"Bad News Is Coming" by LUTHER ALLISON (2001 Universal/Motown 'Blues Classics - Remastered & Revisited' Expanded CD) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Raggedy And Dirty…"

On the evidence of this fab little CD reissue - Chicago's Luther Allison played some of the meanest and grittiest Seventies blues imaginable - and lucky for us was also possessed of a dirty low-down voice to match his fiery axework. Think of a black Jeff Beck circa 1972 with a tassels suede jacket, a spliff in his mouth, a Hendrix lean back pose as he plays and a Fender Stratocaster he wants to hurt - and you're there. "Bad News Is Coming" is his debut LP and a bit of a mule-kicking blinder it is too...

This ballsy uncompromising album first appeared in late 1972 on Motown's Gordy label imprint in the USA and has been remastered here as part of Universal's superlative "Blues Classics - Revisited & Remastered" Series (see list below) - bolstered up with four corking Bonus Tracks from the original sessions. Here is the Rooster in the Barn Yard details...

USA released in April 2001 - "Bad News Is Coming" by LUTHER ALLISON on Universal/Motown 440 013 407-2 (Barcode 044001340727) is an expanded CD remaster and breaks down as follows (56:10 minutes):

1. The Little Red Rooster [Willie Dixon song - Howlin' Wolf cover]

2. Evil Is Going On [Willie Dixon song - Howlin' Wolf cover]

3. Raggedy And Dirty [Luther Allison/Joe Peraino/Robert Kreinar/Andrew Smith/Ray Goodman song]

4. Rock Me Baby [B.B. King/Joe Bihari song - B.B. King cover]

5. Bad News Is Coming [Joe Peraino/Luther Allison/Paul White song] - Side 2

6. Cut You A-Loose [Mel London cover]

7. Dust My Broom [Elmore James cover]

Tracks 1 to 7 are his debut album "Bad News Is Coming" - released December 1972 in the USA on Motown/Gordy G 964L (No UK release).

BONUS TRACKS:

10. The Stumble [Freddie King cover]

11. Sweet Home Chicago [Robert Johnson cover]

12. It's Been A Long Time [Luther Allison song]

13. Take My Love (I Want To Give It All To You) [Mertis John song]

With all arrangements by Luther Allison, the album was recorded between February and August 1972 and produced by JOE PERIANO. The Band for the Sessions was:

LUTHER ALLISON - Lead Vocals and Guitar

RAY GOODMAN - Rhythm Guitar

PAUL WHITE - Piano and Organ

GARFIELD ANGOVE - Harmonica

ANDREW SMITH - Drums and Bass

SUHA GUR - one of Universal's top engineers - has given the remaster a fantastic quality with audio clarity on all of the tracks - pumping, muscular and superbly clear. Play only the opening bars of "The Little Red Rooster" which is essentially Rock-Blues and immediately you're kicked in the gut by the power of his playing and the wonderful muscle in the transfer. He powers down into a Harmonica and Piano Beat Blues with the second Howlin' Wolf classic on Side 1 - "Evil Is Going On" (great work from Garfield Angove and Paul White). Allison growls, "Another mule might be kicking in your stall..." as he allows Angove to dominate "Evil" with warbling harmonica. Things now get downright Funky with Organ/Harmonica battles on "Raggedy And Dirty" and a wicked rhythm section (this will surely turn up on some Kent-Soul/BGP CD as a Funky/Blues discovery). Allison closes the side with Soulful Robert Cray type fretwork on B.B. King's "Rock Me Baby" - his excellent band supplementing the licks with Piano fills and warm Bass runs.

"Bad News Is Coming" is kind of Albert King at Stax territory - a slow piano beat allows aching lyrics and guitar fills to come to the fore (very nice Blues). We return to harder guitar on "Cut You A-Loose" and finish on a slashing version of the Elmore James classic "Dust My Broom" - making you wish you could have seen this band in full flow in a bar somewhere about one in the morning. The extras are surprisingly good opening with an Instrumental version of Freddie King's "The Stumble" and a jaunty go at Robert Johnson's "Sweet Home Chicago". But best is the near eleven-minute "It's Been A Long Time" where he gets to stretch out on the guitar while Paul White plinks away on the piano. Great stuff...

Probably because it was a label more associated with Diana Ross, Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson - "Bad News Is Coming" and its 1974 follow-up "Luther's Blues" (also on Gordy and also in this series of CD reissues) simply got lost in the mix. No one seems to have noticed - which is astonishing given the quality of both albums. Perhaps if it had been on the Rare Earth label with the groups Rare Earth, The Undisputed Truth and Rustix - then the Rock crowd might have noticed it more. But like it's tasty follow up "Luther's Blues" - "Bad News Is Coming:" is a hard-to-find vinyl album for Motown collectors and I'd argue a real discovery for Blues enthusiasts (the CD is dirt cheap too).

In the early Fifties Luther Allison formed a band with his brother Ollie and called their group (cue a drumroll) -The Rolling Stones. You see how smart those British boys were - and how they and Led Zeppelin were always nicking the best ideas. A criminally forgotten guitarist in the pantheon of Blues Men - give this Luther Allison CD a go. It's recommended like grits and groceries...

Titles in 
Universal's 'Blues Classics-  Remastered and Revisited' CD Reissue Series:

1. Bad News Is Coming - LUTHER ALLISON

(1972 Gordy LP, 2001 Remaster + Four Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks) - Universal 440 013 407-2 (Barcode 044001340727)

2. Luther’s Blues - LUTHER ALLISON

(1974 USA 9-track LP with 3 Previously Unreleased bonuses, 70:28 minutes)

Universal 440 013 409-2 (Barcode 044001340925)

3. Two Steps From The Blues - BOBBY BLAND (1961 USA 12-track Mono Debut LP on Duke Records with 2 Bonus Single Sides, 35:12 minutes)

Released 27 Feb 2011 on MCA 088 112 516-2 (Barcode 008811251628)

4. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - JOHN LEE HOOKER

(October 1966 and September 1991 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 79:44 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 821-2 (Barcode 008811282127)

5. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - HOWLIN' WOLF

(January 1966 on Chess and January 1967 on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 66:45 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 820-2 (Barcode 008811282028)

6. Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions - ETTA JAMES)

(January 1968 US 12-Track LP on Cadet - 13-22 being bonuses, 57:11 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 518-2 (Barcode 008811251826)

7. Live At San Quentin - B.B. KING

(1990 13-Track Compilation on MCA, no extras, 64:11 minutes)

MCA America 088 112 517-2 (Barcode 008811251727)

8. Muddy Waters At Newport 1960 - MUDDY WATERS

(1960 US 9-Track LP on Chess with 10-13 being 4 Mono Studio Tracks from June 1960 as bonus tracks, 44:43 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 515-2 (Barcode 008811251529)

9. Fathers & Sons - MUDDY WATERS & Friends

(Tracks 1-10 and 15-20 is the August 1969 2LP set on Chess in Full with Tracks 11, 12, 13 being previously unreleased - and 14 previously unreleased in the USA). (77:38 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 648-2 (Barcode 008811264826)

10. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - MUDDY WATERS

MCA/Chess 088 112 822-2 (Barcode 008811282226)

11. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON

(January 1966 and January 1967 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 65:28 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 823-2 (Barcode 008811282325)

NOTES: 1 and 2 remastered by Suha Gur - 3 to 11 by Erick Labson

"Two Steps From The Blues" by BOBBY BLAND (2001 Universal/MCA 'Blues Classics: Remastered & Revisited' CD Reissue - Erick Labson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...I Pity The Fool..." 

Like so many albums of the period - Bobby Bland's 1961 debut LP "Two Steps From The Blues" was made up primarily of proven hit singles on the Blues and R&B charts. A whopping 7 of its 12 tracks had been Duke 45's - with releases stretching as far back as March 1957 - while three of the five new songs would become singles themselves anyway.

The five new cuts recorded in November 1960 in Chicago were "Two Steps From The Blues", "Don't Cry No More", "I've Just Got To Forget You", "St. James Infirmary" and the soon to be a No. 1 smash "I Pity The Fool" (released with the album in January 1961). And yet this slapped together long-player makes for a great listen – moaning Blues sided by a few shuffling R&B mid-tempo dancers. Here are the Pitiful Fools, Cheatin' Women and Little Boy Blues...

US released 27 February 2001 - "Two Steps From The Blues" by BOBBY BLAND on MCA/Duke-Peacock 088 112 516-2 (Barcode 008811251628) is part of Universal's "Blues Classics: Remastered & Revisited" CD Reissue Series (see list below) and offers the 12-track 1961 album plus two Bonus Tracks (singles from the period) and plays out as follows (35:12 minutes):

Side 1:

1. Two Steps From The Blues

2. Cry, Cry, Cry (also September 1960 USA 7" single on Duke 327, A)

3. I'm Not Ashamed (also April 1959 USA 7" single on Duke 303, A)

4. Don't Cry No More (also 1961 USA 7" single on Duke 336, A - withdrawn)

5. Lead Me On (also March 1960 USA 7" single on Duke 318, A)

6. I Pity The Fool (also January 1961 USA 7" single on Duke 332, A)

Side 2:

7. I've Just Got To Forget You

8. Little Boy Blue (also July 1958 USA 7" single on Duke 196, A)

9. St. James Infirmary (also June 1961 USA 7" single on Duke 340, B-side of "Don't Cry No More")

10. I'll Take Care Of You (also November 1959 USA 7" single on Duke 314, A)

11. I Don't Want No Woman (also March 1957 USA 7" single on Duke 167, B-side of "I Smell Trouble")

12. I've Been Wrong So Long (also September 1960 USA 7" single on Duke 327, B-side of "Cry, Cry, Cry")

Tracks 1 to 12 are his debut LP "Two Steps From The Blues" - released January 1961 in the USA in Mono only on Duke Records DLP 74.

BONUS TRACKS:

13. How Does A Cheatin' Woman Feel (recorded August 1960 - July 1962 USA 7" single on Duke 352, B-side of "Yield Not To Temptation")

14. Close To You (recorded August 1960 - also January 1961 USA 7" single on Duke 332, B-side of "I Pity The Fool")

Using period typeface - the 12-page booklet is a pleasant enough affair with short but informative new liner notes from noted Blues & R&B Historian BILL DAHL. You also get the original LP liner notes from Dzondria Lalsac - as well as trade adverts for "I'll Take Care Of You" and "Bobby "Blue" Bland’s newest hit "I Smell Trouble" (Duke were hoping to smell a hit alright). But all of that pales against the real deal - an ERICK LABSON Remaster from original analogue tapes done at Universal's Mastering suites in Hollywood. You get a glorious old school Mono punch out of this album - and whilst the playing time is admittedly short - the whole listen feels just 'right'.

Beneath the title of the album – the LP’s label declares 'Featuring The Scintillating Voice Of...' - and they'd be right. While his trademark growl isn't quite in place yet - his deep guttural voice is a thing of wonder. Tracks like "Two Steps From The Blues" and "I've Just Got To Forget You" features the bluesy guitar of Wayne Barnett with the punching brass of Joe Scott, Melvin Jackson, Pluma Davis, Robert Skinner, L.A. Hill and Rayfield Devers on all manner of tasty horns - while Teddy Reynolds tinkles faintly in the background on the old Joanna. "Little Boy Blue" and "Don't Cry No More" continue the emotional misery - but I love "Close To You" - the non-LP B-side to the album's milestone and Bobby Bland signature tune "I Pity The Fool".

Great stuff and a must-buy for fans of hard-hitting Chicago R&B and Blues that also dig the beginnings of early Soul...

PS: Universal put out seven releases in their Rock 'n' Roll "50th Anniversary Series" and eleven in their complimentary "Blues Classics Remastered & Revisited" Series - and I've loved the lot. Great sound, clever title choices and all bumped up with bonus tracks and decent booklets (I'm reviewed almost all of them). Each makes for the best basis of a collection in a minefield of lesser compilations. For info purposes...

The "Rock 'n' Roll 50th Anniversary" CD Series:

1. After School Session by CHUCK BERRY (1958 Chess debut LP)

2. St. Louis To Liverpool by CHUCK BERRY (1964 STEREO LP on Chess)

3. The Chirping Crickets by THE CRICKETS (1957 Debut LP on Decca)

4. Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger by BO DIDDLEY (1960 STEREO Chess LP)

5. Rock Around The Clock by BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS (1955 Decca LP)

6. Buddy Holly by BUDDY HOLLY (1958 1st solo LP on Coral)

7. Rock, Rock, Rock! - Original Soundtrack by VARIOUS (Chuck Berry, The Flamingos and The Moonglows) (1956 Chess 'Rock'n'Roll Movie Soundtrack LP)

The "Blues Classics Remastered & Revisited" CD Series:

1. Bad News Is Coming - LUTHER ALLISON (1972 USA LP with 4 Previously Unreleased bonuses, 56:10 minutes) (Barcode 044001340727)

2. Luther's Blues - LUTHER ALLISON (SUHA GUR Remaster) (1974 USA 9-track LP with 3 Previously Unreleased bonuses, 70:28 minutes) (Barcode 044001340925)

3. Two Steps From The Blues - BOBBY BLAND (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (1961 USA 12-track LP on Duke with 2 bonuses, 35:12 minutes)  (Barcode 008811251628)

4. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - JOHN LEE HOOKER (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (October 1966 and September 1991 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 79:44 minutes) (Barcode 008811282127)

5. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - HOWLIN' WOLF (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (January 1966 on Chess and January 1967 on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 66:45 minutes) (Barcode 008811282028)

6. Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions - ETTA JAMES (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (January 1968 US 12-Track LP on Cadet - Tracks 13-22 being bonuses, 57:11 minutes) (Barcode 008811251826)

7. Live At San Quentin - B.B. KING (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (1990 13-Track Compilation on MCA, no extras, 64:11 minutes) (Barcode 008811251727)

8. At Newport 1960 - MUDDY WATERS (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (1960 US 9-Track LP on Chess with 10-13 being 4 Mono Studio Tracks from June 1960 as bonus tracks, 44:43 minutes) (Barcode 008811251529)

9. Fathers & Sons - MUDDY WATERS & Friends (ERICK LABSON Remaster)

(Tracks 1-10 and 15-20 is the August 1969 2LP set on Chess in Full with Tracks 11, 12, 13 being previously unreleased - and 14 previously unreleased in the USA). (77:38 minutes) (Barcode 008811264826)

10. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - MUDDY WATERS (ERICK LABSON Remasters - 2LPs on 1CD) (Barcode 008811282226)

11. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON (ERICK LABSON Remaster) (January 1966 and January 1967 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 65:28 minutes) (Barcode 008811282325)

"Live At San Quentin" by B.B. KING (2001 MCA 'Blues Classics Remastered & Revisited' CD - Erick Labson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...The Thrill Is Back..."

Originally released 1990 on MCA Records – "Live At San Quentin" was a 13-track B.B. KING barnstormer recorded live Sunday, 25 May on the lawns of the American Prison with hundreds of convicts whopping it right from the get go.

Reissued here as part of MCA's "Blues Classics – Remastered & Revisited" CD Series (see list below) – this 2001 American disc boasts great sound courtesy of Audio Engineer ERICK LABSON. Labson has over 1000 credits to his name including most of the vast Chess, Checker and Cadet catalogue as well as rock names like Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, Neil Diamond, The Who and Wishbone Ash (to name but a few). I actively seek out his remasters. Here are the bluesy jailhouse details...

US released March 2001 - "Live at San Quentin" by B.B. KING on MCA America 088 412 517-2 (Barcode 008811251727) is a CD Remaster and pans out as follows (64:09 minutes):

1. B.B. King Intro

2. Let The Good Times Roll

3. Every Day I Have The Blues

4. Whole Lotta Loving

5. Sweet Little Angel

6. Never Make A Move Too Soon

7. Into The Night

8. Ain’t Nobody’s Bizness

9. The Thrill Is Gone

10. Peace To The World

11. Nobody Loves Me But My Mother

12. Sweet Sixteen

13. Rock Me Baby

Tracks 1 to 13 are the album "Live At San Quentin" – released September 1990 in the USA on MCA Records MCA 6103 and in the UK on MCA Records MCG 6103.

The three-way fold inlay offers a few paragraphs from Dennis Jones and reissue details. His 7-piece band consisted of Walter King on Saxophone, James Bolden on Trumpet, Eugene Carrier on Keyboards, Michael Doster on Bass, Leon Warren on Rhythm Guitar, Edgar Synigal on Saxophone, Calep Emphrey on Drums with B.B. King on Lead Vocals and Lead Guitar.

His set is full of standards – fun R&B like "Let The Good Times Roll" where he encourages the men to holler to their hearts content and witty chat between numbers – like on "Never Make A Move To Soon" where he talks of being a catfish because then he might reel in women from the bay area (much to the delight of the men). "The Thrill Is Gone" elicits whoops too. He hopes that we'll all get together for "Peace To The World" (not the best of all the recordings even if it was apparently done in the studio). Better is the eight-minute slow blues of "Nobody Loves Me But My Mother" where he tells the audience "...this is for whatever ails you..." – a Blues cure-all. It ends with a crowd-pleasing boogie ("...before we get off...") where he splits the crowd in two – the right side sings, "Rock Me" and the left follows with, "All Night Long". You can hear the crowd digging it...even if it does end a tad too soon.

A lovely CD reissue and one that serves his musical legacy well...

PS: 

Titles in the US-only "Blues Classics - Remastered & Revisited" CD Series are:

(1 and 2 are SUHA GUR remasters, 3 to 11 are ERICK LABSON, I've reviewed most)

1. Bad News Is Coming - LUTHER ALLISON

(1972 Gordy LP, 2001 CD Remaster + Four Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks) - Universal 440 013 407-2 (Barcode 044001340727)

2. Luther’s Blues - LUTHER ALLISON

(1974 USA 9-track LP with 3 Previously Unreleased bonuses, 70:28 minutes)

Universal 440 013 409-2 (Barcode 044001340925)

3. Two Steps From The Blues - BOBBY BLAND

(1961 USA 12-track LP on Duke with 2 bonuses, 35:12 minutes)

MCA 088 112 516-2 (Barcode 008811251628)

4. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - JOHN LEE HOOKER

(October 1966 and September 1991 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 79:44 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 821-2 (Barcode 008811282127)

5. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - HOWLIN' WOLF

(January 1966 on Chess and January 1967 on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 66:45 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 820-2 (Barcode 008811282028)

6. Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions - ETTA JAMES

(January 1968 US 12-Track LP on Cadet - 13-22 being bonuses, 57:11 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 518-2 (Barcode 008811251826)

7. Live At San Quentin - B.B. KING

(1990 13-Track Compilation on MCA, no extras, 64:09 minutes)

MCA America 088 112 517-2 (Barcode 008811251727)

8. At Newport 1960 - MUDDY WATERS

(1960 US 9-Track LP on Chess with 10-13 being 4 Mono Studio Tracks from June 1960 as bonus tracks, 44:41 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 515-2 (Barcode 008811251529)

9. Fathers & Sons - MUDDY WATERS (with Paul Butterfield, Otis Spann, Mike Bloomfield, Donald 'Duck' Dunn and Buddy Miles)

(Tracks 1-10 and 15-20 is the August 1969 2LP set on Chess in Full with Tracks 11, 12, 13 being previously unreleased - and 14 previously unreleased in the USA). (77:38 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 648-2 (Barcode 008811264826)

10. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - MUDDY WATERS

MCA/Chess 088 112 822-2 (Barcode 008811282226)

11. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON

(January 1966 and January 1967 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 65:28 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 823-2 (Barcode 008811282325)

“The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues” by HOWLIN’ WOLF [featuring Hubert Sumlin and Buddy Guy] (2002 Universal/MCA/Chess CD – Erick Labson Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...Three Hundred Pounds Of Heavenly Joy..."

'Look what you get' indeed. Don't let that big smiling face fool you. Standing at six foot three inches and with a neck as big as a tree trunk – Chester Burnett could scare the crap out of Beelzebub and out-sing his nastier brother too. But Howlin' Wolf was not just a musical force of nature (the real deal as Sam Phillips said when he first heard his famous vocal growl) – he was a mischievous and often very funny Blues Man. And never is that more evident than on this fabulous twofer that brings together two rare albums in the "Real Folk Blues" series Chess Records put out in the Sixties (1966 and 1967 to be exact). Both are studio sets and contain classics like "Killing Floor" (covered by Zeppelin on "II") and the 'look what you get' song "Built For Comfort". Here are the three hundred pounds of heavenly joy...

US released March 2002 (April 2002 in the UK) – "The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues" by HOWLIN’ WOLF on Universal/MCA/Chess 088 122 820-2 (Barcode 008811282028) is part of Universal's "Blues Classics: Remastered & Revisited" CD Series and pans out as follows (66:43 minutes):

1. Killing Floor
2. Louise
3. Poor Boy
4. Sittin' On Top Of The World
5. Nature
6. My Country Sugar Mama
7. Tail Dragger [ Side 2]
8. Three Hundred Pounds Of Joy
9. The Natchez Burnin'
10. Build For Comfort
11. Ooh Baby Hold Me
12. Tell Me What I've Done
Tracks 1 to 12 are the LP "The Real Folk Blues" – released January 1966 in the USA on Chess LP 1502. Tracks 1, 2 and 6 were recorded August 1964 – Track 7 September 1962 – Tracks 8 and 10 are August 1963 – Tracks 11 and 12 are from August 1965 while the remainder are various Fifties recordings.

13. Just My Kind
14. I've Got A Woman
15. Work For Your Money
16. I'll Be Around
17. You Can't Be Beat
18. No Place To Go (You Gonna Wreck My Life)
19. I Love My Baby
20. Neighbors
21. I'm The Wolf
22. Rockin' Daddy
23. Who Will Be Next
24. I Have A Little Girl
Tracks 13 to 24 are the album "More Real Folk Blues" – released January 1967 in the USA on Chess LP 1512

The 12-page booklet features a short essay of The Wolf by the noted Blues Historian Mary Katherine Aldin who did Hip-O Select’s annotation for their magnificent Volume 2 of Muddy Waters' complete Chess recordings "Hoochie Coochie Man..." in 2004. Pages 6, 7 and 8 reproduced the original liner notes to both LPs from Willie Dixon and Paul Williams (of Crawdaddy Magazine) respectively while the rest is taken up with reissue credits. Good names like ANDY McKAIE and BETH STEMPEL have coordinated the series – but the big news is new Remastering by ERICK LABSON at Universal. His credits list runs like a who’s who of Chess artists (Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Etta James, The Dells, Rotary Connection) as well as many prestigious Rock catalogues (Steppenwolf, Three Dog Night, Mamas and Papas, Neil Diamond, Wishbone Ash and The Who) to name but a few. The Audio on the first album which is mainly in Stereo rocks throughout - but the second LP which features 1953 to 1956 Mono material is only as good as the recordings were – lively and full of rough Blues - but not the sonic blast the first record is. Considering what he had to work with – the Audio overall is great – full of presence.

As you can see from the details beneath the track listing – "The Real Folk Blues” album is made up of tracks from 1963, 1964 and 1965 with a smattering of older Fifties cuts (almost all were American Chess 45s) and it opens with a double from an August 1964 session. "Killing Floor" is a Blues tune probably more famous to Rock fans through Led Zeppelin who naughtily tried to rename it "The Lemon Song" on certain copies of "Zeppelin II" in 1969 (other copies correctly credit it as "Killing Floor" by Chester Burnett). In some ways they were both at it. It's arguable that Wolf's version is a radical update of "Hard Times Killing Floor" by Skip James that dates back to the Thirties. In 1969 Jimmy Page and Robert Plant over in England then take Wolf's re-working and do exactly the same – reshape it into yet another beast called "The Lemon Song". Either way what you do hear in Wolf's opening salvo is the fantastic band. Both Hubert Sumlin and Buddy Guy are on the Guitars, Lafayette Leak plays Piano, Arnold Rogers and Donald Hankins play the Saxophones with Andrew McMahon on Bass and Sam Lay on Drums. "Louise" has wicked guitar work too and a fantastic vocal and Wolf lyrics like "...Louise you’d better come home...somebody's been fishing in your pond...baby since you've been gone..."

"Poor Boy" is an oldie from 1957 where you get to hear the Wolf’s underrated Harmonica playing while his cover of "Sittin' On Top Of The World" from the same session gives The Mississippi Sheiks Okeh 78" a run for its 1930 money. The jaunty CB original "Nature" again opens with his shockingly good Harp playing and from there we're back to a 1964 winner "My Country Sugar Mama" (often shortened by future copyists to just "Sugar Mama"). The fab "Sugar Mama" is one of those gem B-sides (Chess 1911 in 1964 with “Love Me Darlin’” was on the A) that once again offers his sneaky Bluesy brilliance - the kind of 'look-out-ladies' hoochie-coochie Blues he was so effortlessly good at. The moaning guitar of "Tail Dragger" was put out as a 45 on Chess 1890 in 1964 (with "Hidden Charms" on its flipside) and features prominent axework from another Chess Records hero Hubert Sumlin. With Johnny Jones on the Piano and J.T. Brown on Tenor Sax, “Ooh Baby, Hold Me” has fantastic Audio - every instrument in your face - and for all the right reasons.

His funniest tune "300 Pounds Of Joy" was issued as a masterpiece double-sided 45 by Chess in 1963 with the equally brill "Built For Comfort" on the flipside (Chess 1870). Both were wickedly hip at the time and remain so to this day – so much so that one or both will surely be flogging some luxury car in the next five years - as it comes sailing out of some wind-tunnel in a slick as snake oil TV advert. Dark and dangerous describes "The Natchez Burnin'" which comes at you with a hurt meanness. But my real crave is the album finisher - the properly Bluesy "Tell Me What I've Done" with Buddy Guy's accomplished guitar playing enriching everything – a fabulous A-side to Chess 1928 in late 1965.

You would have to say that the follow-up album released exactly one year after the first is not nearly as good – but still has moments that warrant purchase. It features old material recorded between 1953 and 1956 with Otis Spann at the Piano and a combo of Hubert Sumlin, Jody Williams and Lee Cooper on the guitars (Willie Dixon on Bass). The whole album is rough and grungy with his huge set of pipes almost distorting the tapes. And once again with tracks like "I'll Be Around" you hear his wicked Harp playing while the keyboard prowess of Otis Spann puts a boogie into "Neighbors". Axeman Lee Cooper gives "I'm The Wolf" and "Neighbors" some chugging riffs and shuffling guitar respectively (what a band they must have been live). "Rockin' Daddy" is barroom boogie too as he growls "...I can rock you all night long..." and means it. The LP ends on the salacious "I Have A Little Girl" where his latest lady love is 18-years old - but you can't help thinking that she isn't as innocent now as she was when she left momma's house...

Born in the Mississippi Delta in June 1910 and finally lost to us too soon in January 1976 – I can only tremble at the thought of Howlin' Wolf in the live environment – wailing like a cross between an alligator and a mad dog – whooping it up as the band tears into "Built For Comfort" (and 'not for speed') - literally climbing the onstage curtains at one infamous gig and driving the audience wild. Wow!

"...I got everything that a good girl need..." he sang. I don’t doubt that for a nanosecond Mister Burnett...be with the angels...

PS: Titles in the Universal US-Only "Blues Classics - Remastered & Revisited" CD Series are:
(1 and 2 are SUHA GUR remasters, 3 to 11 are ERICK LABSON remasters and I've reviewed most)

1. Bad News Is Coming - LUTHER ALLISON
(1972 Gordy LP, 2001 CD Remaster + Four Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks) - Universal 440 013 407-2 (Barcode 044001340727)

2. Luther’s Blues - LUTHER ALLISON
(1974 USA 9-track LP with 3 Previously Unreleased bonuses, 70:28 minutes)
Universal 440 013 409-2 (Barcode 044001340925)

3. Two Steps From The Blues - BOBBY BLAND
(1961 USA 12-track LP on Duke with 2 bonuses, 35:12 minutes)
MCA 088 112 516-2 (Barcode 008811251628)

4. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - JOHN LEE HOOKER
(October 1966 and September 1991 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 79:44 minutes)
MCA/Chess 088 112 821-2 (Barcode 008811282127)

5. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - HOWLIN' WOLF
(January 1966 on Chess and January 1967 on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 66:45 minutes)
MCA/Chess 088 112 820-2 (Barcode 008811282028)

6. Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions - ETTA JAMES
(January 1968 US 12-Track LP on Cadet - 13-22 being bonuses, 57:11 minutes)
MCA/Chess 088 112 518-2 (Barcode 008811251826)

7. Live At San Quentin - B.B. KING
(1990 13-Track Compilation on MCA, no extras, 64:09 minutes)
MCA America 088 112 517-2 (Barcode 008811251727)

8. At Newport 1960 - MUDDY WATERS
(1960 US 9-Track LP on Chess with 10-13 being 4 Mono Studio Tracks from June 1960 as bonus tracks, 44:41 minutes)
MCA/Chess 088 112 515-2 (Barcode 008811251529)

9. Fathers & Sons - MUDDY WATERS (with Paul Butterfield, Otis Spann, Mike Bloomfield, Donald 'Duck' Dunn and Buddy Miles)
(Tracks 1-10 and 15-20 is the August 1969 2LP set on Chess in Full with Tracks 11, 12, 13 being previously unreleased - and 14 previously unreleased in the USA). (77:38 minutes)
MCA/Chess 088 112 648-2 (Barcode 008811264826)

10. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - MUDDY WATERS
MCA/Chess 088 112 822-2 (Barcode 008811282226)

11. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON
(January 1966 and January 1967 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 65:28 minutes)
MCA/Chess 088 112 823-2 (Barcode 008811282325)