The Chess Box

~ Release by Howlin’ Wolf (see all versions of this release, 1 available)

Annotation

Tracks 2-16, 3-16, 3-17 previously unreleased.
℗1973, 1991, © 1991 MCA Records Inc.

Includes 32 page booklet (approx. 11" x 11") with essays, photos, credits and album discography.

Annotation last modified on 2021-03-07 13:15 UTC.

Tracklist

1▶CD: 1951 - 1955
2▼CD: 1955 - 1962
#TitleRatingLength
1Don't Mess With My Baby
double bass:
Willie Dixon (in 1955-03)
drums (drum set):
Earl Phillips (in 1955-03)
guitar:
Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1955-03) and Jody Williams (blues guitarist/singer) (in 1955-03)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1955-03)
piano:
Henry Gray (in 1955-03)
recording of:
Don't Mess With My Baby (in 1955-03)
writer:
Chester Arthur Burnett
2:39
2Smokestack Lightnin'
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1956-01)
double bass:
Willie Dixon (in 1956-01)
drums (drum set):
Earl Phillips (in 1956-01)
guitar:
Willie Johnson (American electric blues guitarist) (in 1956-01) and Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1956-01)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1956-01)
piano:
Hosea Lee Kennard (in 1956-01)
part of:
Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 285)
recording of:
Smokestack Lightning (in 1956-01)
lyricist and composer:
Chester Arthur Burnett
publisher:
Arc Music (U.S. rock & blues publisher)
53:08
3You Can't Be Beat
double bass:
Willie Dixon (in 1956-01)
drums (drum set):
Earl Phillips (in 1956-01)
guitar:
Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1956-01) and Jody Williams (blues guitarist/singer) (in 1956-01)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1956-01)
piano:
Henry Gray (in 1956-01)
recording of:
You Can't Be Beat (in 1956-01)
writer:
Chester Arthur Burnett
3:06
4Howlin' Wolf Talks #3
spoken vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1968-11)
0:57
5I Asked for Water
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1956-07-19)
drums (drum set):
Earl Phillips (on 1956-07-19)
guitar:
Willie Johnson (American electric blues guitarist) (on 1956-07-19) and Otis “Big Smokey” Smothers (on 1956-07-19)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (on 1956-07-19)
piano:
Hosea Lee Kennard (on 1956-07-19)
recording of:
I Asked for Water (She Gave Me Gasoline) (on 1956-07-19)
writer:
Chester Arthur Burnett
publisher:
Arc Music (U.S. rock & blues publisher) and Blue Ribbon Music Ltd
2:50
6The Natchez Burnin'
double bass:
Willie Dixon (on 1956-07-19)
drums (drum set):
Earl Phillips (on 1956-07-19)
guitar:
Willie Johnson (American electric blues guitarist) (on 1956-07-19) and Otis “Big Smokey” Smothers (on 1956-07-19)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (on 1956-07-19)
piano:
Hosea Lee Kennard (on 1956-07-19)
vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (on 1956-07-19)
recording of:
The Natchez Burnin’ (on 1956-07-19)
lyricist and composer:
Chester Arthur Burnett
2:10
7Who's Been Talking
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1957-06-24)
drums (drum set):
Earl Phillips (on 1957-06-24)
guitar:
Willie Johnson (American electric blues guitarist) (on 1957-06-24) and Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (on 1957-06-24)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (on 1957-06-24)
piano:
Hosea Lee Kennard (on 1957-06-24)
recording of:
Who’s Been Talkin’ (on 1957-06-24)
writer:
Chester Arthur Burnett
publisher:
Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher)
2:23
8Tell Me
drums (drum set):
Earl Phillips (on 1957-06-24)
guitar:
Willie Johnson (American electric blues guitarist) (on 1957-06-24) and Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (on 1957-06-24)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (on 1957-06-24)
piano:
Hosea Lee Kennard (on 1957-06-24)
recording of:
Tell Me (on 1957-06-24)
lyricist and composer:
Chester Arthur Burnett
recording of:
Tell Me (on 1957-06-24)
lyricist and composer:
Chester Burnett
2:58
9Sittin' on Top of the World
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1957-12)
double bass:
Alfred Elkins (in 1957-12)
drums (drum set):
Earl Phillips (in 1957-12)
guitar:
Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1957-12) and Jody Williams (blues guitarist/singer) (in 1957-12)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1957-12)
piano:
Hosea Lee Kennard (in 1957-12)
cover recording of:
Sittin’ on Top of the World (Chicago blues version by Howlin’ Wolf aka Chester Arthur Burnett) (in 1957-12)
lyricist and composer:
Chester Arthur Burnett
publisher:
Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher)
version of:
Sitting on Top of the World (“Now she’s gone, I don’t worry…”)
recording of:
Sittin’ on Top of the World (Chicago blues version by Howlin’ Wolf aka Chester Arthur Burnett) (in 1957-12)
lyricist and composer:
Chester Arthur Burnett
publisher:
Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher)
version of:
Sitting on Top of the World (“Now she’s gone, I don’t worry…”)
recording of:
Sittin’ on Top of the World (Chicago blues version by Howlin’ Wolf aka Chester Arthur Burnett)
lyricist and composer:
Chester Arthur Burnett
publisher:
Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher)
version of:
Sitting on Top of the World (“Now she’s gone, I don’t worry…”)
2:34
10I Didn't Know
double bass:
Willie Dixon (on 1958-04-03)
drums (drum set):
S.P. Leary (on 1958-04-03)
guitar:
Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (on 1958-04-03)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (on 1958-04-03)
piano:
Hosea Lee Kennard (on 1958-04-03)
tenor saxophone:
Abb Locke (on 1958-04-03)
recording of:
I Didn't Know (on 1958-04-03)
writer:
Chester Arthur Burnett
2:36
11Moaning for My Baby
drums (drum set):
Earl Phillips (on 1958-04-03)
guitar:
Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (on 1958-04-03) and Jody Williams (blues guitarist/singer) (on 1958-04-03)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (on 1958-04-03)
piano:
Hosea Lee Kennard (on 1958-04-03)
tenor saxophone:
Adolph "Billy" Duncan (on 1958-04-03)
recording of:
Moanin' for My Baby (on 1958-04-03)
writer:
Chester Arthur Burnett
2:49
12Change My Way
drums (drum set):
S.P. Leary (in 1958-09)
guitar:
L.D. McGhee (in 1958-09) and Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1958-09)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1958-09)
piano:
Hosea Lee Kennard (in 1958-09)
recording of:
Change My Way (in 1958-09)
writer:
Chester Arthur Burnett
3:32
13I Better Go Now
double bass:
Willie Dixon (in 1958-03)
drums (drum set):
S.P. Leary (in 1958-03)
guitar:
Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1958-03)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1958-03)
piano:
Hosea Lee Kennard (in 1958-03)
tenor saxophone:
Abb Locke (in 1958-03)
recording of:
I Better Go Now (in 1958-03)
writer:
Chester Arthur Burnett
2:43
14Howlin' for My Darling
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1959-07)
drums (drum set):
S.P. Leary (in 1959-07)
guitar:
Abraham “Little Smokey” Smothers (in 1959-07) and Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1959-07)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1959-07)
piano:
Hosea Lee Kennard (in 1959-07)
tenor saxophone:
Abb Locke (in 1959-07)
recording of:
Howlin’ for My Baby (in 1959-07)
composer:
Willie Dixon
2:33
15I've Been Abused
drums (drum set):
S.P. Leary (in 1959-07)
guitar:
Abraham “Little Smokey” Smothers (in 1959-07) and Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1959-07)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1959-07)
piano:
Hosea Lee Kennard (in 1959-07)
tenor saxophone:
Abb Locke (in 1959-07)
recording of:
I've Been Abused (in 1959-07)
writer:
Chester Arthur Burnett
2:38
16Mr. Airplane Man
guitar:
Abraham “Little Smokey” Smothers and Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf
membranophone:
S.P. Leary
piano:
Hosea Lee Kennard
tenor saxophone:
Abb Locke
recording of:
Mr. Airplane Man (in 1959-07)
writer:
Chester Arthur Burnett
3:22
17Wang Dang Doodle
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1960-06)
double bass:
Willie Dixon (in 1960-06)
drums (drum set):
Fred Below (in 1960-06)
guitar:
Freddie King (US blues singer & guitarist) (in 1960-06) and Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1960-06)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1960-06)
piano:
Otis Spann (in 1960-06)
vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1960-06)
cover recording of:
Wang Dang Doodle (in 1960-06)
lyricist:
Willie Dixon (in 1960-06)
composer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Hoochie Coochie Music
recording of:
Wang Dang Doodle (in 1960-06)
lyricist:
Willie Dixon (in 1960-06)
composer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Hoochie Coochie Music
2:24
18Back Door Man
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1960-06)
double bass:
Willie Dixon (in 1960-06)
drums (drum set):
Fred Below (in 1960-06)
guitar:
Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1960-06)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1960-06)
piano:
Otis Spann (in 1960-06)
recording of:
Back Door Man (in 1960-06)
lyricist and composer:
Willie Dixon
writer:
Chester Burnett
publisher:
Arc Music (U.S. rock & blues publisher), Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher), Hoochie Coochie Music and Watertoons (BMI-affiliated - publisher associated with Muddy Waters)
sub-publisher:
BMG Rights Management (France) (not for release label use! file releases under its imprint BMG (2008–present)), Sony Music Publishing France and フジパシフィックミュージック BMG事業部 (Fujipacific Music Inc., BMG Division)
52:48
19Howlin' Wolf Talks #4
spoken vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1968-11)
0:27
20Spoonful
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1960-06)
double bass:
Willie Dixon (in 1960-06)
drums (drum set):
Fred Below (in 1960-06)
guitar:
Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1960-06)
piano:
Otis Spann (in 1960-06)
lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1960-06)
part of:
Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 2010), Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 2021 edition (number: 154) and Rolling Stone: 500 Greatest Songs of All Time (as at 2016-06-10) (number: 219)
recording of:
Spoonful (in 1960-06)
lyricist and composer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher), Hoochie Coochie Music, Jewel Music Publishing Co. Ltd. (publisher; do NOT use as release label) and Mathews Music
52:45
21Down in the Bottom
double bass:
Willie Dixon (in 1961-05)
drums (drum set):
Sam Lay (in 1961-05)
guitar:
Jimmy Rogers (blues artist) (in 1961-05) and Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1961-05)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1961-05)
piano:
Johnny Jones (Chicago blues pianist) (in 1961-05)
recording of:
Down in the Bottom (in 1961-05)
lyricist and composer:
Willie Dixon
adaptations:
Runnin' Shoes
2:35
22Shake for Me
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1961-05)
double bass:
Willie Dixon (in 1961-05)
drums (drum set):
Sam Lay (in 1961-05)
guitar:
Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1961-05)
piano:
Little Johnny Jones (Chicago blues pianist) (in 1961-05)
lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1961-05)
recording of:
Shake for Me (in 1961-05)
composer:
Willie Dixon
2:16
23The Red Rooster
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1961-06)
double bass:
Willie Dixon (in 1961-06)
drums (drum set):
Sam Lay (in 1961-06)
electric bass guitar:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (in 1961-06)
guitar:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1961-06) and Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1961-06)
piano:
Little Johnny Jones (Chicago blues pianist) (in 1961-06)
lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1961-06)
later releases:
Little Red Rooster (The Red Rooster) by Howlin’ Wolf
recording of:
The Red Rooster (in 1961-06)
lyricist and composer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher) and Hoochie Coochie Music
cover recording of:
The Red Rooster
lyricist and composer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher) and Hoochie Coochie Music
52:28
24You'll Be Mine
double bass:
Willie Dixon (in 1961-12)
drums (drum set):
Sam Lay (in 1961-12)
guitar:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1961-12), Jimmy Rogers (blues artist) (in 1961-12) and Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1961-12)
piano:
Henry Gray (in 1961-12)
lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1961-12)
recording of:
You’ll Be Mine (in 1961-12)
composer:
Willie Dixon
2:28
25Just Like I Treat You
double bass:
Willie Dixon (in 1961-12)
drums (drum set):
Sam Lay (in 1961-12)
guitar:
Jimmy Rogers (blues artist) (in 1961-12) and Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1961-12)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1961-12)
piano:
Henry Gray (in 1961-12)
recording of:
Just Like I Treat You (in 1961-12)
lyricist and composer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Hoochie Coochie Music
2:57
26I Ain't Superstitious
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1961-12)
double bass:
Willie Dixon (in 1961-12)
drums (drum set):
Sam Lay (in 1961-12)
guitar:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1961-12), Jimmy Rogers (blues artist) (in 1961-12) and Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1961-12)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1961-12)
piano:
Henry Gray (in 1961-12)
vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1961-12)
recording of:
I Ain’t Superstitious (in 1961-12)
lyricist and composer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Hoochie Coochie Music
52:54
27Goin' Down Slow
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1961-12)
double bass and spoken vocals:
Willie Dixon (in 1961-12)
drums (drum set):
Sam Lay (in 1961-12)
guitar:
Jimmy Rogers (blues artist) (in 1961-12) and Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (in 1961-12)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (in 1961-12)
piano:
Henry Gray (in 1961-12)
cover recording of:
Goin’ Down Slow (in 1961-12)
lyricist and composer:
James Burke Oden (blues singer and songwriter)
publisher:
Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher), Leeds Music, MCA Music Ltd. and Unichappell Music, Inc.
44:02
28Tail Dragger
double bass:
Jerome Arnold (blues bassist) (on 1962-09-28)
drums (drum set):
Junior Blackman (on 1962-09-28)
guitar:
Hubert Sumlin (Chicago blues guitarist and singer) (on 1962-09-28)
harmonica and lead vocals:
Howlin’ Wolf (on 1962-09-28)
piano:
Johnny Jones (Chicago blues pianist) (on 1962-09-28)
tenor saxophone:
J.T. Brown (saxophonist) (on 1962-09-28)
recording of:
Tail Dragger (on 1962-09-28)
writer:
Willie Dixon
52:57
3▶CD: 1963 - 1973