Howlin` Wolf

This WaxTime Records LP release presents 17 seminal master takes Howlin’ Wolf made in Memphis, Tennessee, between 1951 and 1952, prior to moving to Chicago. Most of these recordings were taped by Sam Phillips at his Memphis Recording Service (now commonly known as Sun Studio), while others were recorded at an unidentified local studio.

The music presented here is a testament to Wolf’s unearthly force. It features iconic singles issued by the Chess label, like “Moanin’ at Midnight” / “How Many More Years”, “Mr. Highway Man” / “Gettin’ Old and Gray”, and “The Wolf Is at Your Door” / “Howlin’ Wolf Boogie”, as well as hard-to-find recordings and underrated blues songs, such as “Color and Kind” and “Everybody’s in the Mood”.

PERSONNEL:

HOWLIN’ WOLF, vocals and harmonica, plus:

Willie Johnson (g), L.C. Hubert or Bill Johnson (p), Willie Steele (d), James Cotton (hca), Charles Taylor (ts), and Walter “Tang” Smith (tb), among others.

Recorded at Sun Studio, Memphis, Tennessee, 1951-1952.

SIDE 1:

01. CADILLAC DADDY (MR. HIGHWAY MAN)
02. GETTIN’ OLD AND GRAY
03. THE WOLF IS AT YOUR DOOR (HOWLIN’ FOR MY BABY)
04. HOWLIN’ WOLF BOOGIE
05. MOANIN’ AT MIDNIGHT
06. HOW MANY MORE YEARS
07. BLUEBIRD BLUES
08. OH! RED – take 2
09. MY LAST AFFAIR

SIDE 2:

01. ALL NIGHT BOOGIE (ALL NIGHT LONG)
02. I LOVE MY BABY
03. COME BACK HOME
04. SADDLE MY PONY
05. WORRIED ALL THE TIME
06. COLOR AND KIND
07. MY BABE WALKED OFF
08. EVERYBODY’S IN THE MOOD