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Various Artists - The Chess Story 1947-1975 (1975)

Track listing:
CD1
  1. Chicago Boogie Five Blazers 2:54
  2. Hey Pretty Mama Jump Jackson & His Orchestra 3:04
  3. Ice Man's Blues Tom Archia 3:09
  4. Boogie Woogie Blues Clarence Samuels 2:41
  5. Bilbo Is Dead Andrew Tibbs 2:54
  6. Johnson Machine Gun Sunnyland Slim 2:51
  7. Gypsy Woman Muddy Waters 2:35
  8. I Feel Like Crying Andrew Tibbs 2:57
  9. She Ain't Nowhere Sunnyland Slim 2:46
  10. I Feel Like Going Home Muddy Waters 3:10
  11. I Can't Be Satisfied Muddy Waters 2:42
  12. Tonky Boogie Forrest Sykes 3:09
  13. Florida Hurricane St Louis Jimmy 2:55
  14. You're Gonna Miss Me Muddy Waters 2:39
  15. Locked Out Boogie Leroy Foster 2:29
  16. Streamline Woman Muddy Waters 3:19
  17. A Woman On Every Street Forest City Joe 2:51
  18. Crying The Blues Laura Rucker 2:42
  19. Baby I'm Sick Of You Duke Jenkins' Aristocrats 2:50
  20. Black Angel Blues (Sweet Black Angel) Robert Nighthawk 3:03
  21. You're Gonna Need My Help Muddy Waters 3:03
  22. Big Town Playboy Little Johnny Jones 2:55
  23. Screamin' And Cryin' Muddy Waters 3:08
  24. All I Need Is You The Bozier Boys 3:19
  25. Six Three O Robert Nighthawk 2:53
  26. Rollin' And Tumblin' (Part 1) Muddy Waters 2:58
CD2
  1. Rollin' Stone Muddy Waters 3:01
  2. That's Alright Jimmy Rogers 2:50
  3. You Got To Get It The Dozier Boys 3:01
  4. Send For The Doctor Doc Pomus 2:16
  5. Louisiana Blues Muddy Waters 2:54
  6. Goin' Away Baby Jimmy Rogers 2:44
  7. So Glad I Found You Shoeshine Johnny (Johnny Shines) 2:26
  8. Mother Earth Memphis Slim 2:42
  9. Long Distance Call Muddy Waters 2:41
  10. Slow Caboose Sax Mallard 2:26
  11. The World's In A Tangle Jimmy Rogers 2:56
  12. Rocket 88 Jackie Brenston 2:49
  13. Leave My Wife Alone John Lee Hooker 2:47
  14. Honey Bee Muddy Waters 3:23
  15. My Real Gone Rocket Jackie Brenston And His Delta Cats 2:30
  16. Moanin' At Midnight Howlin' Wolf 2:56
  17. Howlin' Tomcat Harmonica Frank 2:45
  18. Juiced Billy Love 2:32
  19. How Many More Years Howlin' Wolf 2:44
  20. Still A Fool Muddy Waters 3:19
  21. Hey Little Girl John Godfrey Trio 3:00
  22. Booted Rosco Gordon 3:04
  23. She Moves Me Muddy Waters 2:58
  24. No More Doggin' Around Rufus Thomas 2:39
  25. Dark Road Floyd Jones 3:22
  26. Dr Ross' Boogie Dr Isaiah Ross 2:36
CD3
  1. Mr Highway Man Howlin' Wolf 2:48
  2. Murmur Low Big Boy Spires 2:41
  3. Walkin' The Boogie John Lee Hooker 2:44
  4. When I Am Gone (extended version) Joe Hill Louis 3:46
  5. Truckin' Little Woman Willie Nix 2:40
  6. Sugar Mama John Lee Hooker 3:14
  7. Juke Little Walter & His Nightcats 2:45
  8. Date Bait Blue Smitty 2:36
  9. Every Day I Have The Blues Joe Williams 2:35
  10. Standing Around Cryin' Muddy Waters 3:22
  11. Mean Old World Little Walter 2:55
  12. I Don't Know Willie Mabon 3:09
  13. 24 Hours Eddie Boyd 3:28
  14. Me And My Chauffeur Memphis Minnie 2:52
  15. Sad Hours Little Walter 3:12
  16. She Just Won't Do Right (Dust My Broom) Elmore 3:01
  17. I'm Mad Willie Mabon 2:38
  18. Be Careful What You Do John Brim 2:41
  19. Off The Wall Little Walter 2:50
  20. Diggin' My Potatoes Washboard Sam 2:45
  21. Nadine The Coronets 2:51
  22. I'm Glad Mitzi Mars 2:35
  23. Forty Cups Of Coffee Danny Overbea 3:11
  24. Tell Me Mama Little Walter 2:46
  25. Third Degree Eddie Boyd 3:15
CD4
  1. White Cliffs Of Dover The Blue Jays 2:55
  2. Blues With A Feeling Little Walter 3:07
  3. Jock-A-Mo Sugar Boy Crawford 2:28
  4. Mad Love (I Want You To Love Me) Muddy Waters 3:04
  5. You're So Fine Little Walter 3:05
  6. Wine Wine Wine Jimmy Binkley 2:33
  7. Chicago Bound Jimmy Rogers 2:42
  8. I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man Muddy Waters 2:52
  9. Biscuit Baking Woman Big Ed & His Combo (Eddie Burns) 2:30
  10. I'm A Young Rooster Leon D Tarver & His Chordones 2:44
  11. Just Make Love To Me (I Just Want) Muddy Waters 2:52
  12. Sloppy Drunk Jimmy Rogers 3:04
  13. Evil Howlin' Wolf 2:55
  14. When The Lights Go Out Jimmy Witherspoon 2:52
  15. You Better Watch Yourself Little Walter 3:04
  16. That Man Is Walking Larry Liggett 2:46
  17. I'm Ready Muddy Waters 3:05
  18. Reconsider Baby Lowell Fulson 3:10
  19. Sincerely The Moonglows 3:13
  20. Mama Talk To Your Daughter J.B. Lenoir 2:20
  21. Last Night Little Walter 2:45
  22. It Must Have Been The Devil Otis Spann 2:42
  23. Fourty Four Howlin' Wolf 2:49
  24. I Want To Hug You Kiss You Squeeze You Buddy 3:29
  25. Free And Easy Mind Jimmy Nelson 2:59
  26. Most Of All The Moonglows 3:05
  27. If You Don't Somebody Else Will Jimmy & Johnny 2:20
CD5
  1. Mardi Gras Mambo The Hawketts 2:15
  2. Love Me Jimmy Lee & Wayne Walker 1:53
  3. My Baby Little Walter 2:42
  4. Check Yourself Lowell Fulson 3:02
  5. I'm A Man Bo Diddley 3:00
  6. Bo Diddley Bod Diddley 2:47
  7. Are You Out There? Percy Mayfield 2:57
  8. Mannish Boy Muddy Waters 2:57
  9. Maybellene Chuck Berry 2:22
  10. Diddley Daddy Bo Diddley 2:28
  11. Walking The Blues Wilie Dixon 3:04
  12. The Seventh Son Willie Mabon 2:53
  13. Pretty Thing Bo Diddley 2:51
  14. Don't Start Me Talkin' Sonny Boy Williamson 2:35
  15. The $64000 Question Bobby Tuggle 2:11
  16. Trouble Trouble Lowell Fulson 2:53
  17. Thirty Days Chuck Berry 2:24
  18. In My Diary The Moonglows 2:44
  19. See You Later Alligator Bobby Charles 2:50
  20. Tippity Top The Rays 2:12
  21. Trouble No More Muddy Waters 2:41
  22. I'll Be Home The Flamingos 2:56
  23. Who Little Walter 2:25
  24. No Money Down Chuck Berry 2:59
  25. So Glad She's Mine Charles Hungry Williams 2:13
  26. You're The One Jimmy Rogers 2:31
  27. Smokestack Lightnin' Howlin' Wolf 3:07
CD6
  1. We Go Together The Moonglows 2:45
  2. Roll Over Beethoven Chuck Berry 2:25
  3. You Better Believe It Paul Gayten 2:21
  4. A Kiss From Your Lips The Flamingos 3:03
  5. Take It Easy Greasy Bobby Charles 2:13
  6. Who Do You Love Bo Diddley 2:30
  7. See-Saw The Moonglows 2:27
  8. Brown-Eyed Handsome Man Chuck Berry 2:18
  9. Don't Go No Farther Muddy Waters 2:55
  10. I Asked For Water (She Gave Me Gasoline) Howlin' Wolf 2:50
  11. 29 Ways Willie Dixon 2:10
  12. Would I Be Crying (If I Were Lying To You) The Flamingos 3:01
  13. Keep It To Yourself Sonny Boy Williamson 2:50
  14. Too Much Monkey Business Chuck Berry 2:56
  15. Don't Touch My Head J.B. Lenoir 2:18
  16. I'm Ashamed Of Myself Floyd Dixon 2:20
  17. A Simple Prayer The Ravens 2:37
  18. Tall Dark And Handsome Man Bobby Cisco 2:17
  19. Boom Boom (Out Goes The Lights) Little Walter 2:51
  20. Ain't Got No Home Clarence Frogman Henry 2:22
  21. Walkin' By Myself Jimmy Rogers 2:49
  22. Been So Long The Pastels 2:43
  23. Got My Mojo Workin' Muddy Waters 2:52
  24. School Day Chuck Berry 2:43
  25. Please Send Me Someone To Love The Moonglows 2:21
  26. Susie Q Dale Hawkins 2:14
  27. Rock Me Muddy Waters 3:12
  28. Blue Velvet The Moonglows 3:03
CD7
  1. Hey Bo Diddley Bo Diddley 2:13
  2. Fattenin' Frogs For Snakes Sonny Boy Williamson 2:21
  3. Long Lonely Nights Lee Andrews & The Hearts 2:55
  4. Mona (I Need You Baby) Bo Diddley 2:23
  5. Cool Off Baby Billy Curley Barrix 2:10
  6. Flat Foot Sam TV Slim 2:10
  7. Happy Happy Birthday Baby The Tuneweavers 2:19
  8. Rock And Roll Music Chuck Berry 2:34
  9. Before You Accuse Me Bo Diddley 3:07
  10. That's Why I Love You So Al Kent 2:18
  11. My Soul Clifton Chenier 2:55
  12. Go Ahead Billy Miranda 1:48
  13. Ninety Nine Sonny Boy Williamson 2:39
  14. Book Of Love The Moonotones 2:21
  15. Look Out Mabel G.L. Crockett 2:39
  16. Sittin' On Top Of The World Howlin' Wolf 2:34
  17. The Walk Jimmy McCracklin 2:47
  18. Nothin' Shakin' (But The Leaves On The Trees) Eddie Fontaine 2:56
  19. Ten Commandments Of Love (full version) The Moonglows 4:07
  20. Yea Yea The Kendall Sisters 2:30
  21. Sweet Little Sixteen Chuck Berry 3:13
  22. Tornado Dale Hawkins 2:28
  23. Four O'Clock In The Morning Stanley Mitchell & The Tornados 2:34
  24. Say Man Bo Diddley 3:13
  25. Everybody Rock (New Orleans Beat) Jimmy McCracklin 2:24
  26. Anything To Say You're Mine Lula Reed 2:22
  27. Your Funeral And My Trial Sonny Boy Williamson 2:32
  28. Moanin' For My Baby Howlin' Wolf 2:47
CD8
  1. You Got Me Whistlin' Johnny Fuller 2:10
  2. Oh-Oh Eddie Bo 2:27
  3. Carol Chuck Berry 2:48
  4. La-Do-Dada Dale Hawkins 2:35
  5. Loud Mouth Annie Myles & Dupont 2:28
  6. Do You Remember? LC Cooke 2:37
  7. Vacation's Over Lou Josie 2:11
  8. Key To The Highway Little Walter 2:46
  9. Close To You Muddy Waters 3:07
  10. Sweet Little Rock And Roller Chuck Berry 2:23
  11. I'm Sorry Bo Diddley 2:27
  12. Sugaree Rusty York 2:42
  13. This Broken Heart The Sonics 3:04
  14. Crackin' Up Bo Diddley 2:06
  15. Almost Grown Chuck Berry 2:21
  16. This Should Go On Forever Rod Bernard 2:46
  17. I Want To Know Sugarpie DeSanto 3:04
  18. Save It Mel Robins 2:05
  19. Back In The USA Chuck Berry 2:29
  20. Bad Girl The Miracles 2:43
  21. Unseeing Eye Sonny Boy Williamson 3:06
  22. Howlin' For My Darlin' Howlin Wolf 2:33
  23. Anna Macora The Calvaes 2:24
  24. Everything's Gonna Be Alright Little Walter 2:50
  25. Let It Rock Chuck Berry 1:48
  26. Road Runner Bo Diddley 2:50
  27. Trying To Make A Living Bobby Saxton 2:48
  28. Goin' Back To Memphis Gene Simmons 3:00
  29. First Time I Met The Blues Buddy Guy 2:16
CD9
  1. All I Could Do Was Cry Etta James 2:57
  2. All Your Love Otis Rush 2:55
  3. I Can't Hold Out (Talk To Me Baby) Elmore James 2:17
  4. If I Can't Have You Etta James & Harvey Fuqua 2:52
  5. Blue Shadows Lowell Fulson 2:28
  6. Spoonful Howlin' Wolf 2:45
  7. Tiger In Your Tank Muddy Waters 2:17
  8. Gunslinger Bo Diddley 1:54
  9. (I Don't Know Why) But I Do Clarence Frogman Henry 2:21
  10. At Last Etta James 3:00
  11. Back Door Man Howlin' Wolf 2:50
  12. The Watusi The Vibrations 2:40
  13. Just Your Fool Little Walter 2:25
  14. Come On Chuck Berry 1:50
  15. I Won't Be Hanging Around Albert King 2:56
  16. You Always Hurt The One You Love Clarence Frogman Henry 2:30
  17. Peanut Butter The Marathons 2:00
  18. Down In The Bottom (unedited version) Howlin' Wolf 2:36
  19. Music Music Music The Sensations 3:18
  20. I'm A Little Mixed Up Betty James 2:51
  21. Little Red Rooster Howlin' Wolf 2:28
  22. So Mean To Me Little Milton 2:35
  23. Proof Of Your Love Jackie Cannon 2:02
  24. Let Me In The Sensations 3:06
  25. Smokey Places The Corsairs 3:03
  26. Nine Below Zero (unedited version) Sonny Boy Williamson 3:44
  27. Something's Got A Hold On Me Etta James 2:50
  28. Stone Crazy Buddy Guy 2:57
CD10
  1. Reap What You Sow Billy Stewart 2:28
  2. Rinky Dink Dave Baby Cortez 2:53
  3. You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover Bo Diddley 3:10
  4. Stop The Wedding Etta James 2:54
  5. Lonely Baby Ty Hunter 3:05
  6. Mama Didn't Lie Jan Bradley 2:03
  7. Got You On My Mind Cookie & The Cupcakes 2:35
  8. Pushover Etta James 2:55
  9. Help Me Sonny Boy Williamson 3:10
  10. 300 Pounds Of Joy Howlin' Wolf 3:06
  11. Sally Go Round The Roses The Jaynettes 3:01
  12. You Keep Her Joe Tex 2:24
  13. Second Hand Lover The Knight Brothers 2:26
  14. Hi-Heel Sneakers Tommy Tucker 2:51
  15. Track 15 Chuck Berry 2:37
  16. You Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had Muddy Waters 2:58
  17. Soulful Dress Sugar Pie DeSanto 2:51
  18. My Time After A While Buddy Guy 3:01
  19. Selfish One Jackie Ross 3:19
  20. Don't Mess Up A Good Thing Fontella Bass & Bobby McClure 3:02
  21. I Had A Talk With My Man Mitty Collier 3:44
  22. Promised Land Chuck Berry 2:25
  23. The Entertainer Tony Clarke 2:37
  24. Voice Your Choice The Radiants 2:35
  25. Crawlin' King Snake Buster Brown 3:07
  26. I Do Love You Billy Stewart 2:58
CD11
  1. Love Is A Five-Letter Word James Phelps 3:31
  2. We're Gonna Make It Little Milton 2:42
  3. Ain't No Big Thing The Radiants 2:50
  4. Temptation 'Bout To Get Me The Knight Brothers 3:26
  5. Sitting In The Park Billy Stewart 3:17
  6. Who's Cheating Who? Little Milton 2:58
  7. The In Crowd The Ramsey Lewis Trio 3:22
  8. Rescue Me Fontella Bass 2:55
  9. Summertime Billy Stewart 2:43
  10. Searching For My Love Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces 2:32
  11. Wang Dang Doodle Koko Taylor 3:02
  12. Dirty Work Goin' On Little Joe Blue 2:48
  13. In The Basement Etta James & Sugar Pie DeSanto 2:24
  14. Landslide Tony Clarke 2:16
  15. In The Mood John Lee Hooker 2:45
  16. It's A Man's Man's World Big Maybelle 2:53
  17. Wade In The Water The Ramsey Lewis Trio 3:48
  18. One Bourbon One Scotch One Beer John Lee Hooker 3:02
  19. Without A Woman Kip Anderson 2:51
  20. Peak Of Love Bobby McClure 2:55
  21. Sweeter Than The Day Before The Valentinos 2:38
  22. To Know I Can't Touch Barbara & The Browns 2:21
  23. I Fooled You This Time Gene Chandler 2:53
  24. Try My Love Again Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces 2:04
  25. Ooh Baby Bo Diddley 2:51
  26. I Feel So Bad Little Milton 4:03
CD12
  1. Mercy Mercy Mercy Marlena Shaw 3:03
  2. Dirty Man Laura Lee 2:54
  3. I'm Shorty Tommy Tucker 2:47
  4. Cheater Man Irma Thomas 2:30
  5. O-O I Love You The Dells 3:20
  6. Tell Mama Etta James 2:23
  7. Some-A Your Sweet Love Wayne Cochran 3:10
  8. Uptight Good Man Laura Lee 2:50
  9. There Is The Dells 3:34
  10. I'm Just What She Needs Johnny Sayles 2:38
  11. You Left The Water Running Maurice & Mac 2:43
  12. It Ain't Necessary Mamie Galore 2:12
  13. Sitting Home Alone Hound Dog Taylor 3:46
  14. Cadillac Jack Andre Williams 3:09
  15. Good To Me Irma Thomas 2:34
  16. Security Etta James 2:29
  17. Stay In My Corner The Dells 6:14
  18. You Name It I've Had It Willie Walker 3:05
  19. Here Comes The Judge Pigmeat Markham 2:42
  20. Look At Me Now Terry Callier 2:43
  21. Walking Thru The Park Muddy Waters 3:20
  22. Grits Ain't Groceries Little Milton 2:40
  23. Love You Like A Woman Koko Taylor 2:08
CD13
  1. I Had A Dream John Littlejohn 4:08
  2. Oh What A Night The Dells 4:06
  3. If Walls Could Talk Little Milton 3:09
  4. Who's Been Talking Howlin' Wolf 3:04
  5. Baby I Love You Little Milton 2:45
  6. Losers Weepers Etta James 3:01
  7. Recouperating Lee Eldred 2:43
  8. Can You Be A One-Woman Man Sam Dees 3:11
  9. Tease Your Man Koko Taylor 4:22
  10. Sad Sad Days Muddy Waters 5:22
  11. My Ding-A-Ling Chuck Berry 4:24
  12. Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation The Dells 4:16
  13. Can't Get No Grindin' Muddy Waters 2:48
  14. Can't Stay Here Howlin' Wolf 2:34
  15. Track 15 Chuck Berry 4:25
  16. I Miss You The Dells 4:26
  17. I'll Be Holding On Big Al Downing 3:09
  18. Don't Make Me No Promises The Dramatics 3:22
  19. I'm Leaving On That Late Late Train Solomon Burke 3:03
  20. Tell Me What You Want Jimmy Ruffin 3:15
  21. Going Down To Main Street Muddy Waters 4:11
CD14
  1. Phil Chess Interview Phil Chess Interview 10:20
  2. Phil Chess Interview Phil Chess Interview 11:10
  3. Phil Chess Interview Phil Chess Interview 7:43
  4. Phil Chess Interview Phil Chess Interview 6:23
  5. Marshall Chess Interview Marshall Chess Interview 3:57
  6. Marshall Chess Interview Marshall Chess Interview 2:08
  7. Marshall Chess Interview Marshall Chess Interview 4:24
  8. Marshall Chess Interview Marshall Chess Interview 0:57
  9. Marshall Chess Interview Marshall Chess Interview 2:54
  10. Marshall Chess Interview Marshall Chess Interview 2:24
  11. Marshall Chess Interview Marshall Chess Interview 2:57
  12. Marshall Chess Interview Marshall Chess Interview 1:23
  13. Marshall Chess Interview Marshall Chess Interview 3:57
  14. Marshall Chess Interview Marshall Chess Interview 1:09
  15. Marshall Chess Interview Marshall Chess Interview 3:10
  16. Marshall Chess Interview Marshall Chess Interview 1:39
  17. Marshall Chess Interview Marshall Chess Interview 3:36
  18. Marshall Chess Interview Marshall Chess Interview 3:10

Notes

cd 15: CD ROM including visual clips of major Chess artists & previously unseen footage of Chicago and Chess Records

First the good news, which is really good: the sound on this 340-song set is about as good as one ever fantasized it could be, and that means it runs circles around any prior reissues; from the earliest Aristocrat sides by the Five Blazers and Jump Jackson & His Orchestra right up through Muddy Waters' "Going Down to Main Street," it doesn't get any better than this set. The clarity pays a lot of bonuses, beginning with the impression that it gives of various artists' instrumental prowess. In sharp contrast to the past efforts in this direction by MCA, however, the producers of this set have not emasculated the sound in the course of cleaning it up, as was the case with the Chuck Berry box, in particular. When the rock & roll era dawns at Chess as depicted on disc five, the sound is nice and dirty, just really sharp. The contents of the set are largely "limited" -- if that's the word for any 340-song collection -- to Chess' blues, R&B, rock & roll, and soul output, although Ramsey Lewis gets a nod, as does comedian Pigmeat Markham. What's more, the care lavished on the songs is virtually universal -- there was time spent getting all of it right. One wishes that the same could be said for one of the featured bonuses on this set, the CD-ROM that comprises the 15th disc (disc 14 is a pair of interviews with Phil Chess and Marshall Chess). First, there are the skimpy film clips, misspellings ("Arether Franklin") and incorrect dates. There also would have been enough room to put a complete Chess discography on the CD-ROM, rather than just the MCA reissues of Chess' material. The CDs themselves conveniently assembled in three fold-out volumes in a slipcase, but identifying individual tracks and artists means constantly referring back to the booklets glued into those volumes; additionally, it would've been nice to have had a sessionography on the songs, or at least the release dates, or even release years. This set is available only as a British import as of the spring of 2000; it is unbeatable for sound, and should be considered on that -- but only on that -- basis.