Otis Rush

5 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDE
“If Rush had never recorded another note, his legendary status would remain intact based solely on these recordings.” – Sean Westergaard (AMG)

Left-handed Chicago electric blues guitar giant Otis Rush is a living link to a Chicago blues scene ruled by the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and Little Walter in the late ‘50s. But the harsh reality that Rush has never quite attained the status of those icons in no way is a reflection on his talents; he is in fact an unsung legend who along with Buddy Guy helped to definethat distinctive, wailing “West Side” Chicago guitar sound that is widely copied by generations of followers all over the world today. This quintessential release contains 26 remastered tracks from Rush’s early years, backed by master players like Willie Dixon, Little Walter and Ike Turner. Included here is a variety of the electric blues and R&B sides Rush recorded for legendary labels such as Cobra, Chess, and Duke, between 1956 and 1962. “I Can’t Quit You Baby”, “Double Trouble” (later covered by Eric Clapton and John Mayall), “I’m Satisfied”, “Groaning the Blues”, “So Many Roads, So Many Trains”, and “It Takes Time”, are all featured here. These fabulous songs are true snapshots of that period. Some of the material here isn’t available in other collections, nor have these recordings ever been previously compiled together on the same CD.

PERSONNEL:

OTIS RUSH, vocals and lead guitar, plus:

Little Walter (harmonica), Ike Turner, Matt Murphy (guitar),
Willie Dixon (bass), Lafayette Leake (piano),
Odie Payne, Fred Below (drums),
Harold Ashby, James “Red” Holloway (tenor saxophone), among others.

Recorded in Chicago, between 1956 and 1962.

INCLUDES 16-PAGE BOOKLET

TRACKS:

01. SIT DOWN BABY 2:23
02. VIOLENT LOVE 2:26
03. MY BABY IS A GOOD ‘UN 2:41
04. IF YOU WERE MINE 3:07
05. MY LOVE WILL NEVER DIE 3:08
06. KEEP ON LOVING ME BABY 2:21
07. ALL YOUR LOVE (I MISS LOVING) 2:39
08. I’M SATISFIED 2:24
09. DOUBLE TROUBLE 2:45
10. HOMEWORK 2:39
11. JUMP SISTER BESSIE 2:35
12. I LOVE THAT WOMAN 3:02
13. YOU KNOW MY LOVE 2:40
14. I CAN’T STOP BABY 2:15
15. SHE’S A GOOD ‘UN 2:50
16. I CAN’T QUIT YOU BABY 3:07
17. GROANING THE BLUES 3:05
18. THREE TIMES A FOOL 2:51
19. CHECKING ON MY BABY 2:58
20. I HAVE TO LAUGH 2:30
21. SIT DOWN BABY (Alternate take) 1:51
22. SHE’S A GOOD ‘UN (Alternate take) 3:20
23. DOUBLE TROUBLE (Alternate take) 5:11
24. MY LOVE WILL NEVER DIE (Alternate take) 3:07
25. SO MANY ROADS, SO MANY TRAINS 3:13
26. IT TAKES TIME 2:47

TOTAL TIME:73:54