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So, even if you have a lot of this music, it's still nice to have it compacted into 4 discs, especially for the car. The sound is quite good, though there is some minimal surface noise on a few of the tracks from the 40's, which is to be expected. Lenoir, etc. Or even if you are an avid blues fan, you still may discover some new music here to your liking from lesser known artists like Johnny Shines, Sunnyland Slim, Jimmy Rogers, Lowell Fulson, Willie Mabon, Billy Boy Arnold, J.B. These were Chess Records most successful artists, due in no small part to the song writing of Willie Dixon, who wrote quite a few for each of them (except Hooker) as well as himself. This 4 CD set (101 tracks recorded between 1947-67) probably contains many songs you already have, as there are quite a few from Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson. Now, if you are new to the blues or have a minimal collection, this is the perfect place to start. There are also a couple of tracks by the great Buddy Guy, Otis Spann and Albert King (Stevie Ray Vaughan's main influence).
Sound quality is not digital, with the scratchy background of recordings from mediums of the time.
OF COURSE 5 STARS. Let's just leave it at this.IT'S A 4 CD BOX WITH BLUES FROM CHESS. passionate. DUH. How should I put this.subtle. historic. THAT'S MUDDY WATERS AND HOWLING WOLF.
If you want to learn about the blues, this is the perfect place to start. In fact, almost half the tracks are rarities. Most of Chess Records' biggest hit blues records are included, but there are also many obscurities here. Everything here is good, with most of the tracks being better than good. This is a collection of 101 blues recordings from the Chess Records vault. It features many of the best known blues singers, as well as some performers that history has forgotten. But the obscurities are almost as good as the well known recordings.
How appropriate. Then, we have instruction in Blues and the Female Voice, with Koko Taylor ("What Kind of Man Is That," "Wang Dang Doodle") and Etta James ("Somethings Got A Hold Of Me," "I'd Rather Go Blind") as your teachers. No, there is no blues university, but if there was one, the above masters would surely be the instructors and Chess Blues would certainly be the required text. Over here, we have a course entitled Mellow Blues, with Willie Dixon ("Walkin' the Blues") and Jimmy Witherspoon ("Ain't Nobody's Business") showing you how it's done.
Get it today, and enroll in the best blues education money can buy. You will spend many enjoyable hours listening to this collection. There are a few clunkers, but very few. Put down that racing form and pay attention right now. This here Chess Blues box set contains exactly 101 tracks. You will learn the Fundamentals of Blues Harp, with Little Walter ("Juke") and Sonny Boy Williamson II ("Don't Start Me to Talkin'") as your master teachers. Finally, what great university would be complete without Master Classes and the best professors in the business Muddy Waters ("Got My Mojo Workin'," "I Can't Be Satisfied," "My Eyes (Keep Me in Trouble"), Howlin Wolf ("Killin' Floor," "Evil," "Going Down Slow"), and John Lee Hooker ("Walkin' the Boogie," "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer") holding court for your edification.
(Trust me, it takes a few hours to listen to 101 songs once). All right, students, now pay attention. That makes this collection a sort of unofficial college course entitled Blues 101, and Professors Wolf, Waters, James, and Jacobs (Little Walter), etc., etc., will be your blues instructors. As I said, it's packed with an amazing 101 songs, many of the best blues tracks ever recorded.
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