Various - Wilko Johnson Presents: The First Time I Met the Blues

  by Kimberly Bright

published: 3 / 7 / 2016

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Review

Chess Records’ history has been well documented, not least of all by the extensive Chess boxed sets by individual artists and ‘The Chess Story 1947-75’. Wilko Johnson’s well curated collection ‘The First Time I Met the Blues: Essential Chess Masters ‘is the ideal overview for anyone wanting just a taste of original electric blues, R&B, and rock and roll, and not an extensive and expensive commitment. The two CDs include the most important songs by the greats like Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Howlin’ Wolf, Chuck Berry, Otis Rush, Buddy Guy, and Sonny Boy Williamson. Russell Beecher’s sleeve notes are a well-researched summary of important music history bullet points and not bogged down by trainspotting minutiae. The CD booklet’s photos are from Brian Smith’s book ‘Boom Boom, Boom Boom: American Rhythm & Blues in England 1962-1966’ for anyone caring to delve into the subject further. “When I was a teenager learning to play the guitar in the 1960s, I first heard the amazing sounds to be found on the Chess label,” Wilko writes. “Great music performed by a whole galaxy of great musicians. I thought, ‘I’m always gonna dig this stuff!’ Now that I’m old I can confirm this – the kick I get from hearing it remains undiminished after more than 50 years.” What continues to be remarkable that this music made its way from the Mississippi Delta and Chicago to as far afield as Canvey Island, Chelmsford, Dartford, and Ripley and became so explosively influential. Some of the songs included in the collection may have suffered from overexposure over the years. For example, the power of Muddy Waters’ ‘Mannish Boy’ is slightly diluted after being heard in numerous beer commercials, movie soundtracks, bar band set lists, and endless cover versions. One glance at the track list conjures cover versions by the Sex Pistols, the New York Dolls, Nick Cave, Jimi Hendrix, the Spencer Davis Group, the Rolling Stones, the Animals, and the Beatles, just to name a few. Wilko has, however, included some nice surprises with less well known classics like Sugar Pie DeSanto’s ‘Slip In Mules’ and ‘Soulful Dress’ and Tommy Tucker’s ‘I Don’t Want ‘Cha’. During his illness Wilko Johnson had ample opportunity to reflect upon his life and career, which he discussed quite candidly in the documentary ‘The Ecstasy of Wilko Johnson’ and his new autobiography ‘Don’t You Leave Me Here: My Life.’ What he thought was going to be his last album, Going Back Home with Roger Daltrey, was released on the long-defunct Chess Records. The label was brought back to life for the sole purpose of issuing that record. Consider this collection a soundtrack to the early chapters of his story and a love letter to the label that introduced him to the heroes of his youth.

Track Listing:-

1 I Can't Be Satisfied
2 Louisiana Blues
3 Juke
4 Sugar Mama
5 Blues With A Feeling
6 Hoochie Coochie Man
7 Just Make Love To Me
8 Last Night
9 Mannish Boy
10 My Babe
11 Bo Diddley
12 Don't Start Me To Talkin'
13 Pretty Thing
14 Maybellene
15 Who Do You Love
16 Smokestack Lightnin
17 Roll Over Beethoven
18 Mona
19 Johnny B. Goode
20 Memphis, Tennessee
21 So Many Roads, So Many Trains
22 First Time I Met The Blues
23 Howlin' For My Darlin'
24 Spoonful
25 Back Door Man
26 Goin' Down Slow
27 Help Me
28 Gunslinger
29 Nadine
30 No Particular Place To Go
31 High Heel Sneakers
32 I Don't Want 'Cha
33 Slip In Mules
34 Long Tall Shorty
35 Soulful Dress
36 Killing Floor
37 Checkin' Up On My Baby
38 The Same Thing
39 I'm In The Mood
40 Bring It On Home