Howlin Wolf His Best CD

Personnel includes: Howlin' Wolf (vocals, harmonica); Willie Johnson, Hubert Sumlin, Jimmy Rogers (guitar); Adolph "Billy" Duncan (tenor saxophone); Ike Turner, Otis Spann, Lafayette Leake (piano); Willie Dixon, Buddy Guy (bass); Willie Steele (drums).
Producers: Leonard Chess, Phil Chess, Willie Dixon.
Recorded between 1951 & 1964. Includes liner notes by Mark Humphrey.
This is part of Chess Records' 50th Anniversary series.
Personnel: Howlin' Wolf (vocals, guitar, harmonica); Willie Dixon (vocals); Abe Smothers, Freddie King, Hubert Sumlin, Hosea Lee Kennard, Jimmy Rogers , Jody Williams, Otis Smokey Smothers, Willie Johnson (guitar); Abe Locke, Adolph Duncan, Arnold Rogers (tenor saxophone); Donald Hankins (baritone saxophone); Henry Gray, Ike Turner, Johnny Jones, Lafayette Leake, Otis Spann, Albert Williams (piano); Earl Phillips, Willie Steel, S.P. Leary, Sam Lay (drums).
Audio Remasterer: Erick Labson.
Liner Note Author: Mark A. Humphrey.
Recording information: Chicago, IL (05/17/1951-08/??/1964); Memphis, TN (05/17/1951-08/??/1964).
Photographers: Peter Amft; Joseph Sia; Ray Flerlage; Frank Driggs; Brian Smith ; John Gibbs Rockwood.
With the exception of a vinyl compilation issued in the early '80s (His Greatest Sides, Vol. 1), there'd never really ever been a single-disc Howlin' Wolf best-of package available. That all changed with this entry in MCA/Chess' 50th Anniversary series, a 20-track retrospective that serves as the perfect introduction to the man and his music, some of the very best the blues has to offer. While some naysayers will always decry the exclusion -- or inclusion -- of any given number of tracks on any artist's best-of compilation, it's pretty hard to fault what's been collected here. Starting with the two-sided smash that brought him from Memphis to Chicago ("Moanin' at Midnight" b/w "How Many More Years"), this compilation hits all the high points and essential tracks, illustrating how his music developed into the mid-'60s. Eleven of the 20 tunes on here are either written or co-written by Willie Dixon, and Wolf's original takes on "Back Door Man," "Spoonful," "The Red Rooster," "Wang Dang Doodle," and "I Ain't Superstitious" are truly the definitive ones, a place where personality and material symbiotically become as one. Even if you have already have this material, die-hard Wolf fans -- and audiophiles in particular -- will want to investigate this package as the master transfers used here are absolutely stunning, with stereo mixes of "Killing Floor," "Built for Comfort," "Hidden Charms" (with the full-length Hubert Sumlin guitar solo), "Shake for Me," and the long version of "Going Down Slow" being particular standouts. This is a set so essential that it should be on everyone's Top Ten first purchases in building the perfect blues collection. While Wolf's music will take you to many places (both musically and spiritually), here's where you start to absorb it all. ~ Cub Koda
Since even Howlin' Wolf's worst recordings are compelling in some regard, it should go without saying that HIS BEST, a collection of his finest Chess sides, is magnificent from beginning to end. Possessed of fine guitar and harp skills, a voice that could separate skin from bone, and a sheer magnetism and charisma that knew (and has known) no equal, Howlin Wolf is one of 20th century music's greatest performers.
Every track here is stellar, and a few like "Evil," "Smokestack Lightnin'," "Back Door Man" and "Spoonful," will have listeners wearing out the repeat button on their disc players. Wolf's ferocious delivery can inspire terror and delight ("Three Hundred Pounds of Joy") equally, and the power of his voice can make you want to shout, laugh, cry or destroy some property. Though true fans may want to investigate the individual albums, HIS BEST is a consistently untouchable collection.Q (12/02, p.133) - "...Drawing on the more devilish aspects of the Delta blues and giving it a shot of '50s electricity, Wolf foreshadowed rock's darker reaches..."