A Complete Introduction To Chess Records 4CD Boxset

Various Artists



A Complete Introduction To Chess



RELEASE DATE: July 21st 2010



Label: Universal Music



Format: 4CD box set

Set Cat #: 5317702







“When looking at the list of Chess recordings contained in this box set I'm still amazed at how many great records and great artists were recorded, produced, released and promoted by my family. Chess Records was one of if not the most important record label of all time. Chess helped shape the sound of Rock and Roll as well as influencing the sound of all popular music. This set clearly represents some of the best music to come out on the Chess labels.” - Marshall Chess – 2010



BLUES – ROCK’N’ROLL – SOUL – R’N’B!!



There are only a handful of record labels that can claim to have changed the course of popular music. Chess Records is one of them. Responsible for signing and developing some of the greatest names in music, such as Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and Howlin’ Wolf, Chess provided the blueprint for The Beatles and The Rolling Stones helping set the fundamental foundation stone for pop as we know it.



Not only did Chess lay the template for rock’n’roll, releasing what is widely considered to be the first ever rock’n’roll record, 1951’s ‘Rocket 88’ by Jackie Brenston they are also responsible for kick-starting the British blues and beat boom the following decade. For without Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and others there would be no Rolling Stones, who were so in awe of the label and its stars that they named themselves after the Muddy Waters tune of the same name and took a pilgrimage to the Chess recording studios to record their ‘Five By Five’ EP and pay homage to the bluesmen that had inspired their group’s early sound.



Although known primarily as the home of the blues, its output covers a stunning mix of styles including rock’n’roll, doo-wop, r’n’b and soul as well as progressive new directions in psychedelic jazz and funk. Now it is time for it to take its rightful place at the top table alongside other groundbreaking black music labels such as Motown, Studio One and Stax.



It’s not just household names – The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin and many others who are indebted to the label. In 1997, NuYorican Soul covered Rotary Connection’s I Am The Blackgold Of The Sun; Blueboy’s 1998 Top 10 hit, Remember Me reworked Marlena Shaw’s Woman Of The Ghetto.



Muddy Waters’ 1968 album, ‘Electric Mud’ and Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘The Howlin Wolf Album’ from 1969 continue to provide sample sources for hip-hoppers and DJs including David Holmes and DJ Shadow. Amy Winehouse and Duffy’s take on vintage soul owes much to Chess as does the bluesy garage-rock of the White Stripes.



Most recently the label’s story was made into a film; director Darnell Martin’s 2008 Cadillac Records, which was overseen by Marshall Chess and starred Beyonce, Mos Def and Adrien Brody.



You think you may know Chess. Listen again and you’ll be surprised; still vibrant, it is time to really hear the music that has influenced generations.



This indispensable guide to the legendary Chess label features 100 tracks across four discs and is sequenced for listening pleasure, like a DJ’s set perhaps, rather than strictly chronologically. The box set includes UK chart hits by Chuck Berry, Etta James, Fontella Bass and Ramsey Lewis as well as key tracks by pioneers - Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley, Howlin’ Wolf, Willie Dixon and John Lee Hooker.



Beautifully presented, 36-page booklet with extensive sleevenotes, rare photos and track by track guide by Mojo writer and music expert Lois Wilson



Features an introduction by Marshall Chess (the son of founder Leonard Chess, he was head of Chess Records for many years and also ran Rolling Stones Records in the early 70s).



A Complete Introduction To Chess: Track Listing



CD1



Jackie Brenston - Rocket 88 1951

Chuck Berry Maybellene 1955

Bo Diddley Bo Diddley 1955

Howlin’ Wolf How Many More Years 1951

Lowell Fulsom - Reconsider Baby 1954

Little Walter - Juke 1952

Sonny Boy Williamson - Don’t Start Me Talkin’ 1954

Muddy Waters - I Can’t Be Satisfied 1948

John Lee Hooker - Leave My Wife Alone 1950

Bo Diddley I’m A Man 1955

Little Walter My Babe 1955

Elmore James Dust My Broom 1953

Eddie Boyd Third Degree 1953

Howlin’ Wolf Moanin’ At Midnight 1950

Muddy Waters - I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man 1954

Moonglows Sincerely 1954

Jimmy Witherspoon - When The Lights Go Out - 1954

John Lee Hooker Sugar Mama 1952

Rosco Gordon Booted 1952

Willie Mabon Seventh Son 1955

Muddy Waters Mannish Boy 1954

Willie Dixon Crazy For My Baby 1953

Sugar Boy Crawford - Jock-A-Mo 1953

Little Walter Last Night 1954

Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry - Ain’t Got No Home 1956

Willie Dixon Pain In My Heart 1951



CD 2



Chuck Berry Rock And Roll Music 1957

Bo Diddley - You Can’t Judge A Book By The Cover - 1962

Eddie Fontaine - Nothin’ Shakin’ (But the Leaves On the Trees) - 1958

Jimmy McCracklin The Walk 1958

Howlin’ Wolf - Smokestack Lightnin’ 1956

Muddy Waters - Forty Days And Forty Nights 1956

Etta James - Something’s Got A Hold On Me 1962

Bobby Charles - See You later Alligator 1956

Chuck Berry - Johnny B Goode 1958

Dale Hawkins - Susie Q 1957

Jimmy Rogers - Walkin’ By Myself 1957

Etta James - I Just Want To Make Love To You 1960

Sonny Boy Williamson - Nine Below Zero 1960

Howlin’ Wolf - The Red Rooster 1961

Elmore James - Talk To Me Baby (I Can’t Hold Out) 1960

The Marathons - Peanut Butter 1961

The Sensations - Let Me In 1962

The Vibrations - The Watusi 1961

Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry -(I Don’t Know Why I Love You) But I Do 1961

Etta James - At Last 1961

The Corsairs - Smoky Places 1962

Dave ‘Baby’ Cortez - Rinky Dink 1962

Harvey and the Moonglows - 10 Commandments Of Love - 1958

Andre Williams - Cadillac Jack 1967

Clarence ‘Frogman’ Henry - You Always Hurt The One You Love - 1961

Fontella Bass And Bobby McLure - Don’t Mess Up A Good Thing - 1965



CD3



Fontella Bass - Rescue Me 1965

Sugar Pie De Santo - Soulful Dress 1964

John Lee Hooker- One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer -1966

Chuck Berry - Promised Land 1964

Howlin’ Wolf - 300 Pounds Of Joy 1963

Little Milton - We’re Gonna Make It 1965

Chuck Berry - No Particular Place To Go 1964

Tommy Tucker - Hi Heel Sneakers 1964

Ramsey Lewis - Wade In The Water 1966

Tony Clarke - Landslide 1964

Terry Callier - Look At Me Now 1966

Jan Bradley - Mama Didn’t Lie 1963

The Jaynetts - Sally, Go Round The Roses 1963

Jackie Ross - Selfish One 1964

Billy Stewart - Summertime 1966

Tony Clarke - The Entertainer 1965

Billy Stewart - Sitting In The Park 1965

The Knight Brothers Temptation ‘bout To Get Me 1965

The Radiants - Voice Your Choice 1965

Bobby Moore & Rhythm Aces - Searching For My Love - 1966

Etta James & Sugar Pie DeSanto - In the Basement - 1966

Ramsey Lewis Trio - The In Crowd 1965

Mitty Collier - I Had A Talk With My Man Last Night 1964

Billy Stewart I Do Love You 1964

Maurice And Mac - You Left The Water Running - 1968

The Dells Oh, What A Night 1969



CD 4



Etta James Tell Mama 1967

Koko Taylor Wang Dang Doodle 1966

Howlin’ Wolf Evil (full length version) 1969

Rotary Connection - I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun - 1971

Muddy Waters - Tom Cat 1968

Marlena Shaw - California Soul 1969

The Radiants Hold On 1967

The Valentinos - Sweeter Than The Day Before - 1966

Denise LaSalle - Love Reputation 1967

Dorothy Ashby - Afro Harping 1968

Marlena Shaw - Woman Of The Ghetto 1969

Irma Thomas - Good To Me 1967

Etta James - I’d Rather Go Blind 1967

Laura Lee - Dirty Man 1967

Terry Callier - Ordinary Joe 1972

The Soulful Strings - Burning Spear 1968

Solomon Burke - Let Me Wrap My Arms Around You 1975

Gene Chandler - To Be A Lover 1967

Pigmeat Markham - Here Comes The Judge 1968

The Dells - Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation 1973

Solomon Burke - You And Your Baby Blues 1975

Chuck Berry - My Ding-a-Ling 1972