Chuck Berry, The Great Twenty-Eight (side A)

The Great Twenty-Eight collects most of Chuck Berry's hits between 1955 ("Maybellene") and 1965 ("I want to be Your Driver", which is less memorable to me than 1964's "No Particular Place to Go").  It does omit "You Never Can Tell", which is apparently perceived as more of a hit today, thanks to its prominent movie soundtrack placement, than it was in 1984 when this compilation was assembled.  My biggest surprise on listening was the diversity of arrangements.  For example, there are no cymbals on "Memphis", while the guitar solos are illogically loud in "Carol".  The liner notes also surprised me, as I had not realized that Willie Dixon played bass on many of these tracks, or that Jerome Green contributed maracas on "Maybellene".  Berry's tenor sounds rich and beautiful on most tracks, though there is occasionally weird mix EQ, as on "Back in the USA".  I have a 1987 copy, with ugly packaging, apart from the large, impressive picture of Berry in the studio inside the gatefold.  The mastering job wisely preserves the dynamics, even unusual ones like "Carol", but the emphasized treble brings unflattering focus to the hi-hats and cymbals.