Personnel: Junior Wells (vocals, harmonica); Buddy Guy (guitar); Jack Myers (bass); Billy Warren (drums).
Recorded in Chicago, Illinois on September 22 & 23, 1965. Includes liner notes by Bob Koester.
Personnel: Junior Wells (vocals, harmonica); Buddy Guy (vocals, guitar); Bill Warren (drums).
One of the truly classic blues albums of the 1960s, and one of the first to fully document the smoky ambience of a night at a West Side nightspot in the superior acoustics of a recording studio. Wells just set up with his usual cohorts -- guitarist Buddy Guy (billed as "Friendly Chap" on first vinyl pressings), bassist Jack Myers, and drummer Billy Warren -- and proceeded to blow up a storm, bringing an immediacy to "Snatch It Back and Hold It," "You Don't Love Me," "Chitlin con Carne," and the rest of the tracks that is absolutely mesmerizing. ~ Bill Dahl

HOODOO MAN BLUES is one of the great albums from the era of classic Chicago blues. Though usually overshadowed by mid-century Chicago legends like Muddy Waters and Howlin' Wolf, Junior Wells ranks among the most dynamic and satisfying performers of the milieu, and his explosive harmonica playing and charismatic vocals come through like gangbusters on this 1965 release. The record has the added distinction of being one of the first long-playing blues albums to hit the scene (blues had largely been confined to 45s prior to its release).

One of the truly classic blues albums of the 1960s, and one of the first to fully document the smoky ambience of a night at a West Side nightspot in the superior acoustics of a recording studio. Wells just set up with his usual cohorts -- guitarist Buddy Guy (billed as "Friendly Chap" on first vinyl pressings), bassist Jack Myers, and drummer Billy Warren -- and proceeded to blow up a storm, bringing an immediacy to "Snatch It Back and Hold It," "You Don't Love Me," "Chitlin con Carne," and the rest of the tracks that is absolutely mesmerizing. [This version contains alternate takes of "Hoodoo Man Blues" and "Chitlin con Carne."] ~ Bill Dahl

Liner Note Author: Bob Koester. Recording information: 1965. Photographer: Greg Roberts.


  The Complete Chess Masters CD
  by Little Walter
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This definitive five-disc collection brings together all of the sessions Little Walter recorded for Chess Records between 1950 and 1967. By 1950, Little Walter had already established himself for his incendiary work with Muddy Waters's electric band and his progressive approach to blues harmonica. His recordings as a solo artist for Chess allowed him to stretch out, giving full range to his genius. MASTERS serves as a retrospective of Little Walter's career during the golden age of Chicago blues, and while his `60s material is uneven, the glorious stream of his `50s classics makes the set a treasure trove. Walter's defining cuts, including "Juke," "Mean Old World," and "My Babe," are here, of course, but what impresses is the consistency of the intensity, passion, and musicianship well into the early `60s, and the fiery playing from Walter and the session musicians that helped shape Chicago's classic blues sound.

This makes The Complete Chess Masters consistently absorbing listening, hampered only slightly by a rather large preponderance of alternate takes that can sometimes slow the momentum of this set. Conversely, the appearance of Walter's legacy winds up being bolstered somewhat by Chess' over-recording of him at his peak and general avoidance of him in his decliLiving Blues (p.66) - "Walter's consistently creative musicianship and heartfelt vocals make for a compelling uninterrupted listening..."

Record Collector (magazine) (p.86) - 4 stars out of 5 -- "This magnificent retrospective spreads 126 tracks across five CDs and re-affirms why Little Walter has a special place in the blues pantheon. Sound-wise, he was undoubtedly a pioneer."


  Moanin' In The Moonlight/Howlin' Wolf CD
  by Howlin' Wolf
Our Price: $8.49 CD / $10.89 MP3
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Howlin' Wolf's first and second Chess albums are essential listening of the highest order. They were compiled -- as were all early blues albums -- from various single sessions (not necessarily a bad thing, either), and blues f ans will probably debate endlessly about which of the two albums is the perfect introduction to his music. But this CD reissue renders all arguments moot, as both album appear on one disc, making this a true best buy. Wolf's debut opus -- curiously tacked on here after his second album -- features all of his early hits ("How Many More Years," "Moanin' at Midnight," "Smokestack Lightning," "Forty Four," "Evil," and "I Asked for Water [She Gave Me Gasoline]"), and is a pretty potent collection in its own right.

It is the follow-up (always referred to as "the rocking chair album" because of Don Bronstein's distinctive cover art) where the equally potent teaming of Willie Dixon and Wolf produced one Chicago blues classic ("Spoonful," "The Red Rooster," "Back Door Man," "Wang Dang Doodle") after another. It's also with this marvelous batch of sides that one can clearly hear lead guitarist Hubert Sumlin coming into his own as a blues picking legend. The number of blues acolytes, both black and white, who wore the grooves down to mush learning the songs and guitar licks off these two albums would fill a book all by itself. If you have to narrow it down to just one Howlin' Wolf purchase for the collection, this would be the one to have and undoubtedly the place to start. This and The Best of Muddy Waters are the essential building blocks of any Chicago blues collection. And seldom does the music come with this much personality and brute force. ~ Cub Koda

Wolf's visceral impact is overwhelming at times, and his performances on these tunes are definitive. All his best-known and loved are here, including "Shake For Me," "The Red Rooster," "Wang Dang Doodle" SpooRolling Stone (4/11/02, p.107) - Ranked #33 in Rolling Stone's "50 Coolest Records" - "...HOWLIN WOLF is the toughest, meanest of electric blues..."


  Damn Right, I've Got The Blues CD
  by Buddy Guy
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Grammy-winning comeback set that brought Buddy Guy back to prominence after a long studio hiatus. Too many clichéd cover choices -- "Five Long Years," "Mustang Sally," "Black Night," "There Is Something on Your Mind" -- to earn unreserved recommendation, but Guy's frenetic guitar histrionics ably cut through the superstar-heavy proceedings (Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Mark Knopfler all turn up) on the snarling title cut and a handful of others. ~ Bill Dahl

And in 1991, he had good reason. At that point, Guy had not made a studio album for a decade. The fact that Eric Clapton, who made sure that Buddy was a regular guest on his Royal Albert Hall blues nights, had called him the world's greatest guitarist still had not gained him a recording contract. Silvertone put that right with sessions that included the best session men from Britain and America, with guest appearances by Clapton, Jeff Beck and Mark Knopfler. The album showed all sides of Guy's talent, the blues singer, the soul man and the extravagantly gifted guitarist. A reluctant star, he has nevertheless taken full advantage of his new-found status as the uncrowned King of Chicago Blues.New York Times (1/1/92) - "...With savagely frenetic guitar solos and a voice that's faced down hard times, the longtime blues mainstay delivered the best album of his career..."

Grammy-winning comeback set that brought Buddy Guy back to prominence after a long studio hiatus. Too many clichéd cover choices -- "Five Long Years," "Mustang Sally," "Black Night," "There Is Something on Your Mind" -- to earn unreserved recommendation, but Guy's frenetic guitar histrionics ably cut through the superstar-heavy proceedings (Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, and Mark Knopfler all turn up) on the snarling title cut and a handful of others. [Damn Right, I've Got the Blues was reissued as an expanded edition in 2003, containing two bonus tracks: "Doin' What I Like Best" and "Trouble Don't Last."] ~ Bill Dahl

Rolling Stone (2/6/92, pg.79) - 3.5 Stars - Very Good - "...as good as Guy gets...damn good news for the blues..."


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