While the music is pleasant enough [on San Francisco Dues] the album as a whole is not very exciting. That is, it won't challenge any of the early … LPs by [Berry] you might have in your collection.

The music lacks the conviction, enthusiasm and lithe strength of the young Berry, sounding instead as though it had been ground out to a formula—and small matter if the man responsible for the formula is following it here. It pains me to say this, for I have great respect for Berry and what his music accomplished so beautifully, but much of the stuff here sounds tired and the lyrics often forced, where before they had a delightfully perfect naturalness and a real feeling of spontaneity, however painstakingly that may have been achieved. But that feeling is largely absent here and craft has taken the place of inspiration. Unfortunately, it's no...