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Chuck Berry’s Upcoming Album of Original Music Gets Early Rave Reviews From a Pal

Chuck Berry. Photo: Michael Putland/Getty Images

While many musicians get a “new album” in the form of a tribute album or best-of collection after they die, few leave the world the gift of an album with mostly original music. But we’ve gotten lucky with Chuck Berry: Following the news the Berry died on Saturday at the age of 90, a friend of the early-rock-and-roll icon revealed to Billboard that the first single off Berry’s upcoming album is scheduled to be released in just a few weeks. The friend, Joe Edwards, is the owner of the club Blueberry Hill, a St. Louis venue where Berry frequently performed. Edwards says the songs he has heard off the new album, Chuck, are “sensational.”

Chuck was first announced last October and will be Berry’s first new studio album since 1979’s Rock It. Currently there is no word on an official release date for singles or the album.

Chuck Berry’s Upcoming Album Gets Early Rave Review From Pal