6/27/2023 0 Comments Chess recordsIt features Willie Dixon and Koko Taylor who explains how Dixon first sang her Wang Dang Doodle. It features Buddy Guy and Little Walter, the latter of which was the inspirational harmonica player in Muddy Waters’ band. Whether he was being a nice guy or he wasn’t selling records then, I know what the Chess brothers were bloody well like – if you want to stay on the payroll get to work.” A Muddy Waters Tour JacketĪnother version of the story has Waters look at the Stones, laughing and saying, “I like what you boys are doing with my music.” Whilst perhaps apocryphal this is nevertheless a great story.įor my visit, sadly, there were no blues legends doing a spot of decorating, but I was greeted by the friendly Kevin, who started my tour by playing a DVD of the history of the blues – and of the studio. And also Bill Wyman tells me he actually remembers Muddy Waters taking our amplifiers from the car into the studio. But Marshall was a boy then, he was working in the basement. ![]() Marshall Chess says “Oh, we never had him painting”. And it’s Muddy Waters and he’s got whitewash streaming down his face and he’s on top of a ladder. Richards describes the famous moment that the Rolling Stones first visited Chess: “We walked into Chess Studios and there’s this guy in black overalls painting the ceiling. The first ever version of “Satisfaction” (an acoustic version) was also recorded here, a few weeks before the final, fuzz-toned single was cut. In a two day break on their first US tour The Rolling Stones recorded fourteen songs, including their first #1 hit, “It’s All Over Now”. In his biography, Keith Richards described Chess records as “hallowed ground” and the “perfect recording studio”. It is now the headquarters of The Willie Dixon Blues Heaven Foundation, and a museum. Great grooves, all.Ī ten minute taxi ride from Downtown Chicago, the studio was a must-see attraction when I had a recent stop-over in the Windy City (you can keep your weird “Chicago mix” of cheese and caramel Garrett’s popcorn, Chicago: Chess Records is what you should be telling people about). Many classic songs recorded here were written or part written by Willie Dixon who was an important part of the Chess Records story, and who wrote Little Red Rooster (#1 hit for the Rolling Stones) and Bring It On Home and You Need Love, both of which were covered by Led Zeppelin – the latter forming the basis of Whole Lotta Love. Howlin’ Wolf’s Smokestack Lightnin’, the wonderful “Rescue Me” by Fontella Bass – even John Lee Hooker managed “One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer” at 2120 South Michigan Avenue. ![]() Etta James sang “At Last” at Chess Record Studios. Muddy Waters‘ declaration that he was tired of the racial epithet of “boy” surfaced as he roared “I’m a Man!” in “Mannish Boy” – as powerful a song as you’ll ever hear. A vibrant, fun and energising lesson packed with great songs and soaking in the social history of America. Not a dull lesson with a fusty old teacher droning on whilst listlessly scrawling chalk on a board, dreaming of gin and tonic. It is worth listing just a few of the songs recorded at this studio, because that list is like a lesson in American music. 2120 South Michigan Avenue was immortalised in song by the Rolling Stones in their 5×5 EP (recently re-released on Record Store Day) and was the headquarters and recording studio of Chess Records.
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