Label: Checker Records.
Release Date: 1959.
Recording Time: 34 minutes.
Recording Date: August 12, 1955 - March 27, 1958 in Chicago, IL.
Releases: 1963 (Pye International Records), 1990 (Chess), 1990 (MCA Records/Chess Records), 2001 (MCA Records), 2001 (Universal/MCA), 2007 (Universal Distribution), 2012 (Hi Horse Records), 2013 (City Hall), 2015 (Hallmark), 2015 (MCA/Chess).
Release Info: Studio Recording.
Styles: Chicago Blues, Delta Blues, Electric Chicago Blues, Electric Delta Blues, Electric Harmonica Blues, Regional Blues, Harmonica Blues.
Retaining photographer Don Bronstein's cover shot of a disheveled bum lying on the sidewalk (some former Chess artist, perhaps?) Sonny Boy Williamson's original 1959 album made it to digital reissue but has now been supplanted by MCA's exhaustive The Essential Sonny Boy Williamson. Still, for a budget price, there are a dozen unforgettable tracks: "Don't Start Me to Talkin'," and his Checker debut; "All My Love in Vain," "Wake Up Baby," "99," "Cross My Heart," "Let Me Explain," and "The Key (To Your Door)." - Review by Bill Dahl.
The first session that Williamson recorded for Checker was on August 12, 1955 where he recorded "Don't Start Me to Talkin'" and "All My Love in Vain", which were released as a single a month later in September. On January 7, 1956 he recorded "Let Me Explain". The single "Keep It to Yourself" b/w "The Key (To Your Door)" was recorded on August 7, 1956. "Fattening Frogs for Snakes" b/w "I Don't Know" was recorded on February 6, 1957 and was released either in late May or early June. "99" was recorded on September 1, 1957 and was released as the B-side of "Born Blind" in late January or early February 1958. The single "Cross My Heart" b/w "Dissatisfied" was recorded at the same session. "Wake Up Baby" b/w "Your Funeral and My Trial" was the last song on Down and Out Blues to be recorded on March 27, 1958.
Personnel: Sonny Boy Williamson - vocals, harmonica; Muddy Waters - guitar (1, 3); Jimmy Rogers - guitar (1, 3); Otis Spann - piano; Willie Dixon - bass; Fred Below - drums; Robert Lockwood, Jr. - guitar; Luther Tucker - guitar; Lafayette Leake - piano (8, 9); Eugene Pierson - guitar (8, 9).
Producer: Leonard Chess, Phil Chess, Willie Dixon.
Credits: Fred Below - drums, guest artist; Ian Devaney - composer; Willie Dixon - bass, guest artist; Don Kamerer - liner notes; Robert Lockwood, Jr. - guest artist, guitar; Rice Miller - harmonica, vocals; McKinley Morganfield - guitar; Andy Morris - composer; Jimmy Rogers - guest artist, guitar; Otis Spann - guest artist, piano; Lisa Stansfield - composer; Luther Tucker - guest artist, guitar; Muddy Waters - guest artist, guitar; Sonny Boy Williamson II - composer, primary artist, vocals.
Tracks: 1) Don't Start Me to Talkin'; 2) I Don't Know; 3) All My Love in Vain; 4) The Key (To Your Door); 5) Keep It to Yourself; 6) Dissatisfied; 7) Fattening Frogs for Snakes; 8) Wake Up Baby; 9) Your Funeral and My Trial; 10) 99; 11) Cross My Broken Heart; 12) Let Me Explain.