • Released: 1959
  • Label: Chess (EP 5126)
  • Format: 7" 45 RPM
  • Origin: US
Chuck Berry
  • Released: 1963
  • Label: Pye International (NEP 44011)
  • Format: 7" 45 RPM
  • Origin: UK
This Is Chuck Berry
  • Released: 1963
  • Label: Pye International (NEP 44013)
  • Format: 7" 45 RPM
  • Origin: UK
The Best of Chuck Berry
  • Released: 1963
  • Label: Pye International (NEP 44018)
  • Format: 7" 45 RPM
  • Origin: UK
Berry Christmas
  • Released: December 15, 2017

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions Certifications Album
US
[15][16]
US R&B
[15][17]
CAN
[5]
FRA
[6]
GER
[7]
NL
[8]
NOR
[18]
SWI
[9]
UK
[10]
1955 "Maybellene"
"Wee Wee Hours"
5
1
10







Rock, Rock, Rock!

After School Session

"Thirty Days (To Come Back Home)"
b/w "Together (We Will Always Be)"
2 Rock, Rock, Rock!

After School Session

1956 "No Money Down"
b/w "The Downbound Train"
8 After School Session
"Roll Over Beethoven"
b/w "Drifting Heart"
29 2 31 Rock, Rock, Rock!

After School Session

"Too Much Monkey Business"
b/w "Brown Eyed Handsome Man"
4 After School Session
"You Can't Catch Me"
b/w "Havana Moon"
Rock, Rock, Rock!

After School Session

1957 "School Days (Ring! Ring! Goes the Bell)"
b/w "Deep Feeling"
3 1 24 After School Session
"Oh Baby Doll"
b/w "Lajaunda"
57 12 One Dozen Berrys
"Rock and Roll Music"
b/w "Blue Feeling"
8 6
1958 "Sweet Little Sixteen"
b/w "Reelin' and Rockin'"
2 1 16
"Johnny B. Goode"
b/w "Around and Around"
8 2 73 83 Berry Is on Top
"Beautiful Delilah"
b/w "Vacation Time"
81 Non-album single
"Carol"
b/w "Hey Pedro"
18 9 Berry Is on Top
"Sweet Little Rock and Roller"
"Joe Joe Gunne"
47
83
13







"Merry Christmas Baby"
"Run Rudolph Run"
71
10







54

36
  • RIAA: Platinum[11] ("Run Rudolph Run")
  • BPI: Gold[14] ("Run Rudolph Run")
Non-album single
1959 "Anthony Boy"
b/w "That's My Desire"
60 Berry Is on Top

Non-album track

"Almost Grown"
"Little Queenie"
32
80
3







Berry Is on Top
"Back in the U.S.A."
"Memphis, Tennessee"
37
16







6
Non-album singles
"Broken Arrow"
b/w "Childhood Sweetheart"
108 Rockin' at the Hops
1960 "Let It Rock"
"Too Pooped to Pop"
64
42
18






6
"Bye Bye Johnny"
b/w "Worried Life Blues"
"I Got to Find My Baby"
b/w "Mad Lad"
"Jaguar and Thunderbird"
b/w "Our Little Rendezvous"
109 Non-album single

St. Louis to Liverpool

1961 "Little Star"
b/w "I'm Talking About You"
New Juke Box Hits
"Go-Go-Go"
b/w "Come On"
38 Non-album singles
1963 "Diploma for Two"
b/w "I'm Talking About You"
New Juke Box Hits
"Memphis"
b/w "Surfin' USA"
Chuck Berry on Stage
1964 "Nadine (Is It You?)"
b/w "O Rangutang"
23 7 27 Non-album singles
"No Particular Place to Go"
b/w "You Two"
10 2 6 3 St. Louis to Liverpool
"You Never Can Tell"
b/w "Brenda Lee"
14 - 11 9 23
"Chuck's Beat"
b/w "Bo's Beat"
(both by Chuck Berry & Bo Diddley)
Two Great Guitars
"Little Marie"
b/w "Go, Bobby Soxer"
54 30 40 St. Louis to Liverpool
"Promised Land"
b/w "The Things I Used to Do"
41 16 30 26
1965 "Dear Dad"
b/w "Lonely School Days"
95 Chuck Berry in London

Non-album track

"It Wasn't Me"
b/w "Welcome Back Pretty Baby"
Fresh Berry's
1966 "Ramona Say Yes"
b/w "Lonely School Days"
Non-album single

San Francisco Dues

"Club Nitty Gritty"
b/w "Laugh and Cry"
Chuck Berry's Golden Hits

Non-album track

1967 "Back to Memphis"
b/w "I Do Really Love You"
Chuck Berry in Memphis
"Feelin' It" (with Miller Band)
b/w "It Hurts Me Too" (with Miller Band)
Live at the Fillmore Auditorium
1968 "Louie to Frisco"
b/w "Ma Dear"
From St. Louie to Frisco
1969 "It's Too Dark in There"
b/w "Good Looking Woman"
Concerto in "B Goode"
1970 "Tulane"
b/w "Have Mercy Judge"
Back Home
1972 "My Ding-a-Ling"
b/w "Johnny B. Goode"
1 42 1 40 29 7 1 The London Chuck Berry Sessions
"Reelin' and Rockin'"
b/w "Let's Boogie"
27 21 18
1973 "Bio"
b/w "Roll 'Em Pete"
Bio

Non-album track

1975 "Shake, Rattle and Roll"
b/w "Baby What You Want Me to Do"
Chuck Berry
1979 "Oh What a Thrill"
b/w "California"
Rockit
2017 "Big Boys" Chuck
"Wonderful Woman"
"Lady B. Goode"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Billboard did not publish a separate R&B singles chart in 1964. For this year only, R&B chart positions are from Cash Box magazine.[17]

Billboard Year-End performances

Year Song Year-End
Position
1957 "School Days" 22
1958 "Sweet Little Sixteen" 29
1972 "My Ding-a-Ling" 15

Notes

  1. ^ Rockin' Rollin' New Year's Eve did not enter the Billboard 200, but it peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Blues Albums chart.[13]

References

  1. ^ Rudolph, Dietmar. "A Collector's Guide to the Music of Chuck Berry: The Chess Era (1955–1966)". Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  2. ^ Rudolph, Dietmar. "A Collector's Guide to the Music of Chuck Berry: The Mercury Era (1966–1969)". Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  3. ^ Rudolph, Dietmar. "A Collector's Guide to the Music of Chuck Berry: The Back-at-Chess Era (1969–1975)". Retrieved October 3, 2010.
  4. ^ a b c "Chuck Berry Chart History – Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c RPM chart positions:
    • The London Chuck Berry Sessions: "RPM 100 albums". RPM. Vol. 18, no. 12. November 4, 1972. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  6. ^ a b c "Discographie Chuck Berry". Les Charts (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Discographie von Chuck Berry". Offizielle Deutsche Charts (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  8. ^ a b "Discografie Chuck Berry". Dutch Charts (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c "Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode [scroll down for album chart positions]". Hitparade (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  10. ^ a b c d "Chuck Berry". Official Charts. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  11. ^ a b c d "American certifications – Chuck Berry". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
  12. ^ "Chuck Berry – Rockin' Rollin' New Year's Eve". Record Store Day. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  13. ^ "Chuck Berry Chart History – Blues Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 4, 2021.
  14. ^ a b c d "British certifications – Chuck Berry". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved January 28, 2024. Type Chuck Berry in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
  15. ^ a b "Chuck Berry Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved December 31, 2019.
  16. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1992). Joel Whitburn Presents the Billboard Pop Charts. Menomonie, Wisconsin: Record Research. ISBN 978-0-89820-092-8.
  17. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (2006). The Billboard Book of Top 40 R&B and Hip-Hop Hits. Menomonie, Wisconsin: Record Research. ISBN 0-8230-8283-0.
  18. ^ "Discography Chuck Berry". Norwegian Charts. Hung Medien. Retrieved February 11, 2011.