Willie Dixon THE CHESS BOX 3-LP Muddy Waters/Howlin' Wolf/Koko N. PRISTINE VINYL

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IMPORTANT NOTE: I haven't had a turntable since last century, so this sale needs to be considered "as is," but I will describe everything the best I can. These albums were rarely played, and I would be surprised if these had any substantial turntable time. I'm not a "record seller," and I don't know "grading," so you'll have to deal with my descriptions. If you're not happy after the sale, just contact me. I don't give PARTIAL refunds, but I WILL make sure you're satisfied.
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WILLIE DIXON
The Chess Box (3-LP, 1988) Chess/MCA CH3-16500 PROMO - Near PRISTINE Vinyl - The Box Has Issues (Read Below)
This is called a Willie Dixon Box, but in reality, it celebrates Willie Dixon THE SONGWRITER (as well as The Artist, The Vocalist, The Bassist & The Producer). 3 LPs filled with tracks by, among others, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Koko Taylor, Little Milton, Sonny Boy Williamson, Bo Diddley, Lowell Fulson, Jimmy Witherspoon and Dixon himself, who appears as a sideman on many of the tracks by the above artists. So this is actually a Various Artists box, all centered around the great Willie Dixon songs, along with some previously unreleased tracks. See the track list below. 5 STARS FROM THE ALL MUSIC GUIDE (read the review below).
CONDITION. This is a First Pressing PROMO, but the only way you can tell is the little sticker over the bar code that reads "Sample Copy" (see pics). It's probably easily removable, if that's your wish. The Vinyl is NEAR PRISTINE. So absolutely GORGEOUS you'll guess it has never been touched by a needle. When I inspected each disc under a harsh light I noticed a small nick on Record 1, Side 1, and a totally faint scratch-like scuff on Record 1, Side 2. You can't feel it, however, and I'm pretty positive you won't hear it. The other two discs appear to be perfect, perfect, perfect.
Thats the good news. The bad news is the box itself. While it's in excellent shape... sharp, sturdy corners and no rips or structural damage, there's a MAJOR problem on the back. Severe staining (see pics). I have no idea how it came to be. It's NOT water damage, because the INSIDE of the back box is white, clean and issue free (see pics) . So it HAS to be some kind of oxidation/mold or something else I can't explain. Your guess is better than mine. The front is generally clean, with a few very minor smudges. So, while the back cover sucks, at least the box has done its job and protected the vinyl inside. Includes a 12-page book with lengthy liner notes and complete session information. All of the recordings are digitally remastered from original mono and stereo Chess masters.
MY ADVICE? Get this one for the vinyl, then keep your eye out for someone else selling an empty box or a beat up copy for cheap. From what I can tell, the back cover of the often inexpensive CD or Cassette box versions are the same as the LP version (you'll need to confirm). I saw a cassette box version recently for $15. That way you can stitch together a $100 box for much less that $100.
RECORD 1, SIDE 1 LITTLE WALTER My Babe Bass – Willie Dixon Drums – Fred Below Guitar – Leonard Caston, Robert Lockwood Jr. Vocals, Harmonica – Little Walter WILLIE DIXON w/ THE BIG THREE TRIO Violent Love (previously unreleased) Backing Vocals, Guitar – Ollie Crawford Lead Vocals, Bass – Willie Dixon Tenor Saxophone – Harold Ashby Vocals, Piano – Leonard "Baby Doo" Caston EDDIE BOYD Third Degree Bass – Willie Dixon Drums – Percy Walker Guitar – Lee Cooper Tenor Saxophone – Little Sax Crowder Vocals, Piano – Eddie Boyd WILLIE MABON Seventh Son Band – Unknown Artists Vocals, Piano – Willie Mabon WILLIE DIXON & HIS ALL STARS Crazy For My Baby (previously unreleased on album) Backing Vocals, Guitar – Ollie Crawford Drums – Fred Below Piano – Lafayette Leake Tenor Saxophone – Harold Ashby Vocals, Bass – Willie Dixon WILLIE DIXON Pain In My Heart (previously unreleased on album) Drums – Fred Below Piano – Lafayette Leake Tenor Saxophone – Harold Ashby Vocals, Bass – Willie Dixon
RECORD 1, SIDE 2 MUDDY WATERS (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man Bass – Willie Dixon Drums – Fred Below Guitar – Jimmy Rogers Harmonica – Little Walter Piano – Otis Spann Vocals, Guitar – Muddy Waters HOWLIN' WOLF Evil Bass – Willie Dixon Drums – Earl Phillips Guitar – Hubert Sumlin, Jody Williams Piano – Otis Spann Vocals, Harmonica – Howlin' Wolf LITTLE WALTER Mellow Down Easy Bass – Willie Dixon Drums – Fred Below Guitar – Dave Myers, Robert Lockwood, Jr. Vocals, Harmonica – Little Walter JIMMY WITHERSPOON When The Lights Go Out Band – Unknown Artists Bass – Willie Dixon Vocals – Jimmy Witherspoon MUDDY WATERS Young Fashioned Ways Bass – Willie Dixon Drums – Francey Clay Guitar – Jimmy Rogers Harmonica – Little Walter Piano – Otis Spann Vocals – Muddy Waters BO DIDDLEY Pretty Thing Drums – Frank Kirkland Harmonica – Billy Boy Arnold Maracas, Backing Vocals – Jerome Green Vocals, Guitar – Bo Diddley
RECORD 2, SIDE 1 MUDDY WATERS I'm Ready Bass – Willie Dixon Drums – Fred Below Guitar – Jimmy Rogers Harmonica – Little Walter Piano – Otis Spann Vocals – Muddy Waters LOWELL FULSON Do Me Right Alto Saxophone – Earl Brown Bass – Billy Hadnott Piano – Lloyd Glenn Saxophone, Drums – Unknown Artists Tenor Saxophone – Eddie Chamblee Vocals, Guitar – Lowell Fulson MUDDY WATERS I Just Want To Make Love To You Bass – Willie Dixon Drums – Fred Below Guitar – Jimmy Rogers Harmonica – Little Walter Piano – Otis Spann Vocals, Guitar – Muddy Waters LOWELL FULSON Tollin' Bells Bass – Billy Hadnott Drums, Piano, Saxophone – Unknown Artists Tenor Saxophone – Eddie Chamblee Vocals, Guitar – Lowell Fulson WILLIE DIXON 29 Ways Backing Vocals, Guitar – Ollie Crawford Drums – Fred Below Piano – Lafayette Leake Vocals, Bass – Willie Dixon WILLIE DIXON Walkin' The Blues Drums, Percussion – Fred Below Piano – Lafayette Leake Vocals, Bass – Willie Dixon
RECORD 2, SIDE 2 HOWLIN' WOLF Spoonful Bass – Willie Dixon Drums – Fred Below Guitar – Hubert Sumlin Piano – Otis Spann Vocals – Howlin' Wolf OTIS RUSH You Know My Love Bass – Willie Dixon Bass Guitar – Matt Murphy Drums – Odie Payne Tenor Saxophone – Bob Neely Vocals, Guitar – Otis Rush BO DIDDLEY You Can't Judge A Book By Its Cover Bass – Unknown Artists Drums – Frank Kirkland Maracas – Jerome Green Vocals, Guitar – Bo Diddley HOWLIN' WOLF I Ain't Superstitious Backing Vocals, Bass – Willie Dixon Bass Guitar – Jimmy Rogers Drums – Sammy Lay Guitar – Hubert Sumlin Piano – Henry Gray Vocals, Guitar – Howlin' Wolf MUDDY WATERS You Need Love Bass – Willie Dixon Drums – Casey Jones Guitar – Earl Hooker Organ – John "Big Moose" Walker Tenor Saxophone – Ernest Cotton, J.T. Brown Vocals – Muddy Waters HOWLIN' WOLF Little Red Rooster Bass – Willie Dixon Drums – Sammy Lay Guitar – Hubert Sumlin Piano – Johnny Jones Vocals, Guitar – Howlin' Wolf
RECORD 3, SIDE 1 HOWLIN' WOLF Back Door Man Bass – Willie Dixon Drums – Fred Below Guitar – Hubert Sumlin Piano – Otis Spann Vocals – Howlin' Wolf LITTLE WALTER Dead Presidents (previously unreleased on album) Bass Guitar – Jack Meyers Drums – Al Duncan Guitar – Buddy Guy Organ – Billy Emerson Piano – Lafayette Leake Tenor Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone – Jarrett Gibson Vocals, Harmonica – Little Walter HOWLIN' WOLF Hidden Charms Baritone Saxophone – Donald Hankins Bass Guitar – Buddy Guy Drums – Sammy Lay Guitar – Hubert Sumlin Piano – Lafayette Leake Tenor Saxophone – J.T. Brown Vocals – Howlin' Wolf MUDDY WATERS You Shook Me Bass – Willie Dixon Drums – Casey Jones Guitar – Earl Hooker Organ, Piano – John "Big Moose" Walker Tenor Saxophone – Ernest Cotton, J.T. Brown Vocals – Muddy Waters SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON Bring It On Home Drums – Al Duncan Electric Bass – Milton Rector Guitar – Matt Murphy Organ – Lafayette Leake Vocals, Harmonica – Sonny Boy Williamson HOWLIN' WOLF 300 Pounds Of Joy Baritone Saxophone – Donald Hankins Bass Guitar – Buddy Guy Drums – Sammy Lay Guitar – Hubert Sumlin Piano – Lafayette Leake Tenor Saxophone – J.T. Brown Vocals – Howlin' Wolf WILLIE DIXON Weak Brain, Narrow Mind (previously unreleased) Vocals, Acoustic Guitar – Willie Dixon
RECORD 3, SIDE 2 KOKO TAYLOR Wang Dang Doodle Backing Vocals, Producer – Willie Dixon Drums – Clifton James Electric Bass – Jack Myers Guitar – Johnny "Twist" Williams Piano – Lafayette Leake Tenor Saxophone – Gene Barge Vocals – Koko Taylor MUDDY WATERS The Same Thing Bass – Donald "Duck" Dunn Drums – Sammy Lay Guitar – Mike Bloomfield Harmonica – Paul Butterfield Piano – Otis Spann Vocals, Guitar – Muddy Waters HOWLIN' WOLF Built For Comfort Baritone Saxophone – Donald Hankins Bass Guitar – Buddy Guy Drums – Sammy Lay Guitar – Hubert Sumlin Piano – Lafayette Leake Tenor Saxophone – J.T. Brown Vocals – Howlin' Wolf LITTLE MILTON I Can't Quit You Baby Arranged By, Conductor – Gene Barge Band – Unknown Artists Drums – Al Duncan Producer – Calvin Carter Vocals, Guitar – Little Milton KOKO TAYLOR Insane Asylum Band – Unknown Artists Guitar – Buddy Guy Piano, Organ – Lafayette Leake Producer – Willie Dixon Rhythm Guitar – Johnny "Twist" Williams Tenor Saxophone – Gene Barge Vocals – Koko Taylor, Willie Dixon

ALL MUSIC GUIDE 5 Star REVIEW This was the most unusual, and probably the most difficult to assemble of MCA's Chess Box series, mostly because of the unusual nature of Willie Dixon's contribution to Chess Records. To be sure, Dixon rates a place in the history of the label right alongside that of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Little Walter, but his role was more subtle than that of a performer (indeed, two of the half-dozen recordings here that feature Dixon as a singer were previously unreleased). So he is all over this set, as a songwriter, producer, and bassist, and occasionally as a singer as well, but the unifying element are the Dixon songs, and he is the only blues songwriter to be honored by a major label with a retrospective of this type. Since he was not the performer on most of this material, but, rather, was working to mesh his material with the styles and sensibilities of a vast range of players, the sounds contained on these discs are a lot more varied than on any of the other Chess Box releases - amplified Delta blues, big band, Mills Brothers-style harmony blues, jazz-influenced jump blues, and near-pop style R&B are all here; guitar pyrotechnics by Muddy Waters or Hubert Sumlin (on the Wolf's records), vocal acrobatics by Little Walter, and rippling performances by Koko Taylor illuminate this set throughout. While some of it, such as Muddy Waters' single of "Hoochie Coochie Man"; Little Walter's "My Babe"; Howlin' Wolf's performances of "Evil," "Spoonful," "Little Red Rooster," and "Back Door Man"; and Lowell Fulson's version of "Do Me Right" are easily available elsewhere, a lot else of what's here is genuinely rare and most enticing - Dixon's own renditions of "Violent Love," "Crazy For My Baby," and "Pain In My Heart," in particular, are great records, lacking perhaps only a slight measure of the energy that a Muddy Waters brought to recording. Most of the set is concentrated on his blues work - a pair of hot Bo Diddley sides ("Pretty Thing," "You Can't Judge a Book by Its Cover") that Dixon wrote are represented, but since he didn't write anything for Chuck Berry, that side of Dixon's history is left out, despite his having played bass on most of Berry's early recordings. Still, it's difficult to imagine anyone complaining over an "excuse" to bring some of the best sides of Muddy, Walter, the Wolf, Diddley, Taylor, Lowell Fulson, Jimmy Witherspoon, Sonny Boy Williamson, Otis Rush, and even Dixon's own '40s outfit, the Big Three together in one release. The sound is impeccable, holding up to standards even a dozen years later, and the set includes a well-illustrated and annotated booklet.
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