The Essential

~ Release by Sonny Boy Williamson (see all versions of this release, 3 available)

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleRatingLength
1Good Evening Everybody
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1955-08-12)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1955-08-12)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below
guitar:
Muddy Waters (blues musician) (on 1955-08-12) and Jimmy Rogers (blues artist) (on 1955-08-12)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1955-08-12)
piano:
Otis Spann (on 1955-08-12)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1955-08-12)
cover recording of:
King Biscuit Stomp (on 1955-08-12)
writer:
Big Joe Williams (American Delta blues guitarist, singer and songwriter)
2:36
2Don't Start Me to Talkin'
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1955-08-12)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1955-08-12)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1955-08-12)
guitar:
Muddy Waters (blues musician) (on 1955-08-12) and Jimmy Rogers (blues artist) (on 1955-08-12)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1955-08-12)
piano:
Otis Spann (on 1955-08-12)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1955-08-12)
part of:
Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 1996)
recording of:
Don’t Start Me Talkin’ (on 1955-08-12)
lyricist and composer:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965)
publisher:
Arc Music (U.S. rock & blues publisher)
52:35
3All My Love in Vain
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1955-08-12)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1955-08-12)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1955-08-12)
guitar:
Muddy Waters (blues musician) (on 1955-08-12) and Jimmy Rogers (blues artist) (on 1955-08-12)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1955-08-12)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1955-08-12)
2:50
4You Killing Me
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1955-08-12)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1955-08-12)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1955-08-12)
guitar:
Muddy Waters (blues musician) (on 1955-08-12) and Jimmy Rogers (blues artist) (on 1955-08-12)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1955-08-12)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1955-08-12)
3:30
5Let Me Explain
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1956-01-24)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1956-01-24)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1956-01-24)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood (on 1956-01-24) and Luther Tucker (on 1956-01-24)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1956-01-24)
piano:
Otis Spann (on 1956-01-24)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1956-01-24)
2:55
6Your Imagination
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1956-01-24)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1956-01-24)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1956-01-24)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood (on 1956-01-24) and Luther Tucker (on 1956-01-24)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1956-01-24)
piano:
Otis Spann (on 1956-01-24)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1956-01-24)
3:00
7Don't Lose Your Eye
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1956-01-24)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1956-01-24)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1956-01-24)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood (on 1956-01-24) and Luther Tucker (on 1956-01-24)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1956-01-24)
piano:
Otis Spann (on 1956-01-24)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1956-01-24)
3:04
8Keep It to Yourself
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1956-08-07)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1956-08-07)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1956-08-07)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood (on 1956-08-07) and Luther Tucker (on 1956-08-07)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1956-08-07)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1956-08-07)
recording of:
Keep It to Yourself
writer:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965)
publisher:
Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher) and Tristan Music Ltd.
52:50
9The Key (To Your Door)
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1956-08-07)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1956-08-07)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1956-08-07)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood (on 1956-08-07) and Luther Tucker (on 1956-08-07)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1956-08-07)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1956-08-07)
2:34
10Have You Ever Been in Love
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1956-08-07)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1956-08-07)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1956-08-07)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood (on 1956-08-07) and Luther Tucker (on 1956-08-07)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1956-08-07)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1956-08-07)
2:55
11Fattening Frogs for Snakes
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1957-02-08)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1957-02-08)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1957-02-08)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood (on 1957-02-08) and Luther Tucker (on 1957-02-08)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1957-02-08)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1957-02-08)
recording of:
Fattening Frogs for Snakes (on 1957-02-08)
lyricist and composer:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965)
2:22
12I Don't Know
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1957-02-08)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1957-02-08)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1957-02-08)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood (on 1957-02-08) and Luther Tucker (on 1957-02-08)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1957-02-08)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1957-02-08)
2:27
13Like Wolf
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1957-02-08)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (from 1957-02-08 to ????)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1957-02-08)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood (on 1957-02-08) and Luther Tucker (on 1957-02-08)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1957-02-08)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1957-02-08)
2:53
14Cross My Heart
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1957-09)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (in 1957-09)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (in 1957-09)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood (in 1957-09) and Luther Tucker (in 1957-09)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (in 1957-09)
piano:
Otis Spann (in 1957-09)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (in 1957-09)
3:24
15Ninety Nine
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1957-09)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (in 1957-09)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (in 1957-09)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood (in 1957-09) and Luther Tucker (in 1957-09)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (in 1957-09)
piano:
Otis Spann (in 1957-09)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (in 1957-09)
2:40
16Born Blind
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1957-09)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (in 1957-09)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (in 1957-09)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood (in 1957-09) and Luther Tucker (in 1957-09)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (in 1957-09)
piano:
Otis Spann (in 1957-09)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (in 1957-09)
recording of:
Born Blind (in 1957-09)
writer:
Rice Miller (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965)
2:34
17Little Village
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1957-09)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (in 1957-09)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (in 1957-09)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood (in 1957-09) and Luther Tucker (in 1957-09)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (in 1957-09)
piano:
Otis Spann (in 1957-09)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (in 1957-09)
4:07
18Unseen Eye
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1957-09)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (in 1957-09)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (in 1957-09)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood (in 1957-09) and Luther Tucker (in 1957-09)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (in 1957-09)
piano:
Otis Spann (in 1957-09)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (in 1957-09)
3:00
19Your Funeral and My Trial
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1958-03)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1958-03-27)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1958-03-27)
guitar:
Eugene Pierson (blues guitarist) and Robert Lockwood (on 1958-03-27)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1958-03-27)
piano:
Lafayette Leake (on 1958-03-27)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1958-03-27)
recording of:
Your Funeral & My Trial (on 1958-03-27)
lyricist and composer:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965)
publisher:
Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher)
sub-publisher:
BMG Rights Management (France) (not for release label use! file releases under its imprint BMG (2008–present))
2:32
20Keep Your Hands Out of My Pocket
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1958-03-27)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1958-03-27)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1958-03-27)
guitar:
Eugene Pierson (blues guitarist) (on 1958-03-27) and Robert Lockwood (on 1958-03-27)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1958-03-27)
piano:
Lafayette Leake (on 1958-03-27)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1958-03-27)
recording of:
Take Your Hands Out of My Pocket (on 1958-03-27)
lyricist and composer:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965)
publisher:
Arc Music (U.S. rock & blues publisher) and Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher)
2:50
21Unseeing Eye
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1959)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (in 1959)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Odie Payne (American Chicago blues drummer) (in 1959)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood (in 1959) and Luther Tucker (in 1959)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (in 1959)
piano:
Otis Spann (in 1959)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (in 1959)
3:07
22Let Your Conscience Be Your Guide
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1959)
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (in 1959)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Odie Payne (American Chicago blues drummer) (in 1959)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood (in 1959) and Luther Tucker (in 1959)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (in 1959)
piano:
Otis Spann (in 1959)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (in 1959)
2:20
23The Goat
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1960-01-30)
producer:
Marshall Chess
editor:
Ralph Bass
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1960-01-30)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1960-01-30)
guitar:
Robert Lockwood (on 1960-01-30) and Luther Tucker (on 1960-01-30)
harmonica:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1960-01-30)
piano:
Otis Spann (on 1960-01-30)
vocals:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965) (on 1960-01-30)
recording of:
The Goat (on 1960-01-30)
lyricist and composer:
Sonny Boy Williamson (Aleck “Sonny Boy Williamson” Miller, 1912–1965)
2:45
2▶CD

Credits

Release

transferred in:Venice, Los Angeles, California, United States
art direction:Vartan (art direction)
liner notes:Mark Humphrey (journalilst and guitarist/singer/songwriter)
engineer:Paul Elmore (engineer)
Bill Inglot (archival music producer/remastering engineer)
John Strother
producer:Andy McKaie (task: compilation)
compiler:Mark Humphrey (journalilst and guitarist/singer/songwriter)
Andy McKaie
design:Junie Osaki
transferrer:Paul Elmore (engineer)
Steven Lasker
engineered at:Penguin Studios (sometimes listed as Eagle Rock) in Pasadena, California, United States
transferred at:MCA Music Media Studios in North Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States
Discogs:https://www.discogs.com/release/788610 [info]
ASIN:US: B000002OC0 [info]