A Wolf In Jimi's Clothing

Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightning

I've been looking forward to posting this song since I started blogging, all of a month ago. After the success of Muddy Waters' foray into the psychedelic blues, Marshall Chess decided to give Howlin' Wolf the same treatment. Just six months after 'Electric Mud' was recorded, in November 1968 -- using the same studio, musicians and producers -- Howlin' Wolf's fantastically titled album, 'This is Howlin' Wolf's new Album. He doesn't like it. He didn't like his electric guitar at first either.', was born. It's true, Howlin' Wolf didn't like this record, just as Muddy hadn't liked his until album sales swayed his judgement, and blues critics at the time didn't (and probably still don't) think too much of it either. But I rate both, along with Muddy's psychedelic redux, 'After The Rain', as among my favourite albums of all time.

'Smokestack Lightning' has a funkafied rolling groove that many will recognize as the basis for the Handsome Boy Modeling School's 'The Projects'. The Wolf's voice, always the ultimate conveyer of raw power, sounds like a dirty gravel road running through the deepest swamp in the darkest jungle. The band, mainly jazz session musos, does a superb job of building a modern (for the time) psychedelic sound around the delta blues of the Wolf's songs; of particular note on this track is the flute of Don Myrick.

If you want to hear more of this masterpiece, and I know you're gonna, check out aurgasm who've posted 'Evil' the only track from this LP, to my knowledge, to have made it onto CD.

Now I've got to give props to a particularly kindhearted community radio listener who, after reading something I wrote for a station magazine about it being my holy grail record, posted me his copy of this LP even though I'd since moved half a globe away. Much thanks to Peter from Rosebud (Peter and The Wolf...ha).

Nothin But Da Blues - Chess Records