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Audio CD (21 Nov 2011)
Number of Discs: 4
Format: Box set
Label: Import Music Services
ASIN: B005JLN9V2
Other Editions: MP3 Download

Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)

Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 12,612 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

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Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or view the MP3 Album.

Disc 1:

Samples

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Song Title Time Price

1. Moanin' At Midnight 2:53 �0.89

2. How Many More Years (Alternate) 2:46 �0.89

3. How Many More Years 2:40 �0.89

4. The Wolf Is At Your Door 2:56 �0.89

5. California Boogie 2:57 �0.89

6. Smile At Me 2:04 �0.89

7. Howlin' Wolf Boogie 2:37 �0.89

8. California Blues #1 2:55 �0.89

9. Look-A-Here Baby 2:08 �0.89

10. Worried All The Time 3:06 �0.89

11. Gettin' Old And Grey 2:36 �0.89

12. Mr. Highway Man 2:46 �0.89

13. Everybody's In The Mood 2:57 �0.89

14. Color And Kind 3:09 �0.89

15. Bluebird 2:48 �0.89

16. Saddle My Pony 2:32 �0.89

17. Dorothy Mae (Alternate Take) 2:42 �0.89

18. Dorothy Mae 2:35 �0.89

19. Sweet Woman 3:23 �0.89

20. (Well) That's All Right 3:00 �0.89

21. Decoration Day 3:15 �0.89

22. Oh! Red 2:35 �0.89

23. My Last Affair 2:56 �0.89

24. I've Got A Woman 2:52 �0.89

25. Just My Kind 2:57 �0.89

26. Work For Your Money 2:16 �0.89

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Disc 2:

Samples

Song Title Time Price

1. I'm Not Joking 2:55 �0.89

2. Mama Died And Left Me 3:11 �0.89

3. All Night Boogie (All Night Long) 2:12 �0.89

4. I Love My Baby 2:55 �0.89

5. Highway My Friend 2:15 �0.89

6. Hold Your Money 2:19 �0.89

7. Streamline Woman 2:43 �0.89

8. California Blues #2 2:20 �0.89

9. Stay Here Til My Baby Comes Back 2:37 �0.89

10. Crazy About You Baby 2:19 �0.89

11. No Place To Go (You Gonna Wreck My Life) 2:53 �0.89

12. You Gonna Wreck My Life 2:34 �0.89

13. Neighbors 2:43 �0.89

14. I'm The Wolf 2:50 �0.89

15. Rockin' Daddy 3:01 �0.89

16. Baby How Long 2:54 �0.89

17. Evil (Is Going On) 2:53 �0.89

18. I'll Be Around 3:11 �0.89

19. Forty Four 2:48 �0.89

20. Who Will Be Next 2:32 �0.89

21. I Have A Little Girl 2:33 �0.89

22. Come To Me Baby 2:26 �0.89

23. Don't Mess With My Baby 2:37 �0.89

24. Smokestack Lightnin' 3:06 �0.89

25. You Can't Be Beat 3:10 �0.89

26. I Asked For Water (She Gave Me Gasoline) 2:49 �0.89

27. So Glad 2:07 �0.89

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Disc 3:

Samples

Song Title Time Price

1. I'm Leaving You (Alternate Take) 2:43 �0.89

2. I'm Leaving You (Takes 7-10) 7:39 �0.89

3. I'm Leaving You 2:57 �0.89

4. Can't Put Me Out (Alternate 1) 1:59 �0.89

5. Can't Put Me Out (Alternate 2) 2:57 �0.89

6. (You) Can't Put Me Out 3:09 �0.89

7. Change My Way 3:31 �0.89

8. Getting Late 3:04 �0.89

9. I've Been Abused (Takes 4-12) 5:01 �0.89

10. I've Been Abused 2:15 �0.89

11. Howlin' For My Baby 5:39 �0.89

12. Howlin' For My Darling (Or Baby) 2:30 �0.89

13. Wolf In The Mood 5:48 �0.89

14. My People's Gone 2:22 �0.89

15. Mr. Airplane Man (Takes 1 & 2) 6:07 �0.89

16. Mr. Airplane Man 2:43 �0.89

17. Wang Dang Doodle 2:22 �0.89

18. Back Door Man 2:48 �0.89

19. Spoonful 2:42 �0.89

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Disc 4:

Samples

Song Title Time Price

1. Break Of Day 2:44 �0.89

2. The Natchez Burnin' 2:09 �0.89

3. Going Back Home 2:39 �0.89

4. Bluebird 3:31 �0.89

5. My Life 3:01 �0.89

6. You Ought To Know 3:20 �0.89

7. Who's Been Talking? 2:21 �0.89

8. Tell Me 2:56 �0.89

9. Somebody In My Home (Alternate Take) 2:34 �0.89

10. Somebody In My Home 2:25 �0.89

11. Nature (Takes 1/4/6) 6:35 �0.89

12. Nature (Alternate Take) 2:54 �0.89

13. Nature 2:45 �0.89

14. Walk To Camp Hall 2:49 �0.89

15. Poor Boy (Alternate Take) 2:26 �0.89

16. Poor Boy 2:33 �0.89

17. My Baby Told Me 2:46 �0.89

18. Sitting On Top Of The World 2:32 �0.89

19. I Didn't Know 2:26 �0.89

20. I Better Go Now (Howlin' Blues) 3:11 �0.89

21. Howlin' Blues 2:44 �0.89

22. I Better Go Now 4:23 �0.89

23. I Didn't Know 2:34 �0.89

24. Moaning For My Baby 2:47 �0.89

25. Moaning For My Baby (Midnight Blues) 4:49 �0.89

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 33 people found the following review helpful

"...Well Don't You Hear Me Cryin'..." 22 Nov 2011

By Mark Barry, Reckless Records, London HALL OF FAME TOP 50 REVIEWER VINE™ VOICE

Format:Audio CD

This rather lovely 'book-shaped' set is the first in a series of CD retrospectives documenting Chester Arthur Burnette (his real name) and his stay at the legendary Blues label 'Chess'. There's an awful lot of Howlin' Wolf to document here, so let's get to the details...

Released Monday 21 November 2011 in the UK (September 2011 in the USA) on Hip-O Select/Geffen/Universal B0015309-2 - "Smokestack Lightning - The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960" is a 97-Track 4CD Book Set and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1, 26 Tracks, 1951 to 1953 (73:08 minutes):
Tracks 2, 5, 6, 17, Previously Unreleased In The USA
Tracks 8, 9, 13, 14, 18 and 21 first released on the 1994 US 2CD compilation "Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog" on Chess CD2-9349
Tracks 15 and 20 first released on the 1991 US 3CD Box Set "Howlin' Wolf - The Chess Box" on Chess CD3-9332
Tracks 24 to 26 are 1953 Mono recordings 1st released on the 1966 USA LP "More Real Folk Blues" on Chess LP 1512
I've provided all other track info in the 'comment' section attached to this review as well as a 78". 7" and LP Discography

Disc 2, 27 Tracks, 1953 to 1956 (73:42 minutes):
Tracks 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, and first released on the 1994 US 2CD compilation "Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog" on Chess CD2-9349
Tracks 2, 7, 10, and first released on the 1991 US 3CD Box Set "Howlin' Wolf - The Chess Box" on Chess CD3-9332
Tracks 13, 14 and are 1954 Mono recordings 1st released on the 1966 USA LP "More Real Folk Blues" on Chess LP 1512
Other track info - see 'comment' section attached to this review

Disc 3, 25 Tracks, 1956 to 1958 (76:41 minutes):
Tracks 1 first released on the 1993 US 4CD Box Set by Various Artists called "Chess Blues" on Chess CHD4-9340
Tracks 4, 6, 12, 14, 15, 17 and 25 first released on the 1994 US 2CD compilation "Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog" on Chess CD2-9349
Tracks 9, 11, 19, 20, 22* and 25* Previously Unreleased In The USA
[Track 22 includes Chess single 1726; Track 25 includes Alternate Take on "Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog" 2CD set on Chess CHD2-9349]
Other track info - see 'comment' section attached to this review

Disc 4, 19 Tracks, 1958 to 1960 (68:50 minutes):
Tracks 1, 2, 5, 9 and 11 Previously Unreleased In The USA
Track 4 first released on the 1982 US 2LP set "Chess Blues Rarities" on Chess CH2-9230
Track 15 first released on the 1991 US 3CD Box Set "Howlin' Wolf - The Chess Box" on Chess CD3-9332
Tracks 6, 8, 13 (with Outtakes Dialogue) and 14 first released on the 1994 US 2CD compilation "Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog" on Chess CD2-9349
Other track info - see 'comment' section attached to this review

The hardback book packaging matches the look and feel of the MUDDY WATERS "Hoochie Coochie Man..." Hip-O Select 2CD set of 2004 (not as wide, but it's taller). "Smokestack Lightning..." has an embossed matt cardboard effect on the front cover with similarly textured pages within and is a non-numbered worldwide Limited Edition of 5000 copies. The 42-page booklet inside has an essay on Wolf (Pages 3 to 9) by PETER GURALNICK who is the award-winning Author of 2 books on Sam Cooke and Elvis Presley - with a forthcoming Biography on Sam Phillips. In fact Guralnick's entry here is a highly personal interview with SAM PHILLIPS on how the legendary and visionary Producer of Sun Records first tried to record the great bluesman and his band in 1951. Phillips warmly remembers the sheer impact of Wolf's powerhouse of a voice and physical presence (6' 3", 275 Pounds). Sam is full of passion and awe for the man who sang "...with his damn soul..." - bowled over even now - some 60 years after the event.

Not to be outdone, the liner notes on the project itself by DICK SHUMAN on Pages 11 to 19 are equally entertaining as they concentrate on the key musicians and recording dates. I particularly love the page that pictures "The New 708 Club" card invite for the Chicago Blues Club that tells you - you can see Muddy Waters on Mon, Wed and Thurs with Otis Rush on Fri, Sat and Sun but Howlin' Wolf is only available on Tues! Now there's a week of Blues gigs I want to attend! Pages 20 to 42 picture Trade Adverts, Black & White photos of his group, photos of his rare "Moanin' In The Moonlight" album from 1958 (front and rear) and end on a full track-by-track Discography. The 4CDs are held in individual leaves at the back - each disc colour scheme reflecting the original shellac and vinyl labels (Blue and White for the 78's - Blue and Silver for the famous Chess 45's).

As with so much of the enormous Chess catalogue - the remastering has been carried out by one of Universal's top engineers ERICK LABSON - a man with over 900 mastering and audio restoration credits to his name. This stuff is ROUGH - brutal even in places - and the remaster brings out that raw power. Some of the alternate takes are very crackly - but he has allowed them to breath and there's huge presence in every track. Most of the songs on Disc 1 to 3 are self-penned like the staggering "Smoke Stack Lightning" (lyrics above), but by the time we get to the tail end of Disc 4 the catalyst of WILLIE DIXON arrives - sending everything into the stratosphere ("Spoonful" and "Wang Dang Doodle"). The combo of Wolf's voice and Dixon's witty tunes will undoubtedly dominate Volume 2.

Niggles - the packaging is lovely, but it's over too soon. Very few 78's or 45's are pictured and you can't help thinking that if Bear Family or Ace had handled this - it would be twice the size and truly beautiful in every way. And musically - the repetition of tracks and takes is hard to take - so a "Best Of" would suffice for the merely curious (or even a Willie Dixon set with HW tracks on it). Die-hard fans, however, of Howlin' Wolf, Chess Records and the Blues in general will have to own this.

To sum up - despite the 'slightly' disappointing packaging - this is a classy reminder of a genuine force of nature - a singer who shaped so much of what we listen to - and whose influence can still be felt to this day. And if you want to know why so many white rock guys worshipped at his feet and regularly tried to kiss the hem of his garment - here is the place to start...

Like Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and Muddy Waters - how I wished I'd seen this giant live...

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2 of 7 people found the following review helpful

where, oh where is 10 Feb 2012

By Mr. Stewart J. Parker

Format:Audio CD

So where, oh where is the absolutely fantastic ' Just Like I Treat You'? How could this possibly be left out? Stunningly exciting, really cooking band, superb Sumlin and Wolf at his most powerful best. Was the flip of Going Down Slow. Shame on whoever made the decision to leave it out. Cetainly not complete then !

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com ^(beta)

Amazon.com: 6 reviews

66 of 69 people found the following review helpful

More addictive than morphine 27 Oct 2011

By Standard Poodle - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

I would doubt anyone reading this would need an introduction to Wolf and his life. Since that info is available in many places, I will skip to the review of this package.

If you want everything, you will need both Bear Family sets and the one on Ace. I am certain someone will give this one star for that, but that is not the claim here at all; it is "Chess Masters".

Sound quality is great. However, the Japanese reissues are the very best. We're splitting hairs here, and the Japanese ones are very expensive, so I heartily recommend this one. You are not really losing anything . . .

There are alternate takes and studio chatter here, including: "Hubert, turn your amp down!". The alternate takes are great and a real treat - I only wish there were more.

These are the really raw Wolf sides: beginning with the Memphis recordings; hitting the early, rawest Chicago recordings; and ending with, as the compiler states: "Hubert Sumlin coming into his own." On the bulk of these sides, you get wildly distorted guitar, intense harmonica, crazy piano and crazy drums. I recall Greil Marcus writing something like: "Wolf's best records come on like a three minute race-riot" and these sides bear that out. I believe Robert Palmer wrote that "Wolf's band always sounds like it is about to rupture" - again, an accurate description. It is that very tension that makes these sides so compelling.

Have you noticed that when you hear a cover of Wang Dang Doodle, the band always does the Koko Taylor version? Know why? Wolf's can't be played by earthlings! Most Wolf songs defy "copy-catting".

It's not just his voice, which is inimitable (but that does not stop folks from trying). Try "I'll be Around" and see if you can find someone to do THAT. Wolf's voice defies superlatives - that "growl" can put across any emotion.

It is also the bands. When you hear a Wolf cover, the bands can almost never get the same feel as the original - even on what seems like a basic shuffle or slow blues. I understand the argument that Wolf could make any backing band sound good (his voice and harp are THAT good) but the bands he used in his prime were all inventive and quite unique. The result is exquisite.

Honest appraisal: if you are new to the Wolf, buy a cheaper collection first. I am certain you'll want more. Heck, the folks that put this out should give away a five song sampler to get listeners hooked (you know - the first one's free and then we got you!)

The packaging is much better than the Little Walter, Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry releases; I know that has been an issue. This one should hold up for the duration.

I could live happily with this as the only cd in my collection. I go through times where I only want to hear Wolf, and this set has set another "Wolf-constantly" period into motion. There is not a weak track here and I am signing off to go listen in the car.

When can we get the 60's era box?

28 of 29 people found the following review helpful

"...Well Don't You Hear Me Cryin'..." 22 Nov 2011

By Mark Barry, Reckless Records, London - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Audio CD

This rather lovely 'book-shaped' set is the first in a series of CD retrospectives documenting Chester Arthur Burnette (his real name) and his stay at the legendary Blues label 'Chess'. There's an awful lot of Howlin' Wolf to document here, so let's get to the details...

Released Monday 21 November 2011 in the UK (September 2011 in the USA) on Hip-O Select/Geffen/Universal B0015309-2 - "Smokestack Lightning - The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960" is a 97-Track 4CD Book Set and breaks down as follows:

Disc 1, 26 Tracks, 1951 to 1953 (73:08 minutes):
Tracks 2, 5, 6, 17, Previously Unreleased In The USA
Tracks 8, 9, 13, 14, 18 and 21 first released on the 1994 US 2CD compilation "Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog" on Chess CD2-9349
Tracks 15 and 20 first released on the 1991 US 3CD Box Set "Howlin' Wolf - The Chess Box" on Chess CD3-9332
Tracks 24 to 26 are 1953 Mono recordings 1st released on the 1966 USA LP "More Real Folk Blues" on Chess LP 1512
I've provided all other track info in the 'comment' section attached to this review as well as a 78". 7" and LP Discography

Disc 2, 27 Tracks, 1953 to 1956 (73:42 minutes):
Tracks 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, and first released on the 1994 US 2CD compilation "Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog" on Chess CD2-9349
Tracks 2, 7, 10, and first released on the 1991 US 3CD Box Set "Howlin' Wolf - The Chess Box" on Chess CD3-9332
Tracks 13, 14 and are 1954 Mono recordings 1st released on the 1966 USA LP "More Real Folk Blues" on Chess LP 1512
Other track info - see 'comment' section attached to this review

Disc 3, 25 Tracks, 1956 to 1958 (76:41 minutes):
Tracks 1 first released on the 1993 US 4CD Box Set by Various Artists called "Chess Blues" on Chess CHD4-9340
Tracks 4, 6, 12, 14, 15, 17 and 25 first released on the 1994 US 2CD compilation "Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog" on Chess CD2-9349
Tracks 9, 11, 19, 20, 22* and 25* Previously Unreleased In The USA
[Track 22 includes Chess single 1726; Track 25 includes Alternate Take on "Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog" 2CD set on Chess CHD2-9349]
Other track info - see 'comment' section attached to this review

Disc 4, 19 Tracks, 1958 to 1960 (68:50 minutes):
Tracks 1, 2, 5, 9 and 11 Previously Unreleased In The USA
Track 4 first released on the 1982 US 2LP set "Chess Blues Rarities" on Chess CH2-9230
Track 15 first released on the 1991 US 3CD Box Set "Howlin' Wolf - The Chess Box" on Chess CD3-9332
Tracks 6, 8, 13 (with Outtakes Dialogue) and 14 first released on the 1994 US 2CD compilation "Ain't Gonna Be Your Dog" on Chess CD2-9349
Other track info - see 'comment' section attached to this review

The hardback book packaging matches the look and feel of the MUDDY WATERS "Hoochie Coochie Man..." Hip-O Select 2CD set of 2004 (not as wide, but it's taller). "Smokestack Lightning..." has an embossed matt cardboard effect on the front cover with similarly textured pages within and is a non-numbered worldwide Limited Edition of 5000 copies. The 42-page booklet inside has an essay on Wolf (Pages 3 to 9) by PETER GURALNICK who is the award-winning Author of 2 books on Sam Cooke and Elvis Presley - with a forthcoming Biography on Sam Phillips. In fact Guralnick's entry here is a highly personal interview with SAM PHILLIPS on how the legendary and visionary Producer of Sun Records first tried to record the great bluesman and his band in 1951. Phillips warmly remembers the sheer impact of Wolf's powerhouse of a voice and physical presence (6' 3", 275 Pounds). Sam is full of passion and awe for the man who sang "...with his damn soul..." - bowled over even now - some 60 years after the event.

Not to be outdone, the liner notes on the project itself by DICK SHUMAN on Pages 11 to 19 are equally entertaining as they concentrate on the key musicians and recording dates. I particularly love the page that pictures "The New 708 Club" card invite for the Chicago Blues Club that tells you - you can see Muddy Waters on Mon, Wed and Thurs with Otis Rush on Fri, Sat and Sun but Howlin' Wolf is only available on Tues! Now there's a week of Blues gigs I want to attend! Pages 20 to 42 picture Trade Adverts, Black & White photos of his group, photos of his rare "Moanin' In The Moonlight" album from 1958 (front and rear) and end on a full track-by-track Discography. The 4CDs are held in individual leaves at the back - each disc colour scheme reflecting the original shellac and vinyl labels (Blue and White for the 78's - Blue and Silver for the famous Chess 45's).

As with so much of the enormous Chess catalogue - the remastering has been carried out by one of Universal's top engineers ERICK LABSON - a man with over 900 mastering and audio restoration credits to his name. This stuff is ROUGH - brutal even in places - and the remaster brings out that raw power. Some of the alternate takes are very crackly - but he has allowed them to breath and there's huge presence in every track. Most of the songs on Disc 1 to 3 are self-penned like the staggering "Smoke Stack Lightning" (lyrics above), but by the time we get to the tail end of Disc 4 the catalyst of WILLIE DIXON arrives - sending everything into the stratosphere ("Spoonful" and "Wang Dang Doodle"). The combo of Wolf's voice and Dixon's witty tunes will undoubtedly dominate Volume 2.

Niggles - the packaging is lovely, but it's over too soon. Very few 78's or 45's are pictured and you can't help thinking that if Bear Family or Ace had handled this - it would be twice the size and truly beautiful in every way. And musically - the repetition of tracks and takes is hard to take - so a "Best Of" would suffice for the merely curious (or even a Willie Dixon set with HW tracks on it). Die-hard fans, however, of Howlin' Wolf, Chess Records and the Blues in general will have to own this.

To sum up - despite the 'slightly' disappointing packaging - this is a classy reminder of a genuine force of nature - a singer who shaped so much of what we still listen to - and whose influence can still be felt to this day. And if you want to know why so many white rock guys worshipped at his feet and regularly tried to kiss the hem of his garment - here is the place to start...

Like Otis Redding, Sam Cooke and Muddy Waters - how I wished I'd seen this giant live...

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

Howlin Wolf Smokestack Lightening The Complete Chess Masters 1951 to 1960 12 Dec 2011

By Ira Knopf - Published on Amazon.com

Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase

About time a definitive box set of Howlin's work has come out. Hope we don't have to wait too long for the next set since this covers only the years from 1951 to 1960. If you are a blues lover and dig the the Wolf, this a must for anyone's collection. The hits and some not so big hits are all here. Not going to go into all the songs collected here if you know Howlin's music you''ll know most of the songs in this box set, if not here is the excuse to go out and buy it, and start listening. Enjoy

Smokestack Lightning /The Complete Chess Masters 1951-1960 [Box set]

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