Chess Box

Willie Dixon - Chess Box

Chess Box
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Music CD Cover

Artist: Willie Dixon
Edition: Music CD
Format: Box set
CD Release Date: 1990-10-25
Music Label: Chess
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
  1. My Babe
  2. Violent Love [#]
  3. Third Degree
  4. Seventh Son
  5. Crazy For My Baby [#]
  6. Pain in My Heart [#]
  7. I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man
  8. Evil
  9. Mellow Down Easy
  10. When the Lights Go Out
  11. Young Fashioned Ways [#]
  12. Pretty Thing
  13. I'm Ready
  14. Do Me Right
  15. I Just Want to Make Love to You
  16. Tollin' Bells
  17. 29 Ways [#]
  18. Walkin' the Blues
Music CD 2
  1. Back Door Man
  2. Dead Presidents [#]
  3. You Need Love [#]
  4. I Ain't Superstitious
  5. Weak Brain, Narrow Mind [#]
  6. The Same Thing
  7. Hidden Charms
  8. 300 Pounds of Joy
  9. Insane Asylum
  10. You Can't Judge a Book by It's Cover
  11. Wang Dang Doodle
  12. I Can't Quit You Baby
  13. Built For Comfort

Free Music Notes for Chess Box

Free Music Review: The Songs of Chicago
Hit: 5 Stars

Looking at the track listing for this album shows just what an impact Willie Dixon's songwriting had on Chicago Blues and popular music in general. The list of Chess artistes featured on this album speaks for itself. This is almost the "Best of Chess".

It's remarkable the number of songs on the album that were covered or "expanded on" by bands of the sixties and seventies: "I Just Want To Make Love To You" and "Little Red Rooster" - The Rolling Stones. "Spoonful" - Cream. "Back Door Man" - The Doors. "You Shook Me", "Bring It On Home", "I Can't Quit You Babe" and "You Need Love"(Whole Lotta Love) - Led Zeppelin. It's also worth noting that several songs we normally associated with Muddy Waters or Howlin' Wolf were in fact penned by Dixon.

"Third Degree" was covered by Eric Clapton in recent years. "Evil" is an excellent vehicle for Howlin' Wolf's voice. "Mellow Down Easy" has an unusual rhythm. "I Just Want To Make Love To You" is probably now better known for the Etta James version, rather than the Stones, thanks to TV. "I'm Ready" is one of my favourite Muddy Waters tracks. It's a perfect example of that unique Chess "sound". Little Walter's harp sound in the solo is unearthy.

Disc 2 features a series of classic Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters songs, with fine guitar from Hubert Sumlin on the Wolf tracks. There's a change of mood for the acoustic "Weak Brain, Narrow Mind", one of 5 tracks featuring lead vocals by Willie Dixon. He plays bass on many of the songs.

I would recommend this album to anyone you has enjoyed the covers of these songs, and is interested in hearing the originals. Or indeed to anyone who likes Dixon, Wolf, Muddy, or any of the artistes featured.

Chess Box Poster

Best known for his work as a songwriter, producer, and talent scout, singer-bassist Willie Dixon essentially built Chicago's Cobra and Chess labels with his sweat. Although this double-disc set does include five performances by the man from Vicksburg, Mississippi, himself, it's really a testament to his songwriting prowess, packed with recordings that made his tunes classics of blues and early rock & roll. There's Howlin' Wolf tearing through "Spoonful," "Little Red Rooster," "Evil," and "Back Door Man." There's Muddy Waters belting "You Shook Me," "Hoochie Coochie Man," and "I'm Ready." There's Bo Diddley delivering "You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover" and Koko Taylor launching her career with "Wang Dang Doodle." The set features excellent liner notes, and its only disappointment is that its label-centricity excludes Dixon's work for Cobra with then-youngsters Otis Rush and Buddy Guy. --Ted Drozdowski

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