Come On/ Go-Go-Go

Honestly, Berry didn't write very many truly bad, or even mediocre, songs... and this excellent one suffered, in my opinion, from a lot of radio programmers who had simply tagged Chuck Berry with "1950s Rock" and were unwilling to give him a chance in the new decade. Yes... The transition from one time period to the next is the basis for a lot of changes in public opinion. "What?" you ask? Think about our culture's annual ritual of assigning winners/losers and ins/outs from one year to the next. Yes, it's superficial and stupid, but it's a reflection of our society's values at that point in time. In 1961, "Come On" was ignored by many simply because Chuck Berry was considered "Out" as a Relevant Rock Act: He was a "1950s Act" (perhaps even relevant only on Oldies stations). My point is, don't be fooled into thinking this single is a throwaway because it failed to chart... It's an essential part of any complete Chuck Berry collection. Of course, public opinion would shift after Chuck Berry got out of an income-tax-related prison sentence in 1963, when he promptly began writing little 2-3 minute rock songs that showed the world he hadn't lost it, and that Chuck Berry was, in fact, still relevant in a world of Beatles, Rolling Stones, and Animals: "Nadine," "No Particular Place To Go," "You Never Can Tell," "Promised Land," and others. Oh yeah, and "Go-Go-Go" ain't bad, either!

Note: This 45 is among those in the Neal collection that she may have actually played, and which sadly spent some of their life outside a protective sleeve. The 45s in this category may have more noticeable storage wear (ringwear and scuffs/scratches), and the audio may not be pristine due to imperfect grooves. In this case, the labels are Near Mint, with just a touch of ringwear (see scan). The vinyl has some light scuffing and is near the bottom of the Near Mint range. The vinyl has very light surface noise, but it's mostly inaudible, resulting in Near Mint audio. Have a listen to the mp3 snippet!