The Real Folk Blues (1966)

About this title: This was originally released by Chess in 1966 to capitalize on the then-current folk music boom. The music, however -- a collection of Howlin' Wolf singles from 1956 to 1966 -- is full-blown electric, featuring a nice sampling of Wolf originals with a smattering of Willie Dixon tunes. Some of the man's best middle period work is aboard here; "Killing Floor," "Louise," the hair-raisingly somber "Natchez Burning," and Wolf's version of the old standard "Sitting on Top of the World," which would become his set closer in later years. The Mobile Fidelity version sounds as sonically sharp as ... read more

Tracks:

1. Killing Floor [Burnett/Howlin' Wol]
2. Louise [Howlin' Wolf]
3. Poor Boy [Howlin' Wolf]
4. Sitting on Top of the World [Chatmon/Vinson]
5. Nature [Howlin' Wolf]
6. My Country Sugar Mama [Howlin' Wolf]
7. Tail Dragger [Dixon]
8. Three Hundred Pounds of Joy [Dixon]
9. Natchez Burning [Howlin' Wolf]
10. Built for Comfort [Dixon]
11. Ooh Baby (Hold Me) [Howlin' Wolf]
12. Tell Me What I've Done [Howlin' Wolf]
13. Smokestack Lightning [Mobile Fidelity Only] [Howlin' Wolf]
14. Hidden Charms [Mobile Fidelity Only] [Dixon]

Note: This is a general synopsis. Each listing is further described below.