HOWLIN' WOLF

A giant of a man, probably the greatest blues singer who ever lived, and certainly the single blues singer most influential on rock and roll.  There was never anything like him before, or after.  You can hear echoes of him on down through the British blues/rock bands, Tom Waits, The Gun Club, The Stooges, even now in the White Stripes. Blues singer is far too small a label for such mountain of talent.

He started his career late, terrorizing the clubs around Memphis and recording for Sam Phillips (most of those sides ended up getting leased to Chess). Most of those early sides are upbeat, good time jump blues, but Wolf's personality was already in full force; overpowering, overwhelming; the man was a force of nature.

In the mid-fifties, Wolf migrated from Memphis to Chicago (the enjoyable film Cadillac Records gets it wrong.  Wolf, who was financially successful and financially smart, drove up in a suit, and Cadillac) and began recording in the Chess studios, usually with Hubert Sumlin on board on lead guitar.  Sumlin became a critical part of Wolf's tougher, darker, doomier sound.  In 1959 and 1962, Chess released two stone classic Wolf albums, Moanin' in the Moonlight (1959) and Howlin' Wolf (1962).  They are essential.

As the sixties wore on, Wolf became an icon among blues-crazed London listeners, and a well-known if not truly famous at home.  He slowed down, and his music did too (though the occasional fast one would appear, such as the Stooges-like "Do The Do" (1962).  But the talent was always there and, even after he peaked, his lesser creations were still well worth hearing.  His health failed him, but he never stopped, performing until he was no longer able.  He recorded an album in London with Clapton, Charlie Watts, et al that is beloved of those too wimpy to deal with his real sides, and derided by those too prudish to admit that it has its merits (it's not a bad album, but it's a long way from great).  In 1973 he recorded one last album, The Back Door Wolf, for Chess.   Despite having a few weak spots, it's excellent, and contained at least one last classic, "Coon On The Moon," a hymn to black pride.

He died on January 10, 1976.  He was 66 years old.

Essential Listening


Moanin' in the Moonlight/Howlin' Wolf (Essential! Get these first!)
Memphis Days (his early stuff for Sun - awesome jump blues!)
The Real Folk Blues (mostly Chess stuff)
More Real Folk Blues (mix of Chess and Sun)
Howlin' Wolf Sings the Blues (more Sun)
Change My Way (later Chess stuff)
The Back Door Wolf (his last recordings - a gem)


Essential Reading


Moanin' At Midnight by James Segrest
Delta Blues by Ted Gioia
Feel Like Going Home by Peter Guralnick
Lost Highway by Peter Guralnick


Links

Howlin Wolf Home Page
Howlin' Wolf Wikipedia
Howlin' Wolf Allmusic
Howlin' Wolf Illustrated Discography
Howlin' Wolf Photos Home Page (a must-see!)


Hubert Sumlin Wikipedia
Hubert Sumlin Allmusic