Chuck Berry's son says his dad gave approval to everything on his just-released final album, “Chuck”

m_chuckberrychuckalbum630_032017-1
m_chuckberrychuckalbum630_032017-1

Dualtone

DualtoneChuck Berry, who died in March at age 90, released his final studio album, Chuck, earlier this month. The rock ‘n’ roll pioneer’s son Charles Berry Jr., who contributed some guitar work to the new record, reveals that his dad “heard everything” on the album and gave the project his OK prior to his death.

“He had final approval on everything,” Berry Jr. tells ABC Radio, adding that even when his dad was ailing, he still was able to convey how he felt about a track through his reactions. “His toes [would be] tapping and he’s keeping time to it, smile on his face,” Berry Jr. recalls. “He didn’t have to say a word to know, ‘Oh yeah, he wants that on there.'”

The Chuck album features appearances from a select few guest musicians — roots-rock singer Nathaniel Rateliff, Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello and acclaimed blues-rock guitarist Gary Clark Jr. Berry Jr. says it was his dad’s label, Dualtone, that pushed to have some guest artists on the record, something his father initially wasn’t interested in, although he eventually agreed under the condition that he had final say about what was included.

Morello and Rateliff both featured on the track “Big Boys.” Berry Jr. says that Tom took Chuck’s guitar part and “then interpreted what [he] did and put his own spin on it. And it [was] beautiful.” Charles notes that Nathaniel “did an excellent job” with the vocal part he added to the track.

Clark Jr., meanwhile, lent his guitar talents to the album’s lead track, “Wonderful Woman,” which also features guitar work from three generations of Berrys — Chuck, Charles Jr. and Chuck Berry III. “‘Wonderful Woman’ is just nonstop electric guitar heaven for anybody who likes to hear electric guitar,” gushes Charles.

Copyright © 2017, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.