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This was the most unusual, and probably the most difficult to assemble of MCA's Chess Box series, mostly because of the unusual nature of Willie Dixon's contribution to Chess Records. To be sure, Dixon rates a place in the history of the label right alongside that of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Little Walter, but his role was more subtle than that of a performer (indeed, two of the half-dozen recordings here that feature Dixon as a singer were previously unreleased). So he is all over this two-CD set, as a songwriter, producer, and bassist, and occasionally as a singer as well, but the unifying element are the Dixon songs, and he is the only blues songwriter to be honored by a major label with a retrospective of this type. Since he was not the performer on most of this material, but, rather, was working to mesh his material with the styles and sensibilities of a vast range of players, the sounds contained on these two CDs are a lot more varied than on any of the other Chess Box releases -- amplified Delta blues, big band, Mills Brothers-style harmony blues, jazz-influenced jump blues, and near-pop style R&B are all here; guitar pyrotechnics by Muddy Waters or Hubert Sumlin (on the Wolf's records), vocal acrobatics by Little Walter, and rippling performances by Koko Taylor illuminate this set throughout. While some of it, such as Muddy Waters' single of "Hoochie Coochie Man"; Little Walter's "My Babe"; Howlin' Wolf's performances of "Evil," "Spoonful," "Little Red Rooster," and "Back Door Man"; and Lowell Fulson's version of "Do Me Right" are easily available elsewhere, a lot else of what's here is genuinely rare and most enticing -- Dixon's own renditions of "Violent Love," "Crazy For My Baby," and "Pain In My Heart," in particular, are great records, lacking perhaps only a slight measure of the energy that a Muddy Waters brought to recording. Most of the set is concentrated on his blues work -- a pair of hot Bo Diddley sides ("Pretty Thing," "You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover") that Dixon wrote are represented, but since he didn't write anything for Chuck Berry, that side of Dixon's history is left out, despite his having played bass on most of Berry's early recordings. Still, it's difficult to imagine anyone complaining over an "excuse" to bring some of the best sides of Muddy, Walter, the Wolf, Diddley, Taylor, Lowell Fulson, Jimmy Witherspoon, Sonny Boy Williamson, Otis Rush, and even Dixon's own '40s outfit, the Big Three together in one release. The sound is impeccable, holding up to standards even a dozen years later, and the set includes a well-illustrated and annotated booklet.
© Bruce Eder /TiVo
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Leonard Caston, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - WILLIE DIXON, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Little Walter, Harmonica, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Robert Lockwood, Jr., Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Fred Below, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1955 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Leonard Caston, Participant - WILLIE DIXON, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - The Big Three Trio, MainArtist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer - Ollie Crawford, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1989 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Eddie Boyd, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer - Lee Cooper, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Little Sax Crowder, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Percy Walker, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1953 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, ComposerLyricist - Willie Mabon, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1955 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1955 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Harold Ashby, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer - Fred Below, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lafayette Leake, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Ollie Crawford, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1955 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Muddy Waters, Guitar, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Little Walter, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Rogers, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Otis Spann, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer - Fred Below, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1954 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Hubert Sumlin, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Howlin' Wolf, Vocals, Harmonica, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Otis Spann, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Jody Williams, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer - Earl Phillips, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1954 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Little Walter, MainArtist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1954 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Witherspoon, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1954 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Muddy Waters, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Little Walter, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Rogers, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Otis Spann, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer - Francis Clay, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1955 Geffen Records
WILLIE DIXON, ComposerLyricist - BO DIDDLEY, Producer, MainArtist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1956 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Muddy Waters, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Little Walter, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - JAMES MOORE, ComposerLyricist - Jimmy Rogers, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Otis Spann, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer - Fred Below, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1954 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lowell Fulson, MainArtist - WILLIE DIXON, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1955 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Muddy Waters, Guitar, Vocals, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Little Walter, Harmonica, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Rogers, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Otis Spann, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer - Fred Below, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1954 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Lowell Fulson, MainArtist - WILLIE DIXON, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1956 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Producer, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1956 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1955 UMG Recordings, Inc.
DISC 2
WILLIE DIXON, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Hubert Sumlin, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Howlin' Wolf, Vocals, Harmonica, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Otis Spann, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer - Fred Below, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1960 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Otis Rush, MainArtist - WILLIE DIXON, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist
℗ 1960 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - BO DIDDLEY, Guitar, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - RALPH BASS, Producer
℗ 1962 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Hubert Sumlin, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Lay, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Jimmy Rogers, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Howlin' Wolf, Guitar, Vocals, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Henry Gray, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1961 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Muddy Waters, MainArtist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1962 Geffen Records
WILLIE DIXON, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Howlin' Wolf, MainArtist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1961 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Producer, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Hubert Sumlin, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Howlin' Wolf, Vocals, Harmonica, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Otis Spann, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer - Fred Below, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1961 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Little Walter, MainArtist - Billy "The Kid" Emerson, ComposerLyricist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1963 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Howlin' Wolf, MainArtist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1964 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Producer, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist, Bass (Vocal) - Muddy Waters, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - A.C. Reed, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - J.B. Lenoir, ComposerLyricist - Earl Hooker, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer - Lafayette Leake, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - John "Big Moose" Walker, Organ, AssociatedPerformer - Bobby Little, Drums, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1962 Geffen Records
WILLIE DIXON, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Sonny Boy Williamson II, MainArtist - Leonard Chess, Producer
℗ 1963 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Howlin' Wolf, MainArtist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer - Marshall Chess, Producer
℗ 1963 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, MainArtist, ComposerLyricist - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer
℗ 1989 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Producer, Recording Arranger, Background Vocalist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gene Barge, Saxophone, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Buddy Guy, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Koko Taylor, Vocalist, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Fred Below, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Lafayette Leake, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Donald Hankins, Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Jack Meyers, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Johnny "Twist" Williams, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1965 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, ComposerLyricist - Muddy Waters, MainArtist - Norman Dayron, Producer - Reice Hamel, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1969 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Hubert Sumlin, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Sam Lay, Drums, AssociatedPerformer - Andrew McMahon, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Buddy Guy, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Howlin' Wolf, Vocals, Harmonica, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Leonard Chess, Producer - Phil Chess, Producer - J.T. Brown, Tenor Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer - Lafayette Leake, Piano, AssociatedPerformer - Donald Hankins, Baritone Saxophone, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 1963 UMG Recordings, Inc.
Calvin Carter, Producer - WILLIE DIXON, Bass Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gene Barge, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Little Milton, MainArtist - Malcolm Chisholm, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1969 UMG Recordings, Inc.
WILLIE DIXON, Producer, Recording Arranger, FeaturedArtist, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - Gene Barge, Recording Arranger, AssociatedPerformer - Koko Taylor, MainArtist - Ron Malo, Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Malcolm Chisholm, Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 1967 Geffen Records
Album review
This was the most unusual, and probably the most difficult to assemble of MCA's Chess Box series, mostly because of the unusual nature of Willie Dixon's contribution to Chess Records. To be sure, Dixon rates a place in the history of the label right alongside that of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Little Walter, but his role was more subtle than that of a performer (indeed, two of the half-dozen recordings here that feature Dixon as a singer were previously unreleased). So he is all over this two-CD set, as a songwriter, producer, and bassist, and occasionally as a singer as well, but the unifying element are the Dixon songs, and he is the only blues songwriter to be honored by a major label with a retrospective of this type. Since he was not the performer on most of this material, but, rather, was working to mesh his material with the styles and sensibilities of a vast range of players, the sounds contained on these two CDs are a lot more varied than on any of the other Chess Box releases -- amplified Delta blues, big band, Mills Brothers-style harmony blues, jazz-influenced jump blues, and near-pop style R&B are all here; guitar pyrotechnics by Muddy Waters or Hubert Sumlin (on the Wolf's records), vocal acrobatics by Little Walter, and rippling performances by Koko Taylor illuminate this set throughout. While some of it, such as Muddy Waters' single of "Hoochie Coochie Man"; Little Walter's "My Babe"; Howlin' Wolf's performances of "Evil," "Spoonful," "Little Red Rooster," and "Back Door Man"; and Lowell Fulson's version of "Do Me Right" are easily available elsewhere, a lot else of what's here is genuinely rare and most enticing -- Dixon's own renditions of "Violent Love," "Crazy For My Baby," and "Pain In My Heart," in particular, are great records, lacking perhaps only a slight measure of the energy that a Muddy Waters brought to recording. Most of the set is concentrated on his blues work -- a pair of hot Bo Diddley sides ("Pretty Thing," "You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover") that Dixon wrote are represented, but since he didn't write anything for Chuck Berry, that side of Dixon's history is left out, despite his having played bass on most of Berry's early recordings. Still, it's difficult to imagine anyone complaining over an "excuse" to bring some of the best sides of Muddy, Walter, the Wolf, Diddley, Taylor, Lowell Fulson, Jimmy Witherspoon, Sonny Boy Williamson, Otis Rush, and even Dixon's own '40s outfit, the Big Three together in one release. The sound is impeccable, holding up to standards even a dozen years later, and the set includes a well-illustrated and annotated booklet.
© Bruce Eder /TiVo
About the album
- 2 disc(s) - 36 track(s)
- Total length: 01:51:39
- Main artists: Willie Dixon
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Geffen
- Genre: Blues
© 1989 UMG Recordings, Inc. This Compilation ℗ 1989 UMG Recordings, Inc.
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