Howlin' Wolf - Howlin' Wolf: His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection)

It was worth each star!

I have been waiting to review this CD, which says a great deal about the quality of the music. This was my introduction to Wolf's music, and it was a most memorable introduction!

I was hoping that someone would pick up on the fact that Howlin' Wolf's vocals sound like they were just about to overload the microphone. It says a lot about the power and ferocity of Wolf's vocal delivery. I have heard stories about people being scared stiff after, having seen him in concert; although I never had the pleasure, I don't think they were exaggerating. The man was physically very intimidating, without trying to be and his music carries that, too.

There is a lot of fire and passion in his music. The songs here are incredible. I enjoyed this CD from start, to finish. And I have listened to it many times. It is just fantastic! I have rarely been so excited to write a review. Please, buy it for yourself, if you don't believe me. The Wolf was a fantastic harp player, as well; he plays it on many songs here.

Nothing is half-hearted on this CD. Everything is 100 per cent energy! Well worth the money. June 23, 2008

More of the Hour of the Wolf

This review was used for Howlin' Wolf: The London Sessions. Except for the references to the Rolling Stones it applies here. Additionally the quality on this Anniversary edition is probably slightly better.

One of my first exposures to the world of Chicago-style blues, after a steady dirt of country-style Delta blues, was the Rolling Stones' version of the Willie Dixon classic Little Red Rooster back in the early 1960's. I thought that was a song to beat all songs and it had nothing to do its allegorical nature, you know, about sex. What, moreover, capped it for me the fact that it was originally banned in Boston- from the radio airwaves of the times. Naturally that made this teenager want to hear it even more.

All this is by way of saying-yes; the Stones did a great version of that song but if you really want it heard then you must go to the master- Howlin' Wolf. That big gravelly voiced man who, in pictures that I have seen, seems to be inhaling the microphone lets it all hang out as he struts his stuff on that number. In Do the Do, Little Red Rooster, Killing Floor and on and on the Wolf sweats, bleeds, sucks up the whiskey, has another one for good measure and gets down on his knees, sometimes literally, to belt out the blues.

In this two-disc set of Howling Wolf classics some of those Stones did exactly what I mentioned above-went to the source. Listen in to the dialogue when the Wolf tells these trained musicians how to do the do here on Little Red Rooster. And they are all ears. That says it all. Moreover, the musical excitement builds as song after song gets you in a true blue mood. This is all about sex, about whiskey, about hardworking weeks to get to fun-loving Saturday nights. Yes, the hour of the Wolf is just before the dawn. Get this masterwork. You will not regret it.
April 7, 2008

Blame it on the sopranos

It was the use of "Goin' Down Slow" in an episode of The Sopranos' last season that finally prompted me to correct a long running omission: no Howlin' Wolf in my collection. Let me be brief and clear: You've heard a lot of these songs from The Doors, Cream, Steppenwolf, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin - to name a few. But if you haven't heard these versions by Howlin' Wolf, you just haven't heard them yet. Just listen to "Spoonful" and ask yourself if you ever want to hear Cream's version again. Yes, it's that good.

Since this CD spans recordings from the early 50's to the mid 60's, there are stylistic progressions and the sound quality starts to improve significantly after the first handful of tracks. But, during the period when these tracks were recorded, recorded Blues was released mostly on singles, so compilations are the way to go. Unless you want to spring for the three-CD set from Chess, you simply won't find a better single disc representation of this legendary Chicago bluesman. Start here to find out why Howlin' Wolf was such a huge influence not just on the Blues, but on some of the greatest rock bands of all time. December 31, 2007

Deserted Island Good!

Put this album of Howlin Wolf in your top ten albums to listen to on that old preverbial desert island. I find this recording inspiring, relaxing, invigerating, mesmerizing, fullfilling and totally enjoyable. What more could you ask for in a CD? - Ciao August 10, 2007

ESSENTIAL!!!

As Sam Phillips of Sun Records said so poetically when he first heard Chester Arthur Burnett aka Howlin' Wolf, "This is it, this is where the soul of man never dies." It's hard to top that for commentary.
Late at night, there is very little in music more deliciously frightening than hearing "300 Pounds of Heavenly Joy" in a dark room or driving down a lonely stretch of highway. June 29, 2007

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