Real Folk Blues / More Real Folk Blues [Original recording remastered]

Howlin' Wolf | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 12, 2002)
• Original Release Date: 1956
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Original recording remastered
• Label: Chess
• ASIN: B000062Y81
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #65,144 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Sam Phillips, whose Sun Records spawned the careers of Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Roy Orbison, considered Chester "Howlin' Wolf" Burnett his greatest discovery. Not so much stylist as raw, unbridled force of nature, the Wolf had all the musical subtlety of the enraged, 300-pound linebacker he so closely resembled. The tracks here were originally collected from his rich Chess Records catalog for a pair of albums that belatedly tried to cash in on the '60s folk boom. But in eschewing many of the Willie Dixon-penned songs ("Spoonful," "The Red Rooster," "Wang Dang Doodle," et al.) that built his career and later inspired the likes of Eric Clapton and (especially) Mick Jagger and the Stones, the albums collected here lean heavily on Burnett originals, many of which (like "Killing Floor" and "Louise") rework staples of his early days in the Mississippi Delta. The riveting mid-'60s band performances (highlighted by the fiery licks of protégé-sideman Hubert Sumlin) that make up much of this collection's first half represent some of the most compelling blues recordings. While more primitive recordings from the early '50s dominate the second half, they offer a compelling glimpse of Burnett's sound stripped to its elemental core on tracks like the haunting dirge "No Place to Go" and the buoyant "Neighbors" and "Rockin' Daddy." --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars ****1/2, November 16, 2003

By 

Docendo Discimus (Vita scholae) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real Folk Blues / More Real Folk Blues (Audio CD)

This CD brings together Howlin' Wolf's two original "Folk Blues" LPs on one disc, "The Real Folk Blues" from 1966 and "More Real Folk Blues" from 1967.

Some of these songs are well-known Wolf singles (and none of them are too "folkish"), but there are also a number of rarities here, and while MCA/Chess's "His Best" is the best place to start, this twofer-CD is a very fine purchase for those fans who want a little more than just the hits. And it should certainly be noted that a number of these songs can only be found here and on the three-disc Chess Box, and one or two of the "More Real Folk Blues" songs are not available on CD anywhere else.
The best-known song here has to be the awesome 1964 single "Killing Floor", which kicks off the album, but while songs like "Rockin' Daddy" and the silly Willie Dixon-numbers "Built For Comfort" and "Three Hundred Pounds Of Daddy" are also well known, most of the remaining twenty songs rarely show up on the many available Wolf compilations.

The original "Real Folk Blues" album provides a couple of very powerful, horn-driven mid-sixties numbers ("Ooh Baby Hold Me", "Sugar Mama" and "Louise"), as well as the near-frightening and very somber "The Natchez Burnin'", the slow burner "Tell Me What I've Done", and a supremely funky, up-tempo version of "Poor Boy", very different from the usual one. And listen to lead guitarist Hubert Sumlin soloing right through Wolf's vocals on the impressive "Louise"...Sumlin's playing on Wolf's 60s recordings is always great and often awesome.

Where "The Real Folk Blues" drew from Wolf's then-current recordings, "More Real Folk Blues" went the other way and dipped into his earlier Chess sides, which means that the sound is kinda rough, and so is the music (but in a good way!).
The breakneck "Rollin' & Tumblin'"-knockoff "Just My Kind" opens the second set, followed by the excellent, too rarely heard "I've Got A Woman", a magnificent slow blues which stands out as one of Wolf's most impresssive (and intimidating) vocal performances.
Then comes the swinging, piano-driven "Work For Your Money", another early Wolf single which deserves a lot more attention than it has been given by various compilers, and the downright scary "I'll Be Around", a big, thumping beat and a demonic, roaring vocal by the Wolf:
"I'll be around to see you baby / I'll be around no matter what you say..."
(Former Saturday Night Live band member, soul singer Christine Ohlman, is reputed to have said upon hearing this track for the first time: "Boy, I'd sure hate to be the woman he's singing that one to!").

Other highlights include an alternative "I've Got A Woman", titled "I Love My Baby", a driving rocker titled "Neighbors", a slow, eerie "I'm The Wolf", the classic "Rockin' Daddy", the intense rage of "Who Will Be Next", and of course "I Have A Little Girl", a prime example of Wolf's incredibly raw and energetic early Chicago band sound, all fiery solos and jackhammer drumming from Earl Phillips.

The second half of this album is the most interesting, presenting several rare early-to-mid-50s songs which deserve a lot of attention, but the entire album is worth a listen, especially once you have the hits.
4 1/2 stars - highly recommended.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Wolf collection, July 22, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Real Folk Blues / More Real Folk Blues (Audio CD)

This is a long overdue reissue of Wolf's Real Folk Blues albums from 1966 and 1967. Both albums are on the same disc for 24 tracks in all. A great value and great quality too. The remastering is superb. The tracks sound amazing. Wolf's mean voice comes through clear and clean and so does Hubert Sumlin's guitar playing. The Real Folk Blues comes from Wolf singles of the early 60's mostly and includes the well-known Killing Floor along with a lot of lesser known tunes. More Real Folk Blues (tracks 13 - 24) presents older Wolf material from the mid-50s, which are much more raw and showcase Wolf and his harmonica more than anything. It's a great collection of Howlin' Wolf material, but is missing some key songs of his, so this would make a great second purchase after you already own His Best.

MCA has done a wonderful job remastering these and other blues classics. Don't hesitate to pick up any of them.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great music from Howlin Wolf, June 18, 2002

By 

Virgil "Virgil" (Chapel Hill, NC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Real Folk Blues / More Real Folk Blues (Audio CD)

Don't miss this albumn of Howlin Wolf Classics. From Killing Floor to I'm the Wolf it's chock full of world class music.

Howlin Wolf is arguably the greatest blues artist that ever lived. If you've never heard him this is a great place to start. Once you've heard this get the two albumn Howling Wolf/Moanin in the Moonlight- possibly the greatest blues ever recorded- and More Real Folk Blues. Also recommended are the Muddy Waters Real Folk Blues series as well.

Real Folk Blues: some of the greatest American music ever recorded by one of the great artists of the 20th century.