Hi,

Could you say me what's the name of the pianist who plays notably in "You never can tell" ? And if possible a little resuming of his carreer please ?

Thanks,

Miplou

JOHNNIE JOHNSON, no more needs to be said!

When someone `s raising such a question.....here are some links for you:

http://www.johnnie.com

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnnie_Johnson_(musician)

http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/johnnie-johnson

http://www.johnniebegood.net/

http://www.cousinmoemusic.com/jjreviews.htm

http://biography.jrank.org/pages/2967/J ... hnnie.html

http://www.chuckberry.com/about/viewhea ... hp?id=3114

http://www.rockabillyhall.com/JohnnieJohnson1.html

http://www.musicianguide.com/biographie ... hnson.html

Thanks too much

While Johnnie is credited with the piano work on "You Never Can Tell" by some, other discographies (including the official Chess discography found on the LP liner notes on "Golden Decade" and others) have listed Paul Williams as the pianist on that cut. I tend to go with Paul Williams, as the solo in YNCT is totally out of character with anything else Johnnie did...plus Johnnie could never duplicate the solo live according to most reports from Johnnie's band members. Paul Williams also played piano on "No Particular Place to Go" and "Promised Land".

Possible.

But there are other examples of musicians who could never duplicate their studio sound live, but nevertheless played on their original records: CHUCK BERRY and LITTLE RICHARD, to take two very famous examples!

Most blues-based or rock players do not copy their recorded solos 100% note-for-note when they play it live. The piano solo with octaves in YNCT is easily copied however...I do it almost note-for-note whenever Chuck does the tune because the crowd gets off on hearing it note-for-note...a highlight of the original cut. If in fact Johnnie had played the solo on the original, he'd have no trouble quoting it.

As you say the piano solo is easily copied and I am sure Johnnie would have had no trouble quoting it even if he had not recorded it. Maybe he simply did not want to play it or had forgotten about it. However your thesis could be right as well.

In case you wonder, whenever someone asks a question about Chuck's backing musicians on records, I usually base my replies on Fred Rothwell's extensive work. While some of his views may be debatable, he remains the No. 1 Chuck Berry discographer in my book.

Wolfgang