Customer Reviews

The Original Wang Dang Doodle : The Chess Recordings & More

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

 

 

There are not many Willie Dixon recordings where he's not just holding things together with his bass, once you have the Chess Box it gets harder to find something else really great. I've looked around and checked the recommendations in various guides, and I think this disc is very underrated. It's got a nice live energy though out.

The disc opens with a rare version of Wang Dang Doodle which I do believe is by far my favorite version. I like the honesty in Willie's voice, that sounds like the true voice of experience. The upbeat energy on the disc makes it great for parties, this is blues you can dance to.

It's been out of print for a while and is a bit hard to get a hold of, but I would do it now before it's really unobtainable. Recommended.

Willie Dixon as a songwriter and arranger was near-genius. Willie Dixon, as a performer, had problems, not the least of which was his lackadaisical voice. This recording is interesting in a historical sense, but nearly all of the songs here were done better by other artists in the Chess stable.

It may seem hard to say that about Dixon, but wishful thinking will not make these recordings more important or interesting than they really are. A few cuts on here are flat out novelty songs and could have languished in the vaults, or been issued on compilations sandwiched in between much better songs (as on the Willie Dixon box set).

Overall, proof once more that Dixon's talent was in songwriting and arranging, but not as a frontman.

I have a lot of blues recordings and this is one of the best. I've listened to the blues for thity-five years and this is my favorite.