Chess Blues-Rock Songbook (50th Anniv Coll)

The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection (Series) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 26, 1997)
• Original Release Date: August 26, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Chess
• ASIN: B000005KQZ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #142,577 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #83 in Music > Jazz > Jive Jazz

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best compilation of its kind, November 10, 2003

By 

Docendo Discimus (Vita scholae) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chess Blues-Rock Songbook (50th Anniv Coll) (Audio CD)

This is no mere publishing sampler. "The Classic Originals" gathers 36 of the very best blues and early rock n' roll singles cut at the legendary Chess studios in Chicago, and it provides the perfect introduction to men like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and numerous other recording artists from the 50s and 60s.

And these are not just the obvious choices that any compiler with an ounce of insight could have made. There are numerous lesser-known songs here which are just as magnificent as "Hoochie Coochie Man" or "Johnny B. Goode", like Elmore James' gritty, slide guitar driven "Madison Blues", Willie Mabon's swinging "The Seventh Son", or pianist Eddie Boyd's slow blues "24 Hours".

Howlin' Wolf is represented by four of his best songs, including the thundering steam engine "Killing Floor", one of the very best blues singles ever issued, and other highlights include Memphis Slim's stately "Mother Earth", the classic "Walking By Myself" by Jimmy Rogers, and Chuck Berry's rollicking "Roll Over Beethoven".
But this is all highlights, really, and while this well-annotated double-disc retrospective doesn't deliver the definitive word on any of the artists included, it provides the very best place for newcomers or "mid-level" fans to get better acquainted with the best and most succesful blues label of the post-war years.
I really can't praise this compilation enough. Get it right away, and enrich your life!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ....and people get snooty over "classic" rock!, July 27, 2000

By 

Cris Whetstone (Fountain Valley, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Chess Blues-Rock Songbook (50th Anniv Coll) (Audio CD)

Most fans of classic rock forget how very, very close it is and came from the blues and R & B. This is a great place to find that out if you don't really know. Chess records places songs from their collection on this 2 disk set that are used for the basis for rock tunes to come. It even lists which bands covered or used these songs in the booklet.

Forgetting that, this is a great bunch of music with some TRUE classics on it. Great introduction to some classic blues as well.

5 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DON'T BE A DUMMY!!!!!!, July 13, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Chess Blues-Rock Songbook (50th Anniv Coll) (Audio CD)

Don't be a dummy. Any fool knows the brothers Chess, Leonard and what's his name virtually wrote the book when it comes to Chicago Blues. It's a no brainer. Now I ask you, where else do you find a more classic lineup of stars? From Muddy to Wolf, from Little Milton to Buddy Guy, John Lee to JB, (Lenoir that is) And let's not forget Willie Dixon and Bo Diddley and so many more.

And what about the songs from Hi Heel Sneekers to Mona, to Suzie Q to I Just Want To Make Love To You.......to Sweet Little Sixteen to Trouble No More..........Well you know the rest. Afterall the title of the record is Blues-Rock Songbook......That says it all....So don't be a dummy...All right?