“Chess Blues”, 1993 USA-Only 4CD Box Set on MCA/Chess CHD4-9340. A Review…

“…I Woke Up This Morning…Couldn’t Even Get Out Of Bed…”

Released in early 1993 in the USA, the 101 tracks on this 4CD box represented the first proper overview by MCA of the Chess Blues legacy since their acquisition of its entire catalogue way back in 1985. And even now (in late 2009) with many subsequent compilations and box sets having followed - I estimate there are still at least 20 to 30 tracks exclusive to this set.

Here's a basic breakdown (each CD has a themed label):

Disc 1, 1947-1952, 25 Tracks, Yellow Aristocrat Label (73:31 minutes)
Disc 2, 1952-1954, 25 Tracks, Blue Chess Label (73:01 minutes)
Disc 3, 1954-1960, 26 Tracks, Plum Checker Label (73:08 minutes)
Disc 4, 1960-1967, 25 Tracks, Brown Argo Label (71:30 minutes)

"Chess Blues" was produced and co-compiled by ANDY McKAIE and features a wonderful 64-page booklet detailing track-by-track liner notes by MARY KATHERINE ALDIN of the LIVING BLUES Magazine (she handled the liner notes for many of the early Chess compilations). The text is peppered with classy black & whites photos of Chess giants like MUDDY WATERS, JOHN LEE HOOKER, LITTLE WALTER, HOWLIN' WOLF, WILLIE DIXON, SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON, CHUCK BERRY and ETTA JAMES. There are a few reproduced trade adverts and an opening comment by PHIL CHESS. Best of all though is the read - the paragraphs have great insights into the songs and revelatory information on long forgotten artists like LAURA RUCKER, ROBERT NIGHTHAWK and ARBEE STIDHAM. Just like Peter Grendysa's liner notes in the "Chess Rhythm & Roll" box that followed it, the booklet in this is a peach.

Remastered from Aristocrat and Chess master tapes by ERICK LABSON (over 800 credits to his name), the sound is great throughout - excepting a few tracks dubbed from disc ("Memory Of Sonny Boy" by FOREST CITY JOE from 1949 is one of them).

The music is far grittier than the "Rhythm & Roll" box where the Blues morphed into Rhythm 'n' Blues and then into Soul, but it's equally brilliant.

Unreleased gems include the fabulous piano-boogie of "Cryin' The Blues" by LAURA RUCKER sounding like a blues'd up version of Nellie Lutcher (lyrics above) - and a truly electrifying stripped down alternate take of "All Night Long" by Muddy Waters (just Muddy on guitar and Little Walter on harmonica) where he wants his woman to "rock me...all night long...'til my back has no bone..." Great stuff!

Listening to "Chess Blues" a full 16 years after its release is still a fabulous experience - and although it's not nearly as rare as it's follow-up set "Chess Rhythm & Roll", it's just as desirable...

Recommended - big time.

PS:
See also 5 separate reviews - the 1994 4CD box set "Chess Rhythm & Roll", the mammoth 15CD box set "The Chess Story 1947-1975" issued in 2000 and it's 3 separate parts issued as stand-alone 5CD sets in 2003

"The Chess Story 1965-1975" by VARIOUS ARTISTS - Part 3 of 3 (November 2001 EU MCA-Universal/Chess 5-Disc Reissue (3CDs of Music, 1 Interview CD and 1 CD-ROM) - Originally Part of the 1999 15-Disc Box Set "The Chess Story 1947-1975" - Erick Labson Remasters) - A Review and Discography by Mark Barry...

"...We May Not Have A Cent To Pay The Rent…But We're Gonna Make It…"

Part 3 of 3. A long hardback book-shaped box set - coloured mahogany/red - 5 Discs (3 x Music CDs, 1 x Interviews CD and 1 Interactive CD-ROM). 

"The Chess Story 1965-1975" by VARIOUS ARTISTS was EU-issued 6 November 2001 on MCA/Universal/Chess 1126962 (Barcode 0008811269623). As it came from the 1999 15-Disc original, it is technically a Reissue.

I've supplied the catalogue numbers for the 3 Audio CDs - it'll help those fans of Chess and its associate labels that are trying to hunt down that elusive tune... The last 2CDs are an Interview Disc and a CD-ROM.

Made in the USA, the 70 tracks of the 3 Audio CDs are remastered from the original master tapes by one of Universal's top engineers ERICK LABSON and soundwise (with over 800 mastering credits to his name) it's a typically superb job. Apart from the truly horrific "My Ding A Ling", Disc 13 in particular is a JOY both in track choice and sound quality – song after son just an ABSOLUTE BLAST.

The packaging I feel could have been better, given the huge cost - disappointing booklet, reproduction of the interview that's on CD 14 anyway - but for Chess fans many of these tracks remain unavailable anywhere else. Disc 13 in particular (apart from the abomination of "My Ding A Ling") makes for the most fantastic listen - perfect mixture of primo Sixties and Seventies Soul, Blues and Blues-Rock and sexy chart-hugging R 'n' B. Combine those genres with great production values, top remastering - it's very tasty indeed m'lady. To the nitty gritty...

TITLES and ARTISTS:

CD11:
1. Love Is A Five-Letter Word (James Phelps)
2. We're Gonna Make It (Little Milton)
3. Ain't No Big Thing (The Radiants)
4. Temptation 'Bout To Get Me (The Knight Brothers)
5. Sitting In The Park (Billy Stewart)
6. Who's Cheating Who? (Little Milton)
7. The In Crowd (The Ramsey Lewis Trio)
8. Rescue Me (Fontella Bass)
9. Summertime (Billy Stewart)
10. Searching For My Love (Bobby Moore) (The Rhythm Aces)
11. Wang Dang Doodle (Koko Taylor)
12. Dirty Work Goin' On (Little Joe Blue)
13. In The Basement (Etta James) (Sugar Pie Desanto)
14. Landslide (Tony Clarke)
15. In The Mood (John Lee Hooker)
16. It's A Man's Man's World (Big Maybelle)
17. Wade In The Water (The Ramsey Lewis Trio)
18. One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer (John Lee Hooker)
19. Without A Woman (Kip Anderson)
20. Peak Of Love (Bobby McClure)
21. Sweeter Than The Day Before (The Valentinos)
22. To Know I Can't Touch (Barbara) (The Browns)
23. I Fooled You This Time (Gene Chandler)
24. Try My Love Again (Bobby Moore) (The Rhythm Aces)
25. Ooh Baby (Bo Diddley)
26. I Feel So Bad (Little Milton)

CD12:
1. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy (Marlena Shaw)
2. Dirty Man (Laura Lee)
3. I'm Shorty (Tommy Tucker)
4. Cheater Man (Irma Thomas)
5. O-O I Love You (The Dells)
6. Tell Mama (Etta James)
7. Some A Your Sweet Love (Wayne Cochran)
8. Uptight Good Man (Laura Lee)
9. There Is (The Dells)
10. I'm Just What She Needs (Johnny Sayles)
11. You Left The Water Running (Maurice & Mac)
12. It Ain't Necessary (Mamie Galore)
13. Sitting Home Alone (Hound Dog Taylor)
14. Cadillac Jack (Andre Williams)
15. Good To Me (Irma Thomas)
16. Security (Etta James)
17. Stay In My Corner (The Dells)
18. You Name It, I've Had It (Willie Walker)
19. Without A Woman (Kip Anderson)
20. Here Comes The Judge (Pigmeat Markham)
21. Look At Me Now (Terry Callier)
22. Walking Thru The Park (Muddy Waters)
23. Girls Ain't Groceries (Little Milton)
24. Love You Like A Woman (Koko Taylor)

CD13:
1. I Had A Dream (John Littlejohn)
2. Oh What A Night (The Dells)
3. If Walls Could Talk (Little Milton)
4. Who's Been Talking (Howlin' Wolf)
5. Baby, I Love You (Little Milton)
6. Losers Weepers (Etta James)
7. Recouperating (Lee Eldred)
8. Can You Be A One-Woman Man (Sam Dees)
9. Tease Your Man (Koko Taylor)
10. Sad, Sad Day (Muddy Waters)
11. My Ding-A-Ling (Chuck Berry)
12. Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation (The Dells)
13. Can't Get No Grindin' (Muddy Waters)
14. Can't Stay Here (Howlin' Wolf)
15. Bio (Chuck Berry)
16. I Miss You (The Dells)
17. I'll Be Holding On (Big Al Downing)
18. Don't Make Me No Promises (The Dramatics)
19. I'm Leaving On That Late, Late Train (Solomon Burke)
20. Tell Me What You Want (Jimmy Ruffin)
21. Going Down To Main Street (Muddy Waters)

CATALOGUE NUMBERS

CD11 "The Chess Story 1965-1966" (76:04 minutes):
1. Argo 5499 [A]
2. Checker 1105 [A]
3. Chess 1925 [A]
4. Checker 1107 [A]
5. Chess 1932 [A]
6. Checker 1113 [A]
7. Cadet 5506 [A]
8. Checker 1120 [A]
9. Chess 1966 [A]
10. Checker 1129 [A]
11. Checker 1135 [A]
12. Checker 1141 [A]
13. Cadet 5539 [A]
14. Chess 1979 [A]
15. Chess 1965 [A]
16. Chess 1967 [A]
17. Cadet 5541 [A]
18. Chess LP 1508 ("The Real Folk Blues" by JOHN LEE HOOKER, 1966, USA)
19. Checker 1145 [A]
20. Checker 1153 [A]
21. Chess 1977 [A]
22. Chess (Europe) GCH 8118 ("The Southern Soul Stock, Vol.2" by VARIOUS, 1989 on Green Line)
23. Checker 1155 [A]
24. Checker 1156 [A]
25. Checker 1158 [A]
26. Checker 1162 [A]

CD12 "The Chess Story 1967-1968" (69:02 minutes):
1. Cadet 5557 [A]
2. Chess 2013 [A]
3. Checker 1178 [A]
4. Chess 2010 [A]
5. Cadet 5574 [A]
6. Cadet 5578 [A]
7. Chess 2020 [A]
8. Chess 2030 [A]
9. Cadet 5574 and Cadet 5590 [A]
10. Chess 2033 [A]
11. Checker 1197 [A]
12. St. Laurence 1012 [A]
13. Chess (Germany) LP 628601 ("Chess Blues" by VARIOUS, 1990's)
14. Checker 1205 [A]
15. Chess 2036 [A]
16. Cadet 5594 [A]
17. Cadet 5612 [A]
18. Checker 1198 [A]
19. Chess 2049 [A]
20. Cadet 5623 [A]
21. Chess LPS-127 ("Fathers & Sons" by MUDDY WATERS, 2LP Set, 1969)
22. Checker 1212
23. Chess LPS-1532 ("Koko Taylor" by KOKO TAYLOR, USA, 1969)

CD13 "The Chess Story 1969-1975" (75:54 minutes):
1. Chess LP 6074
2. Cadet 5649 [A]
3. Checker 1226 [A]
4. Chess LP 60008 ("The London Sessions" by HOWLIN' WOLF & FRIENDS, 1971)
5. Checker 1227 [A]
6. Cadet 5676 [A]
7. Chess 2105 [A]
8. Chess 2109 [A]
9. Chess LP 50018 ("Basic Soul" by KOKO TAYLOR, 1972)
10. Chess LP 60013 ("The London Sessions" by MUDDY WATERS & FRIENDS, 1971)
11. Chess 2131 [A]
12. Cadet 5696 [A]
13. Checker 2143 [A]
14. Chess LP 50045 ("Back Door Wolf" by HOWLIN’ WOLF, 1974)
15. Chess 2140 [A]
16. Cadet 5700 [A]
17. Chess 2158 [A]
18. Cadet 5706 [A]
19. Chess 2159 [A]
20. Chess 2160 [A]
21. Chess LP 60035 ("The Woodstock Album" by MUDDY WATERS, 1975)

CD14 – The Chess Story (73:31 minutes):
Tracks 1 to 4 are a Phil Chess interview conducted at his home in Tuscon, Arizona on the 14th of February 1999 (produced by Mary Katherine Alvin)
Tracks 5 to 18 are a Marshall Chess interview conducted by Paul Jones on Radio Jazz FM in London (no date supplied)

CD15 is a CD-ROM – an interactive journey through The Chess Story, complete Chess Legendary Masters Series catalogue and US Catalogue listing, stock footage of The Dells and Chuck Berry, scenes of Chicago and the Chess pressing plants, web links etc… Requires Windows 95/98 operating system on a PC and OS7 onwards on an Apple.

Recommended - even at a cost.

PS:
PART 1, the 1st box, is 5 discs also and covers 1947-1956, 131 tracks (see separate review)

PART 2, the 2nd box, is 5 discs too and covers 1957-1964, 133 tracks (see separate review).

PPS: title of this review is from Track 2 on CD11 - "We're Gonna Make It" by LITTLE MILTON