Chicago-- Bright Lights, Big City
by Ric Stewart
Chicago Blues provided a wealth of talent in song writing, performing
and style which absorbed directly into both British and American
Rock. Developed in a city with a short history, the character of
Chicago was shaped in the period 1880-1960 by the rapid influx of
millions of immigrants and Southerners. Key bluesmen such as McKinley
Morganfield (Muddy Waters), Chester Burnett (Howlin' Wolf), Elmore
James , John Lee Hooker and Buddy
Guy relocated from Mississippi and recorded for Chess and other
labels, establishing a strong local scene in the Windy City.
Muddy Waters epitomized the bluesman making the transition from
acoustic guitar-playing sharecropper in Mississippi to electrified
band leader in Chicago. He was first recorded on Stovall's Plantation
by Alan Lomax in 1941 and moved
to Chicago shortly afterwards. It was Waters who put over the energy
which transformed guitar into a dominant voice from a solo acoustic
instrument as it had been in the hands of pre-war players such as
Charley Patton, Skip James, and Robert Johnson. With the Chicago
style the guitar gained the amplification to lead a band which included
a harp, drums, bass and piano. With sidemen like guitarists Jimmy
Rodgers and later Buddy Guy, harp from Little
Walter and Junior Wells, and boogie-ing piano fills from Sunnyland
Slim this blues had a fuller yet equally direct sound as the Lomax
solo guitar recordings. The Muddy Waters Box from Chess captures
the transitions of a most dignified blues artist.
Waters on songs such as this clip of "Honey
Bee" proclaimed a direct sexual
connection to music which with Voodoo superstition created a mysterious,
bold and alluring sound. On this track Little Walter, known for
primarily for his harp, coaxes harp-like buzzes from the guitar.
As the blues scene developed, Water's sidemen left to lead their
own bands, always with his support. After his songs and style had
fueled the careers of many British and American stars like Eric
Clapton, The Rolling Stones and Johnny
Winter these stars performed with Waters and he embraced financial
success for the first time towards the end of his career.
Providing another peak of energy and force during the same era,
Howlin' Wolf conquered the electric transition with intense voice
and harp work. Powerful spare guitar coming from Hubert Sumlin created
a room sound on the Chess recordings which evidence a raw, minimal
power which transcends the music. Songs like "Killing Floor" have
a rhythmic charge and radiate a power which rock and roll artists
flocked to adopt. On the original records "Moanin' at Midnight",
and "Howlin' Wolf", the wail of the great blues singer says more
than any description can relate. The Howling Wolf Box from Chess
traces his career thoroughly. Then along came Freddy
King, from Texas via Memphis
and Cincinnati.
Recommended Recordings:
The Chess Box set details the background and context of these recordings
and many more from the formidable talent gathered around the South
Side studio of the Chess Brothers. Children of Russian immigrants,
Leonard and Phil Chess captured a great deal of the sound going
on around them but were not alone. Excellent recordings from Delmark,
Tacoma, and Alligator also highlight the greats of Chicago with
brilliant performers such as Magic Slim, Guitar Sam, Hound Dog Taylor,
Otis Rush, Son Seals, and Junior Wells among others.
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