Customer Reviews

His Best 2

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An excellent companion volume to MCA/Chess's must-have "His Best" collection, "His Best vol. II" focuses mainly on Howlin' Wolf's lesser-known songs.

The first "His Best" CD contained almost all of Wolf's best-known material, as if the label never planned a sequel, but these second-tier songs aren't cast-offs, they are merely forgotten or unappreciated classics. They might not all be as monumental as the songs on "His Best" vol. I, but songs like "The Natchez Burnin'" and the fiery slide guitar workout "Down In The Bottom", which didn't make the first cut, rank among Howlin' Wolf's best.
Other highlights include Wolf's self-penned latter-day songs "Louise", "Don't Laugh At Me" and the menacing "Commit A Crime", as well as an awesome version of the classic "Crawlin' King Snake" with blaring horns, smouldering lead guitar, and an incredibly raw vocal by the Wolf.
Hubert Sumlin's superb guitar playing is even more prominent than on "His Best" vol. I, and the Wolf's huge, gravelly voice is as powerful as ever.

"His Best vol. II" ends with a great live-in-the-studio performance of "The Little Red Rooster" from the London Sessions album, including a false start during which the Wolf (supposedly) teaches Eric Clapton to play the main slide guitar riff.
If you don't want to spring for the Chess Box, go for "His Best" and this fine, well annotated and attractively packaged follow-up. Highly recommended.

Howlin' Wolf made nothing less than the best blues recordings of all time, and no collection of Wolf merits fewer than five stars. Having said this, I would like to see a volume three of this series, one that departs from the "Roots of the Yardbirds" approach to feature "Saddle My Pony," "Going Back Home," "I'm Not Joking," and "Bluebird," among others. Meanwhile, grab this one.

HOWLIN' WOLF IS MY FAVORITE R&B ARTIST FROM THE 50'S. ALL OF THESE RECORDINGS ARE FROM THE CHESS LABEL IN CHICAGO. SINCE LISTENING TO HIM FOR YEARS, NONE OF THESE SONGS ARE "LESSER KNOWN RECORDINGS". ALL OF THEM SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN A 2 DISC SET WITH VOLUME ONE, IT WOULD HAVE MADE MORE SENSE. INTERESTING VERSIONS ON HERE OF JOHN LEE HOOKER'S CRAWLIN KING SNAKE BLUES AND SUGAR MAMA.