This 45-song, two-disc collection is subtitled "two decades of killer fretwork," and never was a set so aptly described. Chess Records was the home to seemingly every hot guitar player in the Chicago area, and many of them make their appearance here. Besides the usual label guitar hotshots (Muddy Waters, Jimmy Rogers, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy, Lowell Fulson, Earl Hooker, Otis Rush, Robert Nighthawk, Little Milton), space is given to sideman work from legends like Hubert Sumlin and Robert Jr. Lockwood and great one-offs by lesser-known artists like Jody Williams, Danny Overbea, Eddie Burns, Joe Hill Louis, Morris Pejoe, Lafayette Thomas and others. It seems as if everyone recorded for Chess at one time or another, also explaining the inclusion of tracks by John Lee Hooker, Albert King, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, Lonnie Brooks, Hound Dog Taylor and Elmore James. If electric blues guitar's your thing, then look no further than this fine two-disc compilation.

-Various – Chess Blues Guitar (Two Decades Of Killer Fretwork 1949 To 1969)

Label:      MCA Records – CHD2 9393, Chess – CHD2 9393

Series:     The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection

Format:     2 x CD, Compilation, Remastered

Country:    US

Released:   1998

Genre:      Rock, Blues

Style:      Blues

PLEASE NOTE SLIGHT MARK ON SPINE, DOES NOT AFFECT BOOKLET OR TRAY CARD

TRACKLIST:

1-1   Robert Nighthawk– Anna Lee

1-2   Jimmy Rogers–     That's All Right

1-3   Johnny Shines–    So Glad I Found You

1-4   Joe Hill Louis–   When I Am Gone

1-5   John Lee Hooker–  Walkin' The Boogie (Alternate)

1-6   Blue Smitty–      Date Bait

1-7   Morris Pejoe–     Tired Of Crying Over You

1-8   Muddy Waters–     Sad, Sad Day

1-9   John Brim–  It Was A Dream

1-10  Danny Overbea–    Forty Cups Of Coffee

1-11  Eddie Boyd– Just A Fool

1-12  Muddy Waters–     Loving Man

1-13  Howlin' Wolf–     I've Got A Woman

1-14  Lowell Fulson–    Reconsider Baby

1-15  J.B. Lenoir–      Give Me One More Shot

1-16  Lowell Fulson–    Rollin' Blues

1-17  Bo Diddley– Who Do You Love

1-18  Earl Hooker–      Guitar Rumba

1-19  Jody Williams–    What Kind Of Gal Is That

1-20  Earl Hooker–      Frog Hop

1-21  Jody Williams–    Lucky Lou

1-22  Lafayette Thomas– Old Memories

1-23  Chuck Berry–      Guitar Boogie

2-1   Muddy Waters–     Walking Through The Park

2-2   Eddie Burns–      Treat Me Like I Treat You

2-3   Lafayette Thomas– Claim On You

2-4   Jimmy Rogers–     Rock This House

2-5   Otis Rush–  I'm Satisfied

2-6   Chuck Berry–      I Still Got The Blues

2-7   Buddy Guy–  Broken Hearted Blues

2-8   Elmore James–     Talk To Me Baby (I Can't Hold Out)

2-9   Bo Diddley– My Babe

2-10  Albert King–      Won't Be Hanging Around

2-11  Bo Diddley– I Can Tell

2-12  Howlin' Wolf–     Hidden Charms

2-13  Buddy Guy–  Buddies Boogie

2-14  Little Milton–    What Kind Of Love Is This

2-15  Robert Nighthawk– Someday

2-16  Howlin' Wolf–     Killing Floor

2-17  Buddy Guy–  Leave My Girl Alone

2-18  Clarence Brown–   Cross My Heart

2-19  Hound Dog Taylor– Watch Out

2-20  Lonnie Brooks–    One Sunny Day

2-21    Little Milton- I Can't Quit You Baby

2-22  John Littlejohn–  I Can't Quit You Baby