My guess is that many people reading this will already be familiar with this absolutely classic compilation, originally released in 1959 and consisting of recordings made all throughout that decade ranging from 1951-1959. While the opening two tracks were cut in Memphis, the rest was cut in Chicago, much of it with (among others) Hubert Sumlin on guitar, Otis Spann on piano, and Willie Dixon on bass. Howlin’ Wolf is one of the most covered blues artists of all-time, and the songs included on here are no exception to that rule. For example, fans of British Invasion era rock will recognize “Smokestack Lightning” from the Yardbirds cover while “How Many More Years” was reworked years later by Led Zeppelin as “How Many More Times” as the closing track on their debut album. Furthermore, “Evil” was covered live by Cactus.
So given all that, as well as this album’s long-established reputation as not only some of Howlin’ Wolf’s finest work, but as one of the best Chicago blues albums of all time, as well as a major inspiration for the ’60s British blues boom, the only question to really ask is if this reissue, released late last year as part of Chess’ 75th anniversary series, is worth getting, particularly if this album is already in your collection. The answer, thankfully, is a resounding yes. The mastering, sound, and overall presentation are just incredible, as is the usual standard for Chad Kassem’s Acoustic Sounds reissues. And of course, it’s also particularly enticing for those who don’t have a copy of this in their collections, as given that it’s a standard price point for an audiophile-quality reissue, it’s a no-brainer. It feels like Howlin’ Wolf and his band are in your living room as you listen. Get it while you can.
