Various Artists - Chess Blues Classics: 1947-1956

Part of a two-volume set as part of MCA's Chess 50th Anniversary collection, this offers a 16-track thumbnail sketch of the sounds that made the label the tops in the blues field. Beginning with two Aristocrat sides (the label's original moniker) from 1948 and 1949 featuring Muddy Waters ("I Can't Be Satisfied") and Little Johnny Jones ("Big Town Playboy" with Muddy on backup guitar), the collection rolls through its treasures chronologically, virtually cherry-picking the hits from the innumerable classics stored in the Chess vaults. With Jimmy Rogers' "That's All Right," Eddie Boyd's "Twenty-Four Hours," John Lee Hooker's "Sugar Mama," Lowell Fulson's "Reconsider Baby" and J.B. Lenoir's "Eisenhower Blues" providing nice changes of pace from the big hits of Muddy, Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Little Walter aboard, this is by no means a lightweight collection. As a greatest-hits package, perhaps one could easily nitpick over what isn't on here, while also just as easily dismissing their inclusion as another repackaging of the same old stuff. But as a simple-to-digest primer of some of the best the label had to offer during its first landmark decade in business, this compilation hits the bullseye in a big way. A perfect one to stick in a multi-disc CD player, hit shuffle play, and prepare to be continually pleased. ~ Cub Koda, All Music Guide

Name Credits Al Duncan Drums Al Garvin Drums Andrew Stephens Bass Andy McKaie Compilation Producer, Producer Big Crawford Bass Billy Boy Arnold Harmonica Bo Diddley Performer, Vocals, Guitar Chick Booth Drums Choker Campbell Saxophone Chris Morris Liner Notes Clifton James Drums Dave Myers Guitar David "Fathead" Newman Saxophone Earl Phillips Drums Eddie Boyd Piano, Performer, Vocals Elgin Evans Drums Erick Labson Digital Remastering Fats Morris Trombone Francis Clay Drums Fred Below Drums Geary Chansley Photo Research Harold Ashby Sax (Tenor) Hosea Lee Kennard Piano Howlin' Wolf Vocals, Harmonica, Performer Hubert Sumlin Guitar J.B. Lenoir Vocals, Performer, Guitar James Cotton Harmonica Jerome Arnold Maracas Jimmy Rogers Vocals, Performer, Guitar Jody Williams Guitar Joe Montgomery Piano John Lee Hooker Guitar, Vocals, Performer Johnny Jones Vocals, Piano, Performer Julien Beasley Saxophone Lafayette Leake Piano Leonard Caston Guitar Leonard Chess Producer Leroy Cooper Bass Leroy Foster Drums (Bass), ?, Hi Hat Little Sax Crowder Sax (Tenor) Little Walter Performer, Vocals, Harmonica Lorenzo Smith Sax (Tenor) Louis Myers Guitar Lowell Fulson Performer, Guitar, Vocals Mike Fink Design Muddy Waters Guitar, Vocals, Performer Ollie Crawford Guitar Otis Spann Piano Paul Drake Piano Percy Walker Drums Phil Chess Producer Phillip Gibeaux Saxophone Ray Flerlage Photography Robert Lockwood, Jr. Guitar Sonny Boy Williamson Vocals, Harmonica, Performer Willie Dixon Performer, Bass, Producer