Moanin' in the Moonlight

Moanin' in the Moonlight
Compilation album by Howlin' Wolf
Released 1959
Recorded May 14 or August 1951 at Memphis Recording Service in Memphis, Tennessee – March 1959 in Chicago, Illinois[1][2]
Genre Chicago blues
Length 33:53
Label Chess
Producer Leonard Chess, Phil Chess, Willie Dixon, Sam Phillips
Howlin' Wolf chronology
Moanin' in the Moonlight
(1959)		 Howlin' Wolf
(1962)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic Link

Moanin' in the Moonlight was the first full-length album by American blues singer Howlin' Wolf. The album was a compilation of previously-issued singles by Chess Records. It was originally released by Chess Records as a mono-format LP record in 1959 (see 1959 in music). The album has been reissued several times, including a vinyl reissue in 1969 titled Evil.

Contents

Recording and production

The two earliest songs on Moanin' in the Moonlight were "Moanin' at Midnight" and "How Many More Years". These two songs were recorded at Sam Phillips' Memphis Recording Service in Memphis, Tennessee on May 14, 1951 or August 1951. These two songs were sold to the Chess brothers, Leonard and Phil, who released them as a single on August 15, 1951. The rest of the songs on the album were recorded in Chicago, Illinois and were produced by either the Chess brothers and/or Willie Dixon.[1][2]

Artwork, packaging, and promotion

The original version of Moanin' in the Moonlight featured cover artwork by Don S. Bronstein and sleeve notes by Billboard editor Paul Ackerman.[3] The label pressings from the original series have different colors on it because several pressing plants were used.[4]

The album was featured on an advertisement in Billboard magazine on August 10, 1959, which misspelled the album's title as Howlin' at Midnite.[5]

Accolades

In 1987 Moanin' in the Moonlight was given a W.C. Handy Award under the category of "Vintage/Reissue Album (US)".[6] Rolling Stone magazine ranked the album as #153 on their list of the 500 greatest albums of all time.[7]

Track listing

All songs written by Chester Burnett, except when noted.

Side one
  1. "Moanin' at Midnight" – 2:58
  2. "How Many More Years" – 2:42
  3. "Smokestack Lightnin'" – 3:07
  4. "Baby How Long" – 2:56
  5. "No Place to Go" – 2:59
  6. "All Night Boogie" – 2:12
Side two
  1. "Evil" – 2:55 (Willie Dixon)
  2. "I'm Leavin' You" – 3:01
  3. "Moanin' for My Baby" – 2:47
  4. "I Asked for Water (She Gave Me Gasoline)" – 2:53
  5. "Forty-Four" – 2:51 (Roosevelt Sykes, credited to Burnett)
  6. "Somebody in My Home" – 2:27

Personnel

The following people contributed to Moanin' in the Moonlight:[1][2]

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalog
United States 1959 Chess Records mono LP LP-1434
United Kingdom February 1965 Chess Records mono LP CRL 4006
United Kingdom January 1967 Marble Arch mono LP MAL 665
United States 1969 Chess Records mono LP LP-1540
United States 1986 MCA Records/Chess Records mono LP CH-9195
mono Cassette CHC-9195

References

  1. ^ a b c (1986) Album notes for Howlin' Wolf / Moanin' in the Moonlight by Howlin' Wolf [CD liner]. United States: MCA Records (CHD-5908).
  2. ^ a b c Humphrey, Mark (2007). Album notes for The Definitive Collection by Howlin' Wolf [CD liner]. United States: Geffen Records/Chess Records (B0008784-02/CHD-9375 BK02).
  3. ^ Ackerman, Paul. Album notes for Moanin' in the Moonlight by Howlin' Wolf, back cover [Vinyl sleeve]. United States: Chess Records (LP-1434).
  4. ^ David Edwards; Mike Callahan, Randy Watts. "Chess Album Discography, Part 1 (1956-1965)". Both Sides Now Publications. http://www.bsnpubs.com/chess/chess/chess1425.html. Retrieved March 6, 2011. 
  5. ^ "Chess Producing Corporation Advertisement". Billboard Vol. 71 (No. 32): 30. August 10, 1959. http://books.google.com/books?id=PQoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30&dq=%22Chess+LP-1434%22&hl=en&ei=xAN0TcHaOcPbgQfXxeQ-&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved March 6, 2011. 
  6. ^ Past Blues Music Awards. Blues Foundation. Retrieved February 2, 2011.
  7. ^ "Moanin' in the Moonlight by Howlin' Wolf". Rolling Stone. Jann S. Wenner. http://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/500-greatest-albums-of-all-time-19691231/moanin-in-the-moonlight-howlin-wolf-19691231. Retrieved February 2, 2011. 
Howlin' Wolf
Albums
Moanin' in the Moonlight (1959) • Howlin' Wolf (1962) • The Howlin' Wolf Album (1969) • The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions (1972)
Noted songs
"Forty-Four" (1954) • "Evil" (1954) • "Smokestack Lightning" (1956) • "Sitting on Top of the World" (1957) • "Poor Boy" (1957) • "Wang Dang Doodle" (1960) • "Back Door Man" (1960) • "Spoonful" (1960) • "I Ain't Superstitious" (1961) • "Little Red Rooster" (1962) • "Goin' Down Slow" (1961) • "My Country Sugar Mama" (1964) • "Killing Floor" (1966)
Collaborators
Related articles