Chuck Berry - Promised Land

[mrtvman]

elvis owns chuck berry end of story

[gabrielrocks69]

Elvis made it okay for white folks to listen to Rock N Roll. But Chuck Berry wrote the songs of Rock N Roll

[bunnellscabinets]

thank you..top notch... great job...

[IStennaI]

elvis version miles better

better voice better band people only say chuck is king because he is black simple as

[LeCannoneux]

@IStennaI We say he is the Emperor cause he revolutioned rock first -.-

[IStennaI]

not as good as elvis version

and Elvis had the BEST BACKING BAND TCB and the greatest voice

[talstory]

there's only one Chuck Berry! there's only one Elvis Presley!

[koolkatvintage1960]

Why should Elvis have sung this song? It's about the Freedom Riders, Einstein.

[theboneclover]

I understand Chuck Berry was incredible but when God gave these words to him for him to write this song, he meant for Elvis Presley to sing it.

[joebstarsurfer]

thats a song

[Kevashidaz]

lol you fuckin' people. All of you. Stop typing in your little debate and listen to the music.

[82stormn]

this the best song

[wilcarr1]

California is no longer the promised land but bankrupt because of illegal Mexican immigration and free handouts to minorities. this may be the future of all America and all of you probably should read Pat Buchanans new book SUICIDE OF A SUPERPOWER. Nikita Krushchev told American in the sixties America would fall without a single shot being fired and you know, he was right.

[jamescurrypeacock]

@wilcarr1 This song is great and you're a bit of a fucking idiot. Let's leave music commentary to musicians and take your politics somewhere else, you racist hack

[benevolent69]

What's wrong with you? This is the land of foreigners. You some kind of nationalistic, facist, racist scumbag? If you hate it in the USA so much, go somewhere else as soon as you can get your racist, hateful ass outta here.

[metsjp2688]

Ahh Elvis or Chuck Berry. Ahh which one. BOTH!!

[stewajf]

New Years in New York about two decades ago I went to see Chuck Berry play. I saw him walking across the bar and thought it was my chance to shake the hand of one of rock and roll's greatest.

I stuck out my hand and said, "How ya doin', Chuck?"

He looked down at me because he's very tall and said, "I love ya. It's understood" and kept walking.

I pulled my hand back and thought, "Don't be a dick, Chuck."

[JIMMYAD46]

LOVE THIS SONG THANKS FOR POSTING ITS GREAT!

[pineconeization]

Love this song, such great music and American culture! I especially love the reference to all of the cities going across the country, I've done it myself and really relate to this. Plus the call home afterwards is just wonderful.

[MrGotmymojoworkin]

Yeah, I completely agree with jackiechampion and when I think of how tough Chuck's life must have been for him I'm really amazed by his fantastic spirit. He's the Main Man in the History of Rock and Roll.

[buckshot6148]

Chuck wrote this during the Civil Rights era while the "Freedom Riders" were traveling all over the South. I live in the "Rock Hill, SC" that they "bypassed" in his lyrics. Earlier a bus full of Freedom Riders stopped in Rock Hill and were pulled off the bus and beaten nearly to death by a mob. Terrible time in our history. God Bless Chuck Berry!

[elamite66]

@buckshot6148 good point and that reminds me Chuck coming from St Louis was a state with segregation laws which may have a lot to do with his trumped up conviction of the Mann Act violation better known as the "white slavery act" and doing two years in federal prison and I don't mean know minimum security either it was Levenworth I believe but they couldn't stop him he was right back to his music this record was released just about a year after he got out Chuck is Rock'nRoll vaya con Dios Chuck

[Antlers68]

@elamite66

I've been a fan of Chuck Berry since the late 1950's. He is an all time great rock and roll artist, however, Chuck's problems with the law had nothing to do with segregation or racial prejudice.

[elamite66]

@Antlers68 I can't agree with you after his first trial he was given five years but on appeal on the basis of racial prejucice on the part of the judge he got a new trial and was given three years and served 18 months It's also questionable if he wasn't black that there would ever have been a trial but even so racism did play a part as the appeals court held To me the basis of the Mann Act is wrong on its merits why is it better to have sex in one state as oppossed to crossing a state line?

[wilcarr1]

@elamite66 //the white man has paid for this mistake triple and quadruple in riots and crime by blacks and deteriorated cities. the white man is facing extinction like the white in South Africa now that are being raped and murdered. We have paid for the injustice of our ancestore in full.

[elamite66]

@wilcarr1 Whether the white man has paid for his "crimes" or not is hardly the point the point The point is that the white birth rate worldwide is below replacement level thus the hordes of Mexicans They come here for jobs while in their homeland the high birth rate keeps it going but the low birth rates of whites which began with the general introduction of artificial birth conrol in the early 20th century is something that is new in the history of the world

[southwriter]

@buckshot6148 This song has nothing to do with the Civil Rights crap going on then.

[buckshot6148]

It is definitely written up in the local history of Rock Hill, SC, and the Chuck Berry song reference is there as well. I tried to post you a Wikipedia link here with the references cited, but you tube won't let me, darnit.. No biggie either way. I agree, the song is about a journey, but also has a backhand reference to what was occurring in this area at that time.

[sgummo815]

Jerry does a great version of this. Chuck was the man!

[DougPatton1]

Rockin 50s Text Msg for Norfolk Virginia, Tightwater FourTen-O-nine,

"Po Boy Berry - Writer/Player/Singer/Duckwalke­r - The MantheLyricstheLicksthe Legs - done it all afore lil Baby Boom boys Beatles, Stones et al left school !"

[drumrrroll]

music isn't a competition

you want to talk about better or best?.....

watch sports programs

or fight over religion.

Yous arguing the toss over Elvis & Chuck Berry????

You don't know what you got.

just shuddup n dance

[TRV5001]

chuck berry is the best music to listen to when your traveling

[popstone1]

some of chuck's wickedest guitar playing on this song.

[kelster0793]

just listen to this.....rock and roll heaven. rock it Chuck.

[gastonave]

If Elvis was the king Chuck was the Emperor.

[Varvarinaccc]

@gastonave Chuck IS the Emperor.

[NostalgicTimeMan]

@gastonave He could actually play a royal Rock N Roll if you know what I mean.

[pyrotech8285]

is it ok that i like the grateful dead versions of this better?

[Roystothecoolkid]

@pyrotech8285 no

[pyrotech8285]

@Roystothecoolkid im not dissing chuck berry or anything, he is one of the best musicians in the world, but i think the dead's version is performed better, but that doesnt mean i dont love this version

[nappyrags]

@pyrotech8285 ....only when bobby got the lyrics right....which wasn't too often! ;~}

[pyrotech8285]

@nappyrags thats true, but there is a mid 70's show were he actualy does

[Honeysucklebommie]

@pyrotech8285 Not really, blame the hooch.

[sttemami]

lennon said it best "they might as well just name rock and roll, chuck berry"

[Stephen17249]

This guy was the original rocker, no matter what others might say.And he could play a guitar !

[peterzang]

@Stephen17249 Indeed sir. And does anyone know the old American folk song that Chuck appropriated for this tune.

[Stephen17249]

@peterzang  Do enlighten me !

[peterzang]

@peterzang Roy Acuff's Wabash Cannonball. Go listen. Public domain, but same tune.

[ChristopherBix2]

Just incredible lyrics. Hard to think of anyone that did it better than Berry.

[theclarkey100]

Chuck Berry, king of rock'n'roll! This is one of the few chuck songs that I think was done better by somebody else - try listening to Johnnie Allan's version ...the squeeze-box solo is unreal!

[SNOLOVER]

there are people thre who care about me and I wont let the poor boy down

[abt7217tc]

freddy's is better

[KyplayaZ4lyfe]

what the hell is a wasp..chuck berry is a legend and rightfully so.

[Aegianlulz]

@SuomiFinland666 hell yeah..W.A.S.P. made it perfect !

[GravityBoy72]

I love that stuttering bass (and of course Chuck's great guitar).

This is actually a very good recording and appears to be in stereo.

When was this made?

[GeorgeTheCar]

Many people confuse the quality of the performance with the quality of the recording. The quality of recording was revolutionized between the time the original Chuck Berry songs were recorded and the time that Elvis recorded Promised Land. Same with many of the early blues tunes and the Rolling Stones first albums

[KwiatkowskiArtur]

Big respect for Chuck Berry for writing this amazing song but Elvis did it better

[Frank5133]

@KwiatkowskiArtur

Elvis version is a faster tempo;both versions sound better live than studio.

Meatloaf did a good rendition also.

[spurnthemuse]

Back then there wasn't much air condition in the South

[manabozho]

It's sad to think that as "pop" as this is, the story line may be too long and intricate for 2011 audiences. So I fear. This is hilarious, witty, artistic use of the English language, and serious, fundamental rock n roll innovation for its time. Chuck's storytelling ability will scare you to death, if you pay attention. But, you need to take 2:29 out of your life, and actually pay attention. Do folks still do that?

[grantg60]

Best lyrics ever

[officialjbbeverley]

I love Elvis and all, but Chuck Berry is the true and ultimate KING of Rock N' Roll!

- Wrote his own amazing tunes

- Revolutionized "rock" guitar

- Had one of the best backing bands in the history of the game.

Untouchable in my book.

[NOVtheMOD]

at the terminal gate

[TheInternetTroll100]

I love this song.

[Aurelia195]

Mit mondhatnék! Ő a Király!

[PomyCollingwood]

@Aurelia195 :) Ja, ja... bár a fene tudja. Szeretem a "Gyilkost" [The Killer ala Jerry Lee L.] is.

POMY COLLINGWOOD

[malgray2]

The original recording is available on the Chess Story set of albums. It's on disc 10, 62-64.

[retu68]

Best Rock`n`Roll ever ... make it better ....if you can

[gweightman]

@retu68 How about 'Something Else' or 'Brown Eyed Handsome Man'

[RichStranger]

YA SEE NEVER EVER FORGET THAT CHUCK'S REAL ROOTS ARE WHAT WE WOULD TERM "COUNTRY & WESTERN"... UNTIL HIS TALENT WAS SO UN-DENIABLE "EVEN TO THE TRUE BLUES MEN" THAT THEY HAD COME UP WITH A NEW TERM: "ROCK & F%#KN' ROLL" NOBODY DOES IT BETTER, OR EVER WILL... BUT, NEVER FORGET THAT HE CUT HIS TEETH ON "C&W"... I KNOW QUITE A LOT OF BIG-OTS THAT WOULD... BUT THAT IS ANOTHER STORY

[CraigG1960]

What rock n roll is all about.

[alanthedrum]

It sounds so easy to play guitar like Chuck. No stress on his limited range of chords.

Then you pick up your guitar and try it.

[TheInternetTroll100]

@alanthedrum lol i know, then it gets all complicated and fast. he is AMAZING

[kungfurabbit71]

@alanthedrum you aint never lied!!!

[PwaiChung]

When music was music.

[Ev1lW1zard]

He wrote this song while in jail and asked for a map but the guards refused because they thought he was going to use the map to plan an escape, so he had to remember the route

[jackiechampion]

God, this guy is great! His songcraft is impeccable, his lyrics are so clever and perfectly worded. Everybody did Chuck Berry songs, including Elvis. Chuck is without doubt more important to defining the themes, content, instrumental voice, and song structure of Rock n Roll than any other artist. He is the first great artist of Rock and Roll: songwriter, guitarist, singer, performer! He doesn't get nearly the praise and examination that his genius merits. Music critics suck!

[gweightman]

@jackiechampion i am sorry to disagree but buddy holly was just slightly better as a songwriter

[jackiechampion]

@gweightman Taste is subjective. What's not subjective is the fact that Johnny B Goode-Rock and Roll Music-Roll Over Beethoven-Maybelline-School Days-Back in the USA-Promised Land-Memphis Tennessee & Brown-eyed Handsome Man are more influential, more covered by other artists, better known worldwide, & more essential to the development/history of Rock and Roll than anything Holly ever wrote - talented though he certainly was. Rock without Berry - impossible. Rock without Holly - very possible.

[blindneep]

@jackiechampion lol. aye. some of us have known about this for a wee while.

doncha just love the innocent generation.

[KevinHeaven9]

@jackiechampion yea he does...

[basildonjohn1965]

@jackiechampion Totally agree!

[BloodyBrain4]

@jackiechampion - Chuck Berry is all that, but it aint' as if no one knows it...please! EVERYBODY knows it.

[broadband0118]

@jackiechampion Greatest lyricist in the history of pop/rock music. Also, that double note stuff was truly original.

[GlenQuagmireful]

@jackiechampion so many excellent points....he is a great American writer, one of the most significant poets of the latter half of the 20th century, however he is not as important a figure as Elvis who was and remains the defining figure in rock and American popular culture

[klintos2]

Chuch Berry, "The Soul Of Rock And Roll". Aren't we all looking for "The Promised Land"?

[davisquinn]

"and bypassed Rock Hill" --I live there! and never realized Chuck mentioned it in this song until someone brought it to my attention.

[mozfonky]

thank you

[iloveclassics50]

glad u did upload it !!

[jenerikuser]

good man, yourself

[K6C10]

THX!

[summersk100]

A righteous version it is. Thanks!

[riprandall]

good stuff man