Length 55:41 Artist Howlin' Wolf Genre Chicago blues | Compiler Andy McKaie Release date 8 April 1997 | |
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Released April 8, 1997 (1997-04-08) Recorded May 14 or August 1951 at Memphis Recording Service, Memphis, Tennessee
May 25, 1954 – August 1964 in Chicago, Illinois Bluesmaster
(March 12, 1996) His Best
(April 8, 1997) His Best
(April 8, 1997) His Best, Vol. 2
(July 27, 1999) Label Insomniac/Interscope Records Producers Sam Phillips, Leonard Chess, Phil Chess, Willie Dixon Similar Blues From Hell, The Howlin' Wolf Album, The London Howlin' W, Moanin' in the Moonlight, The Super Super Blues Band | ||
His Best is a greatest hits album by American blues musician Howlin' Wolf. The album was originally released on April 8, 1997 by MCA/Chess Records, and was one of a series of releases by MCA for the 50th anniversary of Chess Records that year (see 1997 in music). Ten years later – on April 17, 2007 – the album was reissued by Geffen Records as The Definitive Collection.
Contents
The album features several of his most well-known recording including "Smokestack Lightnin'", "Spoonful", and "Killing Floor".
Recording and production
The first two songs on the collection – "Moanin' at Midnight" and "How Many More Years" – were recorded at Memphis Recording Service on either May 14, or August 1951 and were produced by Sam Phillips, who would later produce Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. The rest of the songs on the album were recorded in Chicago, Illinois from May 1954 to August 1964. The original recordings were produced by either the Chess brothers – Leonard and Phil – and/or Willie Dixon, who recorded numerous artists for Chess Records. The reissue production was handled by Andy McKaie with digital remastering by Erick Labson.
Artwork, packaging
The album's art director was Vartan, the album was designed by Mike Fink. The photographs for the album were credited to Brian Smith, Joseph Sia, Frank Driggs, Ray Flerlage, Peter Amft, John Gibbs Rockwood, and the Universal Music Archives. The liner notes for the album were written by Mark Humphrey.
Songs
1Moanin' At Midnight2:57
2How Many More Years2:42
3Evil (Is Going On)2:55