After School Session

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Work

After School Session · This was Chuck Berry's debut album and only the second LP released by Chess Records. It came out in May 1957. With two exceptions, all the songs had already been released as 45 rpm singles. The recordings come from his first five sessions for Leonard and Phil Chess at the Universal Recording Corporation in Chicago, between May 1955 and January 1957. Wee Wee Hours came first, as the B-side of Maybellene. The last session produced School Day and Deep Feeling.

Accompaniment came from, among others, pianist Johnnie Johnson, bassist Willie Dixon and drummer Fred Below. On Deep Feeling the singer also plays a steel guitar. Several tracks were R&B chart hits: Too Much Monkey Business and Brown Eyed Handsome Man reached fourth and fifth place, and School Day topped the chart and reached number three on the Hot 100. Roly Poly and Berry Pickin' had not previously been on a single.

Listening

Track list

1. 1School Day (Ring Ring Goes the Bell)2:41Apple Music ↗
2. 2Deep Feeling2:19Apple Music ↗
3. 3Too Much Monkey Business2:54Apple Music ↗
4. 4Wee Wee Hours3:03Apple Music ↗
5. 5Roly Poly2:49Apple Music ↗
6. 6No Money Down2:57Apple Music ↗
7. 7Brown Eyed Handsome Man2:17Apple Music ↗
8. 8Berry Pickin'2:31Apple Music ↗
9. 9Together (We'll Always Be)2:37Apple Music ↗
10. 10Havana Moon3:07Apple Music ↗
11. 11Downbound Train2:49Apple Music ↗
12. 12Drifting Heart2:48Apple Music ↗

30-second previews via Apple Music. Listen to the whole album on Apple Music ↗