I was introduced to this album around at my mate Dick Brunning in 1964. It took me a while to get my ears adjusted but then it blew my brains. What a superb album, brimming with power and atmosphere. That hypnotic rhythm and Chester’s voice!!!!
I enjoyed playing My Muddy Waters yesterday and thought I’d follow that up with a bit of Wolf.
Howlin’ Wolf – Moanin’ At Midnight – YouTube
Howlin’ Wolf was one of the first Blues singers that Dick Brunning introduced me to. It was that Moanin’ in the Moonlight album. Amazing.
What an enormous man in so many ways. He hammered those Willie Dixon songs. His massive frame, his incredible voice and his performances all emanated power. So many brilliant songs.
I kick myself now. Howlin’ Wolf played in London and I never went to see him. There was always something else happening and I’d catch him another time. That other time never happened. A big regret.
So today I am going to be playing the Wolf – real loud.
There’s nothing quite like the Blues for raising the spirits!
Old recording tape machine and disc cutter.
Inside the studio – they still use it to record.
The roof is all up and down to create the baffles to get the right noise.
Howlin’ Wolf – Sam Philips greatest discovery
Outside the studio
This is another one that Cream did a great version of.
When I first heard this by Howlin’ Wolf I was in Dick Brunnings bedroom. I was fifteen years old and it blew my mind. The guitar, the lyrics and that fabulous voice. The poetry of the emotions in love, death and life. Everything comes down to a mere spoonful. That’s what all the fighting’s about. Another Willie Dixon classic.
Men lies about little,
Some of them cries about little,
Some of them dies about little,
Everything fight about little spoonful.
It could be a spoonful of coffee,
Could be a spoonful of tea,
But a little spoon of your precious love,
Good enough for me.
Men lies about that,
Some of them dies about that,
Some of them cries about that,
But everything fight about that spoonful.
That spoon, dat spoon, dat spoonful.
It could be a spoonsful of water,
Saved from the deserts sand,
But one spoon of them fortifies.
Save you from another man.
Men lies about that,
Some of them cries about that,
Some of them dies about that,
Everybody fightin’ about that spoonful.
That spoon, dat spoon, dat spoonful.
Well the Blues does many things. Some think it’s all about feeling Blue. That ain’t so. This is an example of a Rockin’ Number by Howlin’ Wolf. Willie Dixon sure did a job with those lyrics. There was plenty of humour in there. Willie was the greatest writer of Blues lyrics ever. He could do mean and nasty, down and dirty or fun. This is very tongue in cheek with a smattering of sexuality.
The blues could be fun, dance orientated, good time music or sad reflective themes.
I love the blues. I never grow tired of playing this stuff. It was thought too crude and sexual to play to white audiences. They played it on Black radio and sold it on ‘Race’ records. Us poor Whites were deprived. Sit back and enjoy the music
I was too late for them all. RL Burnside, Junior Kimbrough and Howlin’ Wolf were all dead. The club where Burnside used to play was burnt down. All I could do was some Blues archeology.
West Point was a typical Southern town
The plaque to Chester Burnett’s wife.
The statue to Howlin’ Wolf
The Howlin’ Wolf Museum. It was shut.
I bought a pile of Blues CDs at a shop along the road.
Murals on the wall showing scenes of yesteryear.
Howlin’ Wolf peering across the street at us. 
If only I’d been here twenty years before or fifty years before. I could smell blues in the air. But I couldn’t see or hear it.
Old recording tape machine and disc cutter.
Inside the studio – they still use it to record.
The roof is all up and down to create the baffles to get the right noise.
Howlin’ Wolf – Sam Philips greatest discovery
Outside the studio
Vocals – Howlin’ Wolf – the greatest and most powerful voice in the world from his six foot seven 300 lb frame.
Slide Guitar – Elmore James – still the king of all slide guitarists. Nobody captures that sound!!
Other lead guitar – Albert King – He was born under a bad sign and I like him better than Freddie or BB. I’d add Muddy Waters to do some of those searing early runs he used to do!
Bass – Willie Dixon – The greatest exponent of Chicago Blues Bass playing
Piano – Either Otis Spann the pianist with Muddy Waters or Johnnie Johnson the guy who helped propel Chuck Berry.
Drums – Fred Below – the Chess Records drummer who backed Elmore, Bo, and everybody else.
Harp – Sonny Boy Williamson – could he blow!!! Ah well I had to pass on Shakey Horton, Little Walter and Billy Boy Arnold.
Songwriter – Willie Dixon – he wrote all the great hits for Muddy, Howlin’ and others!
