CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

The Definitive Collection

by: Howlin' Wolf

Release Date April 17, 2007
This album simply cannot be beat. You get some of the greatest songs from one of the all-time great post-war bluesmen, Chester Burnett, a.k.a. Howlin' Wolf. If BB King is a fine wine, Howlin' Wolf is a shot of strong scotch. The CD starts out with Moaning at Midnight, a song which will send chills up your spine the first time you hear it....if anyone can be said to have an inimitable voice, it can be said of Chester Burnett.

Personally, I was not sure I would like Howlin' Wolf as I was just getting into the genre of the blues, and so purchased this album instead of his 3 CD box set. Later, I also added His Best, Volume 2, to my collection. In any case, this album (or the box set), is a must have for anyone who loves the blues. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Howlin' Wolf/Moanin' in the Moonlight

by: Howlin' Wolf

Release Date October 25, 1990
Howlin' Wolf is one of the seminal blues artists. His guitar and that scritchy voice are definitive of the blues standard. This CD is actually a two-fer, a Chess compilation of his two first albums: Howlin' Wolf and Moanin' at Midnight.

The packaging isn't much to be proud of. You get liner notes, but not much else and the paper's pretty disreputable.

Favorites:

"Back Door Man" you'll hear this one covered all over the place, but nobody does it like the Wolf.

"Evil" well, doesn't the name say it?

"Going Down Slow" this is an interesting perspective on the music business and money.

Rebecca Kyle, August 2008

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Howlin Wolf: The Chess Box

by: Howlin' Wolf

Release Date November 12, 1991
One of my first exposures to the world of Chicago-style blues, after a steady diet of country-style Delta blues, was the Rolling Stones' version of the Willie Dixon classic Little Red Rooster back in the early 1960's. I thought that was a song to beat all songs and it had nothing to do its allegorical nature, you know, about sex. What, moreover, capped it for me the fact that it was originally banned in Boston- from the radio airwaves of the times. Naturally that made this teenager want to hear it even more.

All this is by way of saying-yes; the Stones did a great version of that song but if you really want it heard then you must go to the master- Howlin' Wolf. That big gravelly-voiced man who, in still pictures that I have seen of him as well ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

The Super Super Blues Band

from: Chess MCA Records

Release Date March 19, 2002
I can't believe how this album could have had any negative reviews on it. I can't think of another album off the top of my head that has three masters of their genres getting together and jamming. The people that wrote the negative reviews must have been expecting songs that were written together and rehearsed, but I don't think the project would have worked if they took more than one day. As legendary as these guys are, we should just be thankful that ego didn't prevent them from getting together just for one day and having a good time jamming. And that's what this album is: a document of a day that three geniuses got together and had a great time doing what they love, playing the blues.

So no, these songs aren't tightly written and rehearsed. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Howlin' Wolf: His Best (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection)

by: Howlin' Wolf

Release Date April 08, 1997
I have been waiting to review this CD, which says a great deal about the quality of the music. This was my introduction to Wolf's music, and it was a most memorable introduction!

I was hoping that someone would pick up on the fact that Howlin' Wolf's vocals sound like they were just about to overload the microphone. It says a lot about the power and ferocity of Wolf's vocal delivery. I have heard stories about people being scared stiff after, having seen him in concert; although I never had the pleasure, I don't think they were exaggerating. The man was physically very intimidating, without trying to be and his music carries that, too.

There is a lot of fire and passion in his music. The songs here are incredible. I enjoyed this CD from start, ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions

by: Howlin Wolf

Release Date March 04, 2003
One of my first exposures to the world of Chicago-style blues, after a steady dirt of country-style Delta blues, was the Rolling Stones' version of the Willie Dixon classic Little Red Rooster back in the early 1960's. I thought that was a song to beat all songs and it had nothing to do its allegorical nature, you know, about sex. What, moreover, capped it for me the fact that it was originally banned in Boston- from the radio airwaves of the times. Naturally that made this teenager want to hear it even more.

All this is by way of saying-yes; the Stones did a great version of that song but if you really want it heard then you must go to the master- Howlin' Wolf. That big gravelly voiced man who, in pictures that I have seen, seems to be inhaling the microphone ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions

by: Howlin' Wolf

Release Date July 26, 1989
This is a great album and anyone who considers themselves a blues fan should have it in their library!

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

The Back Door Wolf

by: Howlin' Wolf

Release Date October 24, 1995
Frankly, this album gets off to a less-than-good start, wherein a really good song ("Movin'") is effectively ruined by the highly audible presence of Eddie Shaw feeding Wolf his lines. This was standard practice for Wolf in the studio, as reading wasn't his strong suit, but when it winds up on mic it's distracting as hell, as it is here.

Fortunately, this technical gaffe is not repeated, and the album picks up steam from there with a series of uniformly strong compositions from Wolf and/or Shaw. Wolf is in good voice despite his failing health and puts the songs over well, while Hubert Sumlin turns in some of the most indescribably sublime guitar work of his (or anyone else's) career, which is saying a whole lot.

Then there's the harpsichord. I don't pretend to know what ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues

by: Howlin' Wolf

Release Date March 12, 2002
Excellent disc all around - great sound quality, great selection of songs, dynamite guitar work and "signature sound" singing. When you listen to Wolf sing the Blues, you are getting the Real Deal as far as I'm concerned. When I listen to today's Blues artists, they're nice and everything but most of them have never seen a hard day in their life compared to people like Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Howlin' Wolf. The Blues for them came from having survived hard times and bringing the feeling of being a survivor to life in their music.

If you want to see where the real Blues comes from, give this one a spin and you won't be disappointed.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Anthology

by: Howlin' Wolf

Release Date May 28, 2007
A great anthology of Wolf. He had a long career but in my opinion (or wish) he could have recorded much more. So that said, this double CD has most of his best stuff. Check out his live albums also.