Blind Dog Radio

Chess Blues (Box set) by Various Artists

Label: Chess Records.
Release Date: 1992.
Recording Time: 290 minutes.
Release Info: Studio Recording.
Recording Date: 1947 - August 23, 1967.
Releases: 1992 (MCA Records / Chess); February 2, 1993 (Chess / Geffen).

Styles: Chicago Blues, Regional Blues, Acoustic Blues, Acoustic Chicago Blues, Blues Revival, Delta Blues, Early R&B, Electric Blues, Electric Chicago Blues, Electric Harmonica Blues, Harmonica Blues, Piano Blues, Soul Blues.

Chess Blues is a superlative four-CD box set featuring important tracks by all the main stars of the label (Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson), as well as much previously unreleased material. A well-done retrospective of Chicago blues in its heyday, as recorded by America's greatest blues label, Chess. - Review by Cub Koda.

Absolutely Essential Compilation.
If you're a new listener to post-War urban blues, or are unfamiliar with the Chess label and its subsidiaries, you must buy this box set. If, on the other hand, you're like me and your CD and LP collections contain scores of re-issues of individual artists who recorded for Chess, Checker, and the like...you must buy this box set. Do not fear over-duplication. This is no mere collection of the "best of" each artist included in the set, but is a true cross-section of styles and artists recorded during the incredibly important two decades after World War II by the Chess brothers. Major artists--Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, et al--are represented by several songs each, ranging from their earliest to their later recordings. Most impressive, though, is the breadth of artists, major and minor, and the quality of the song selection. From the gritty Robert Nighthawk to the urbane Lloyd Glenn to the soulful Etta James, the creators of this collection have managed to bring together some of the most interesting, moving, and important recordings of the post-War era. Put the discs into your player and you'll hear famous classics like Otis Rush's "So Many Roads, So Many Trains," as well as unnoticed gems like Willie Dixon's "Walking the Blues" (a little gimmicky, but a rare chance to hear some terrific unaccompanied riffs by Lafayette Leake). The quality of the music is almost matched by the very informative booklet, which contains some terrific photos. If you don't want to spend the money on a box set, get someone to buy it for you. - Review by Maxwell Wiley.

Credits: Alberta Adams - performer, primary artist, vocals; Oliver Alborn - sax (tenor); Mary Katherine Aldin - associate producer, compilation producer, liner notes; Lee Allen - sax (tenor); Tom Archia - composer; Billy Boy Arnold - harmonica, performer, primary artist, vocals; Harold Ashby - sax (tenor); Alex Atkins - sax (alto), sax (tenor); Baby Face Leroy - performer, primary artist; Carl Banks - organ; Gene Barge - composer, saxophone; Fontella Bass - piano; Julien Beasley - saxophone; Joseph Bell - bass; Fred Below - drums; The Big Three Trio - performer, primary artist; Black Bob - piano; Little Joe Blue - performer, primary artist; Johnny Board - sax (tenor); Chick Booth - drums; Steve Boswell - drums; Eddie Boyd - composer, performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Reggie Boyd - bass; James Bradford - bass; John Brim - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Big Bill Broonzy - composer; Earl Brown - sax (alto); J.T. Brown - sax (tenor), saxophone; Chester Burnett - composer; Eddie "Guitar" Burns - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Bobby Buster - organ; Choker Campbell - saxophone; Milton Campbell - composer, guitar, vocals; James Carr - sax (tenor); Leonard Caston - guitar, organ; Charles Chalmers - saxophone; Lonnie Chatmon - composer; Leonard Chess - producer; Phil Chess - producer; Fred Clark - sax (tenor); Francis Clay - drums; J.C. Cole - guitar; Leroy Cooper - bass; James Cotton - harmonica; Ernest "Big" Crawford - bass; Ollie Crawford - guitar; Little sax Crowder - sax (tenor); Roger Dawkins - drums; Detroit Junior - performer, primary artist; Bo Diddley - guitar; Floyd Dixon - performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Willie Dixon - bass, composer, performer, primary artist, producer, vocals; Minnie Douglas - guitar, vocals; Paul Drake - piano; Al Duncan - drums; Alfred Elkins - bass; Bill Emerson - organ; Elgin Evans - drums; Frank Fields - bass; Forest City Joe - performer, primary artist; Bill Foster - composer; Leroy Foster - bass, drums, drums (bass), guitar, hi hat, vocals; Preston Foster - composer; Rocky Fuller - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Lowell Fulson - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Andrew Gardner - sax (alto); Al Garvin - drums; Paul Gayten - leader, performer, piano; Paul Gayton - performer, primary artist; Phillip Gibeaux - saxophone; Jarrett Gibson - sax (tenor); Lloyd Glenn - composer, performer, piano, primary artist; Porter Grainger - composer; Henry Gray - performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Jerome Green - maracas; Larry Green - guitar; Buddy Guy - guitar, performer, primary artist; George Guy - guitar, vocals; William K. "Billy" Hadnott - bass; Rick Hall - producer; Donald Hankins - sax (baritone); Pat Hare - guitar; Henry "Sneaky Joe" Harris - drums; Hilda Harris - drums; David Hines - trumpet; Georgia Hinton - vocals (background); David Hood - bass; John Lee Hooker - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Leon Hooper - drums; Big Walter Horton - harmonica, performer, primary artist; Howlin' Wolf - composer, harmonica, performer, primary artist, vocals; L.C. Hubert - piano; George Hunter - drums; Lee Jackson - bass; Pee Wee Jackson - trumpet; Clifton James - drums; Elmore James - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Etta James - composer, performer, primary artist, vocals; Gus Jenkins - performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Jimmy Johnson - guitar; Ray Johnson - guitar; Willie Johnson - guitar; Calvin "Fuzz" Jones - bass; Johnny Jones - performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Myrtle Jones - performer, primary artist, vocals; Tommy Jones - sax (tenor); Ellington Jordan - composer; Waldron "Frog" Joseph - trombone; Hosea Lee Kennard - piano; Albert King - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Eddie King - guitar; Leroy Kirkland - composer; Ransom Knowling - bass; Erick Labson - remastering; Ernest Lane - piano; James A. Lane - composer; Sammy Lawhorn - guitar; Ernest Lawlars - guitar; Sam Lay - drums; Lafayette Leake - composer, performer, piano, primary artist; J.B. Lenoir - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Little Mack - vocals (background); Little Milton - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Little Walter - composer, harmonica, performer, primary artist, vocals; Robert Lockwood, Jr. - guitar; Joe Hill Louis - guitar, harmonica; Albert Lowe - guitar; Albert Luandrew - composer; Willie Mabon - composer, performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; James "Pee Wee" Madison - guitar; Rudy Martin - piano; Robert McCollum - composer; Andy McKaie - compilation producer, producer; Claude McLin - sax (tenor); Andrew McMahon - bass; Harriett Melka - composer; Memphis Minnie - performer, primary artist; Memphis Slim - composer, performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Jack Meyers - bass; Gene Miller - trumpet; Raynard Miner - composer; Eurreal Montgomery - composer; Joe Montgomery - piano; Little Brother Montgomery - piano; Thiotis Morgan - drums; McKinley Morganfield - composer; Fats Morris - Trombone; Matt "Guitar" Murphy - guitar; Dave Myers - guitar; Louis Myers - guitar; Bob Neely - sax (tenor); David "Fathead" Newman - saxophone; Floyd Newman - saxophone; Robert Nighthawk - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Willie Nix - drums, performer, primary artist, vocals; James Burke Oden - composer; St. Louis Jimmy Oden - vocals; Odie Payne, Jr. - drums; Dewey Oldham - organ, piano; Jim O'Neal - photography; Lee Otis - bass; Timothy Overton - sax (tenor); Frank Parker - drums; Marshall Paul - composer; Morris Pejoe - guitar, performer, primary artist; Earl Phillips - drums; Sam Phillips - producer; Eugene Pierson - guitar; Larry Prothe - trumpet; Snooky Pryor - harmonica; Joe Bennie Pugh - composer, harmonica, vocals; Milton Rector - bass; Judge Riley - drums; Everett Robbins - composer; Freddie Robinette - sax (baritone); John Gibbs Rockwood - photography; Arnold Rogers - sax (tenor); Jimmy Rogers - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Doctor Ross - composer, guitar, harmonica, performer, primary artist, vocals; Laura Rucker - performer, primary artist, vocals; Otis Rush - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Oliver Sain - producer, sax (alto), sax (baritone); St. Louis Jimmy - performer, primary artist; Clarence Samuels - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Louis Satterfield - bass; Charles Segar - composer; Bill Settles - bass; James Shaw - composer; Johnny Shines - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Lewis Simpkins - composer; Gerald Sims - guitar; Robert Sims - drums; Brian Smith - photography; Clifton William Smith - composer; Lorenzo Smith - sax (tenor); Willie "Big Eyes" Smith - drums; Otis Smokey Smothers - guitar; Otis Spann - composer, performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Willie Steel - drums; Andrew Stephenson - bass; Charles Stepney - piano; Arbee Stidham - composer, guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Robert Stoughton - assembly; Stovepipe No. 1 - drums; Henry Strong - harmonica; Hubert Sumlin - guitar; Sunnyland Slim - performer, piano, primary artist, vocals; Forrest Sykes - composer, performer, piano, primary artist; Marcus Tate - photography; Cora Taylor - vocals; Eddie Taylor - composer, guitar; Hound Dog Taylor - guitar, performer, primary artist, vocals; Koko Taylor - composer, performer, primary artist; Lawrence Taylor - sax (alto), sax (baritone); Theodore Roosevelt Taylor - composer; Chuck Thomas - drums; Wilbur Thompson - trumpet; Andrew Tibbs - performer, primary artist, vocals; Curtis Tillman - bass; Luther Tucker - guitar; Red Tyler - sax (baritone); Phil Upchurch - bass; Joe Valery - vocals; Aaron Varnell - saxophone; Walter Vinson - composer; Curtis Walker - drums; H. Walker - composer; Jerry Walker - drums; Percy Walker - drums; Sam Wallace - piano; Eddie Ware - piano; Ferdinand Washington - composer; Muddy Waters - guitar, performer, primary artist, slide guitar, vocals; Junior Wells - harmonica; Hal White - sax (tenor); Maurice White - drums; Robert Whitehead - drums; Robert Whithead - drums; Emery Williams, Jr. - composer, piano, vocals; Jody Williams - guitar; John Williams - guitar; Lou Williams - sax (tenor); Louis Williams - sax (tenor); Homesick James Williamson - guitar; Sonny Boy Williamson II - composer, harmonica, performer, primary artist, vocals; Valerie Wilmer - photography; Jimmy Witherspoon - performer, primary artist, vocals; Pearl Woods - composer; Big Jim Wynn - sax (baritone); Dave Young - sax (tenor); John Young - piano.

Tracks, Disc 1: 1) Lollypop Mama (Single Version) - Clarence Samuels; 2) Bilbo Is Dead (Single Version) - Andrew Tibbs; 3) Johnson Machine Gun (Single Version) - Sunnyland Slim; 4) Fly Right, Little Girl (Single Version) - Sunnyland Slim; 5) Little Anna Mae (Single Version) - Muddy Waters (feat. Sunnyland Slim); 6) I Can't Be Satisfied - Muddy Waters; 7) My Sweet Lovin' Woman (Single Version) - Robert Nighthawk; 8) I Feel Like Going Home - Muddy Waters; 9) She Ain't Nowhere (Single Version) - Sunnyland Slim; 10) Florida Hurricane (Single Version) - St. Louis Jimmy; 11) Memory Of Sonny Boy (Single Version) - Forest City Joe; 12) Tonky Boogie (Single Version) - Forrest Sykes; 13) Cryin' The Blues - Laura Rucker; 14) My Head Can't Rest Anymore (Single Version) - Baby Face Leroy; 15) Big Town Playboy (Single Version) - Little Johnny Jones; 16) Sweet Black Angel (Single Version) - Robert Nighthawk; 17) Rollin' Stone - Muddy Waters; 18) Luedella (Single Version) - Jimmy Rogers; 19) Mother Earth (Single Version) - Memphis Slim; 20) Dr. Ross' Boogie (Single Version) - Dr. Isaiah Ross; 21) Joliet Blues (Single Version) - Johnny Shines; 22) Moanin' At Midnight - Howlin' Wolf; 23) All Night Long (Alternate Take) - Muddy Waters; 24) Mr. Commissioner (Alternate Take) - Arbee Stidham; 25) Gettin' Old And Grey (Single Version) - Howlin' Wolf.

Tracks, Disc 2: 1) Walkin' The Boogie (Alternate Take) - John Lee Hooker; 2) Juke (Single Version) - Little Walter; 3) Conjur Man - Memphis Minnie; 4) Who's Gonna Be Your Sweet Man When I'm Gone (Single Version) - Muddy Waters; 5) Broken Heart (Alternate Take) - Memphis Minnie; 6) Truckin' Little Woman (Single Version) - Willie Nix; 7) Funeral Hearse At My Door (Album Version) - Rocky Fuller; 8) Hard Time Gettin' Started - Eddie Boyd; 9) Don't Need No Horse - Little Walter; 10) Eight Ball - Gus Jenkins; 11) Fast Boogie - Little Walter; 12) I'm Mad (Single Version) - Willie Mabon; 13) Ice Cream Man (Album Version) - John Brim; 14) Whose Muddy Shoes (Album Version) - Elmore James; 15) Got To Have It - Willie Mabon; 16) I Declare That Ain't Right - Henry Gray; 17) Remember - Alberta Adams; 18) Untitled Instrumental - Henry Gray and Morris Pejoe; 19) Blues With A Feeling (Single Version) - Little Walter; 20) (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man - Muddy Waters; 21) Forty Four - Howlin' Wolf22) Got To Find My Baby (Alternate Take) - Little Walter; 23) Evil (Is Going On) - Howlin' Wolf; 24) Reconsider Baby (Single Version) - Lowell Fulson; 25) Mama Talk To Your Daughter (Single Version) - J.B. Lenoir. 

Tracks, Disc 3: 1) Mellow Down Easy (Single Version) - Little Walter; 2) My Eyes (Keep Me In Trouble) (Single Version) - Muddy Waters; 3) My Babe (Single Version) - Little Walter; 4) You Got To Love Me - Billy Boy Arnold; 5) Walking The Blues (Single Version)
 - Willie Dixon; 6) Don't Start Me To Talkin' (Single Version) - Sonny Boy Williamson; 7) Smokestack Lightnin' - Howlin' Wolf; 8) 29 Ways (Single Version) - Willie Dixon; 9) Right To Love You (feat. Myrtle Jones) - Paul Gayten; 10) Ain't Nobody's Business (1990 Compilation Version) - Jimmy Witherspoon; 11) I'm Leaving You - Otis Spann; 12) Break Of Day - Howlin' Wolf; 13) Please Don't Go (feat. Willie Dixon) - Floyd Dixon; 14) Keep It To Yourself (Single Version) - Sonny Boy Williamson; 15) Walking By Myself (Single Version) - Jimmy Rogers; 16) Got My Mojo Working - Muddy Waters; 17) Fattening Frogs For Snakes (Alternate Take) - Sonny Boy Williamson; 18) Slow Leake - Lafayette Leake; 19) Sitting On Top Of The World (Single Version) - Howlin' Wolf; 20) She Don't Know (Single Version) - J.B. Lenoir; 21) Your Funeral And My Trial (Single Version) - Sonny Boy Williamson; 22) Key To The Highway (Single Version) - Little Walter; 23) Double Trouble - Muddy Waters; 24) Come On Home - Eddie Boyd; 25) The Goat (Mono Instrumental Version) - Sonny Boy Williamson; 26) So Many Roads, So Many Trains (Single Version) - Otis Rush.

Tracks, Disc 4: 1) First Time I Met The Blues (1960 Single Version) - Buddy Guy; 2) Too Poor (Single Version) - Detroit Jr.; 3) Blue Shadows (1960 Single Version) - Lowell Fulson; 4) The Shakedown - Lloyd Glenn; 5) The Sun Is Shining (Alternate Take) - Elmore James; 6) Callin' For My Darlin' (Album Version) - Albert King; 7) The Red Rooster - Howlin' Wolf; 8) Nine Below Zero (1961 Single Version) - Sonny Boy Williamson; 9) Goin' Down Slow - Howlin' Wolf; 10) Satisfied (Single Version) - Little Milton; 11) Something's Got A Hold On Me (Single Version) - Etta James; 12) Wrinkles (Single Version) - The Big Three Trio; 13) Bring It On Home (Single Version) - Sonny Boy Williamson; 14) Good Moanin' Blues (Single Version) - Walter "Shakey" Horton; 15) Killing Floor (Single Version) - Howlin' Wolf; 16) What Kind Of Man Is That? (Single Version) - Koko Taylor; 17) We're Gonna Make It (Single Version) - Little Milton; 18) Wang Dang Doodle (Single Version) - Koko Taylor; 19) Dirty Work Goin' On (Single Version) - Little Joe Blue; 20) One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (Album Version) - John Lee Hooker; 21) Jinglin' Baby - Eddie Burns; 22) That's Why I Don't Mind - Muddy Waters; 23) Keep It To Myself (Single Version) - Buddy Guy; 24) Sitting Here Alone - Hound Dog Taylor; 25) I'd Rather Go Blind - Etta James.