“A Complete Introduction to Chess” 4-CD box set – review
Written by admin on July 9, 2010 – 9:28 pm - |
Opening with Jackie Brenton and His Delta Cats’ classic “Rocket 88,” this four-CD box set features many of the strongest cuts released by Chess Records over a 20-year period.
“A Complete Introduction to Chess” closes less auspiciously with Chuck Berry’s “My Ding-a-Ling,” but thankfully we are treated to some of Chuck’s more significant tracks along the way, including “Maybellene,” “Johnny B. Goode” and “No Particular Place to Go.” |
Chicago-based brothers Leonard and Phil Chess bought into Aristocrat Records in the late 1940s and began focussing on jazz and blues recordings. By the time the label’s name was changed to Chess Records in 1950, it had a roster of blues artists who would become legends in the blues world, including Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker and Little Walter. The Chess brothers were also finding talent from outside Chicago, with Sam Phillips in Memphis providing recordings by a number of great artists, including Rufus Thomas, Joe Hill Louis, Bobby Bland and Howlin’ Wolf.
This four-CD set includes some of the best R&B and rock “n” roll music ever recorded. Chuck Berry is most prominently featured, with six tracks, and there are also five each from Etta James, Howlin’ Wolf and Muddy Waters; three each from John Lee Hooker, Little Walter, Bo Diddley; and two a piece from Solomon Burke, Willie Dixon and Fontella Bass, whose classic soul single “Rescue Me” opens disc three.
Many of the songs featured on this set have charted more than once or had a new lease of life when featured in a commercial, movie or television show. It is timeless music that has lived on much longer than the label for which it was recorded and it will continue to do so.
The box set achieves what its title promises, delivering an excellent introduction to the music of Chess Records.
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Tags: A Complete Introduction to Chess, Bo Diddley, Chess Records, Chuck Berry, Etta James, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Muddy Waters
Posted in New releases, Rock 'n' roll |
