The Best Rockumentaries: Bonus Feature "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll" (1987)

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An appropriate tribute to the Godfather of rock and roll who passed away at 90 earlier this year. “Hail! Hail! Rock N Roll” was shot during two concerts in celebration of Chuck Berry’s 60th birthday at the Fox theater in St. Louis. The film is directed by Taylor Hackford who counts “An Officer and a Gentleman” among his Hollywood features. There is plenty of footage of Berry and his duckwalk available dating back to the 50s when he appeared in low budget teen rock flicks. This is a celebration of rock’s elder statesman at work and still pretty spry. There is joy in seeing Berry performing his canon of classics like “Sweet Little 16” and “Nadine.” Then the guest performers joining Berry: Linda Ronstadt (“Back in the USA”), Julien Lennon (“Johnny B. Goode”) and Etta James (“Rock and Roll Music”). Rock’s first guitar maestro receives a little help from his friends: Eric Clapton, Keith Richards, Robert Cray and Joe Walsh. Chuck Leavell of the Allman Bros. Band is on the organ. “Hail! Hail! Rock N Roll” is a must to appreciate rock’s roots.