Taking sides: Little Richard, Chuck Berry or Jerry Lee Lewis?

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While we're getting all "Golden Oldies" on ILM, which of these early rock'n'rollers (all of whom fell from grace, thrusting rock'n'roll into the dark "Teen Idol" era -- ;) do you enjoy most and why?

― Mark, Monday, 30 April 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I enjoy Jerry Lee Lewis the most because he got it on with his underage cousin and cuz I used to sing "Great Balls of Fire" around the campfire when I was little, but Chuck Berry is the only one I might think about actually listening to.

― Otis Wheeler, Tuesday, 1 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Jerry Lee Lewis. What a guy. Best songs and best mythology.

― Omar, Tuesday, 1 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Sorry, it's too hard to choose. They're all outstanding.

― the pinefox, Tuesday, 1 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Much as I respect Little Richard and Jerry Lee, I do find that their early songs kinda run into one another. With Chuck Berry, once you get past the samey-sounding (but still great) "Johnny B. Goode"/"Roll Over Beethoven" stuff, you find that he's got lots of catchy-as-hell melodies ("Brown-Eyed Handsome Man", "Come On", "You Never Can Tell"). And boy did he have a way with words.

― Patrick, Tuesday, 1 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'll take the side of Jerry Lee, primarily for the country stuff he did in the seventies, some of which is terrific.

― Tim, Tuesday, 1 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Little Richard. Flame on!

― Ned Raggett, Tuesday, 1 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

They were all complete perverts and therefore wonderful so it's hard to pick a favorite but it's Chuck Berry for me. I like bands and solo artists who write the same song over and over. Technique is just failed style.

― Steven James, Tuesday, 1 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Seeing I am not a teenager anymore, I'll pick Jerry.

― Stevie Nixed, Tuesday, 1 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Little Richard, though the others were good.
Why: "Tutti Frutti" and "Good Golly Miss Molly". Do you really need more justification than that?

― Sean Carruthers, Tuesday, 1 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Using 70's AOR as a touchstone, seeing as 50's rock and roll is before even my father's time, Little Richard = Elton John, Jerry Lee = Ronnie Van Zandt, and Chuck Berry = Jackson Browne, so poor Chuck's out. Little Richard was the only one they modeled a wrestler after (Johnny B Badd, who was even tutti-fruttier than Golddust despite the Chuck Berry associated name), so he's gotta win. The king and queen of rock and roll, indeed. I don't think I'd think much about listening to any of em, though.

― Kris, Tuesday, 1 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Chuck Berry is my favorite rapper.

― Keiko, Tuesday, 1 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The question is too difficult. They are all great!

― Joseph Wasko, Tuesday, 1 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

I'm a Chuck Berry man. Very clever lyricist, as others have pointed out, and many great melodies. The detail in a song like "Maybellene," where his car is about to overheat and then the rainwater goes under the hood and he knows that's doing his motor good, that was inspired.

Plus, Chuck is the only one I listened to voluntarily in the last five years.

― Mark, Tuesday, 1 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

The paedophile and the homosexual were rock&roll geniuses. The coprophage I'm not so sure about, hugely influencial though he was.

― Scott Bassett, Wednesday, 2 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Chuck Berry: the best songwriter Little Richard: the best singer Jerry Lee Lewis: the best musician

And in response to that rather tacky last post, I'm pretty sure that Richard isn't (or wasn't) exclusively gay.

― Andrew, Wednesday, 2 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

Sorry, I should have said 'bisexual'.

― scott, Wednesday, 2 May 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

one month passes...

little richard, not only is he a great singer but also a great man. he is very personal to all fans and non fans. he is people person. fame has not gone to head. he love people go to one his concerts and you will know what i mean.

― dave mejia, Saturday, 9 June 2001 00:00 (twenty-four years ago)

seven months pass...

little richard is the true king of rock !

― john, Friday, 25 January 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

three weeks pass...

Little Richard is the best he put the rock in rock and roll he is the king of rock he had a touch life with his dad being killed so give him some fuckin respect

― Rory Woodward, Thursday, 21 February 2002 01:00 (twenty-three years ago)

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