Show 44: Alphabet Blues, Pt. 4: Chess

I'm Ol' Mr. Read, and for today's 44th episode of the Copacetic Communion Blues Show, we'll be resuming our Alphabet Blues series where I aim to spin, for you, every significant blues record label from A to Z. We concluded the B's last week, and tonight we'll be knocking out the C labels, which, serendipitously enough, are all based in the blues mecca that is Chicago. The first label we'll hear is the iconic Chess Records, which recorded blues titans like Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy, Jimmy Rogers, Willie Dixon, and so many others. As Muddy and the Wolf are Chicago blues artists, we'll be starting the show with some of their masterpieces. You'll hear the Wolf's songs "Smokestack Lightnin'" and "Tail Dragger," both of which feature Mr. Burnett's powerful growling and howling. This will be immediately followed by Muddy's three: "I've Got My Mojo Working," "Hoochie Coochie Man," and then the electrified riff that started it all, entitled "Rollin' Stone." But now, here's "Smokestack Lightnin'," shinin' just like gold, why don't ya hear me cryin', awoo oo awoooohoo.