Howlin' Wolf (album)

Legacy and awards

In 1966, fellow Chess artist Koko Taylor recorded a cover version of "Wang Dang Doodle" which reached #4 on the Billboard's R&B Charts and became a minor crossover hit by making #58 on the Billboard Hot 100. Earlier in 1963 Sam Cooke released a single of "Little Red Rooster" making #7 on the R&B Singles chart and #11 on the Hot 100. In 1969 the songs "Shake for Me" and "Back Door Man" were used in the lyrics to the Led Zeppelin song "Whole Lotta Love".

In 1985 the album won a Blues Music Award by The Blues Foundation for 'Classics of Blues Recordings—Album'. In 2003, the album was ranked #223 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 greatest albums of all time and described as "an outrageous set of sex songs written by Willie Dixon." It was named the third greatest guitar album of all time by Mojo magazine in 2004.

Critical response

When reviewed on its 50th anniversary in 2012 by Pig River Records, the record was highly praised, receiving a score of 8.6/10.

Track listing

All tracks composed by Willie Dixon; except where indicated

1. "Shake for Me" – 2:12
2. "The Red Rooster" – 2:22
3. "You'll Be Mine" – 2:25
4. "Who's Been Talkin'" (Howlin' Wolf) – 2:18
5. "Wang Dang Doodle" – 2:18
6. "Little Baby" – 2:45

1. "Spoonful" – 2:42
2. "Going Down Slow" (St. Louis Jimmy Oden) – 3:18
3. "Down in the Bottom" – 2:05
4. "Back Door Man" – 2:45
5. "Howlin' for My Baby" – 2:28
6. "Tell Me" (Howlin' Wolf) – 2:52

Personnel

Reissue

In 1984 this album was reissued by Chess as CH-9183. The cover picture was changed slightly adding an elliptical logo beneath the album title that reads "CHICAGO 26 Golden years Single Album", and the "Chess LP 1469" trademark was replaced with the "CH-9183" identifier.