Howlin' Wolf - Boy, You Got The Blues There! Vol. 1: The Wolf's West Memphis Blues

10-inch 45 RPM vinyl with booklet

Howlin' Wolf's earliest recordings (1951 - 1953), recorded by Sam Phillips and unreleased at the time!

Includes alternate versions and unreleased masters

Brutal, primal electric blues from one of the true greats of the genre!

Liner notes and discographical details in illustrated booklet by British blues expert and historian Martin Hawkins

This 10" vinyl LP contains music that cemented the style of one of the greats of the Mississippi blues and later of Chicago rhythm and blues.

Between May 1951 and early 1953 the Howlin' Wolf — Chester Burnett — made his first-ever recording sessions. They took place in Tennessee at the Memphis Recording Service, where producer and engineer Sam Phillips was not afraid to take a chance on a singer who was already more than 40 years old and whose then small claim to fame was a local radio show across the river at KWEM in West Memphis.

In fact, nothing would have stopped Phillips recording the Wolf. Phillips was captivated by his voice. He was the first to hear and understand the man's potential.

Sam Phillips said that he heard Wolf on the radio and got word to him at KWEM that he would be interested in recording him. He placed him under contract in spring 1951, and sold Wolf's recordings to Chess Records in Chicago. The first release, "How Many More Years," became a national No. 4 R&B chart hit that summer.

Burnett, the Howlin' Wolf, only recorded in Memphis for two years, but that was time enough for him and his band, with the ingenious guitarist Willie Johnson, to perfect many of his trademark phrases, howls, rhythms, riffs, and solos.

Sam Phillips captured all these moments of creation in the 10 tracks in this album (and in 10 more in the linked album Boy, You Got More Blues Here) which remained unissued in Phillips' tape boxes for more than 25 years until rediscovered.

So, what you hear in this album is vitally important blues music, and it's supremely good.

 

 

 

 

(Everybody's) In The Mood

My Last Affair (take1)

Look-A-Here Baby

How Many More Years

Bluebird Blues

Oh Red (take2)

Chocolate Drop

My Troubles And Me

I Got A Woman / Sweet Woman

California Boogie

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