Chess. Singles that became albums.

LP 1958 · singles of the 1950s · Mono

With “Juke”, the instrumental that topped the R&B chart in 1952, and Willie Dixon’s “My Babe”. Liner notes by Studs Terkel.

Have a listen “Juke” – the instrumental that topped the R&B chart in 1952; it opens side two.

With Muddy Waters and Jimmy Rogers

LP 1958 · recorded 1948–1954 · Mono

Chess’s very first LP according to Acoustic Sounds: twelve singles, including “Rollin’ Stone” and “Hoochie Coochie Man”.

Have a listen “Rollin’ Stone” – Muddy Waters sings and plays alone, just voice and electric guitar.

With Little Walter, Jimmy Rogers, Otis Spann and Willie Dixon

LP 1959 · singles of the 1950s · Mono

“Maybellene”, “Roll Over Beethoven” and “Johnny B. Goode” on one record – Chuck Berry’s third LP.

Have a listen “Johnny B. Goode” – with Lafayette Leake on piano; listen for the piano beneath guitar and voice.

With Johnnie Johnson, Lafayette Leake and Willie Dixon

LP 1959 · recorded 1951–1959 · Mono

Wolf’s first LP: early recordings with Sam Phillips in Memphis, then Chicago – including “Smokestack Lightnin’”.

Have a listen “Smokestack Lightnin’” – a recurring guitar figure around which Wolf builds his calls and phrases.

With Hubert Sumlin, Willie Johnson, Ike Turner and Otis Spann

recorded 1960 · LP 1961

Her first studio album, for the Chess subsidiary Argo. Riley Hampton arranged it with strings; with “At Last” and “Stormy Weather”.

Have a listen “At Last” – a song from the 1941 film Sun Valley Serenade; Etta James recorded it in 1960 with Riley Hampton’s arrangement.

With Riley Hampton

LP 1964 · recorded 1957–1964

“No Particular Place to Go”, “You Never Can Tell” and “Promised Land” on one album.

Have a listen “You Never Can Tell” – Michael 45 recalls the dance scene from Pulp Fiction in his video. video from 10:22

With Johnnie Johnson, Lafayette Leake and Willie Dixon

recorded September 1963 · LP 1964 · Mono

Acoustic, at Chicago’s Ter-Mar Studios: Buddy Guy on second guitar, Willie Dixon on double bass. Nine tracks as originally issued.

Have a listen “My Home Is in the Delta” – the opening track: Muddy Waters with acoustic guitars instead of an electric band.

With Buddy Guy, Willie Dixon and Clifton James

recorded 1947–1964 · Mono

Seventeen years in twelve songs – from the early Aristocrat sides to “Mannish Boy”.

Have a listen “Mannish Boy” – Muddy’s answer to Bo Diddley’s “I’m a Man”, recorded in 1955.

With Little Walter, Otis Spann, Jimmy Rogers and Willie Dixon

recorded 1956–1965 · Mono

With “Killing Floor”: electric Chicago blues despite the folk title, drawn from recordings made between 1956 and 1965.

mastered from digital sources (per the publisher)

Have a listen “Killing Floor” – a guitar figure that pushes forward, with Wolf’s voice above it.

With Hubert Sumlin, Buddy Guy, Otis Spann and Willie Dixon

compiled posthumously

Compiled after his death in 1965, partly from unreleased recordings, from “One Way Out” to “Too Old to Think”, including “Bring It On Home”. Liner notes by Willie Dixon.

Have a listen “Bring It On Home” – written by Willie Dixon, with Matt “Guitar” Murphy, long before Led Zeppelin drew on it.

With Otis Spann, Lafayette Leake and Matt „Guitar“ Murphy