Howlin' Wolf (album)

Howlin' Wolf
Compilation album by Howlin' Wolf
Released January 11, 1962
Recorded 1959-1962[1]
Genre Chicago blues
Length 31:57
Label Chess
Producer Ralph Bass[1]
Howlin' Wolf chronology
Moanin' in the Moonlight
(1959)		 Howlin' Wolf
(1962)		 The Howlin' Wolf Album
(1969)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic [2]
Mojo[3]
Rolling Stone [4]

Howlin' Wolf is the third studio album from Chicago blues singer/guitarist/harmonicist Howlin' Wolf. It is a collection of six singles previously released by the Chess label from 1960 through 1962. Because of the illustration on its sleeve (by Don Bronstein), the album is often called The Rockin' Chair Album, a nickname even added to the cover on some reissue pressings of the LP.

Legacy and awards

In 1966, fellow Chess artist Koko Taylor recorded a cover version of "Wang Dang Doodle" which reached #4 on the Billboard's R&B Charts and became a minor crossover hit by making #58 on the Billboard Hot 100.[5] Earlier in 1963 Sam Cooke released a single of "Little Red Rooster" making #7 on the R&B Singles chart and #11 on the Hot 100.[6] In 1969 the songs "Shake for Me" and "Back Door Man" were used in the lyrics to the Led Zeppelin song "Whole Lotta Love".

In 1985 the album won a Blues Music Award by The Blues Foundation for 'Classics of Blues Recordings—Album'.[7] In 2003, the album was ranked #223 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time and described as "an outrageous set of sex songs written by Willie Dixon."[8] It was named the third greatest guitar album of all time by Mojo magazine in 2004.[9]

Critical response

When reviewed on its 50th anniversary in 2012 by Pig River Records, the record was highly praised, receiving a score of 8.6/10.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Willie Dixon; except where indicated

Side one
  1. "Shake for Me" – 2:12
  2. "The Red Rooster" – 2:22
  3. "You'll Be Mine" – 2:25
  4. "Who's Been Talkin'" (Howlin' Wolf) – 2:18
  5. "Wang Dang Doodle" – 2:18
  6. "Little Baby" – 2:45
Side two
  1. "Spoonful" – 2:42
  2. "Going Down Slow" (St. Louis Jimmy Oden) – 3:18
  3. "Down in the Bottom" – 2:05
  4. "Back Door Man" – 2:45
  5. "Howlin' for My Baby" – 2:28
  6. "Tell Me" (Howlin' Wolf) – 2:52

Personnel

Performers[2]
Production[1]

Reissue

In 1984 this album was reissued by Chess as CH-9183. The cover picture was changed slightly adding an elliptical logo beneath the album title that reads "CHICAGO 26 Golden years Single Album", and the "Chess LP 1469" trademark was replaced with the "CH-9183" identifier.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Howlin' Wolf - Howlin' Wolf (Vinyl, LP, Album) at Discogs". Discogs.com. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  2. 1 2 Cook, Stephen. "AllMusic review". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  3. ↑ Brown, Geoff (November 2014). "Howlin' Wolf Howlin' Wolf". Mojo. p. 112.
  4. ↑ "223) Howlin' Wolf : Rolling Stone". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2010-04-12. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  5. ↑ Huey, Steve. "Koko Taylor - Music Biography, Credits and Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  6. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (1988). Top R&B Singles 1942-1988, Records Research, Inc., ISBN 978-0-89820-069-0.
  7. ↑ "The Blues Foundation - Past Hall of Fame Inductees". Blues.org. Retrieved 2012-08-07.
  8. ↑ "Howlin' Wolf, Rolling Stone Music, Lists". rollingstone.com. April 5, 2010 (Updated Version). Retrieved September 11, 2010. Check date values in: |date= (help)
  9. ↑ Barnes, Anthony (21 July 2003). "Hendrix heads list of 100 guitar greats with 'Are You Experienced'". The Independent. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
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