2120 S. Michigan Avenue: Chess Records (Vol. 2)

At last patients, at last. When yer tryin' to avoid the hoodoo man and yer doctor puts you on milk, cream, and alcohol. Then you know you have the low-down dirty blues. That's right patients, that seems to be the general rule of thumb around the asylum these days.

For the past few weeks, the heil air motion tranducers (speakers) here at the asylum have had a constant flow of those mojo filled 12-Bar blues sounds. Specifically, those delta hazed soundin' Chicago blues. If you want to get more specific, them Chess blues. God damn patients, we got them Chess blues. If yer rock 'n roll stethoscopes haven't heard of Chess Records up until this point, we plan on sendin' some pretty momma on down to break you down. You could even get part of the facts from the new movin' picture, Cadillac Records .

One of the stories about Chess Records that has been hoopin' & hollerin' round town is... The reason Brian Jones spoke to Keith Richards for the first time was because Keith was carrying Chess LP-1427, The Best of Muddy Waters . Who knows whether it's true or not? We are not the keeper.

Now Consolate My Mind

In many circles 2120 is know as mecca, the crossroads of the blues. It was the place that housed a musical revolution. Located on the South Side of Chicago and founded in 1950 by Leonard and Phil Chess. Chess Records was one of the great treasures of America, one of the most important post World War II blues labels around. It was there that Muddy Waters recorded "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man", Howlin' Wolf layed down "Smokestack Lightning" & Chuck Berry banged out "Maybellene".

Leonard Chess was remembered to many as a documentarian. Record man Jerry Wexler stated, "Leonard would hear Muddy Waters in a bar on a Thursday night with his band; well, he would bring him into the studio on the weekend and reproduce what he heard in that bar." Unlike many other labels, Chess would record their artists as is. They wanted to capture that raw 'n natural live grit.

Those vibrant sounds that were layed down at 2120 are the basis for the rock n' roll we've been hearin' for the last forty years. If this has enticed yer mind at all, search out more info on Chess Records for the full scoop or check out the new Darnell Martin flick, Cadillac Records .

A Few Chess Artists : Muddy Waters,Willie Dixon, Howlin' Wolf, John Lee Hooker, Little Walter, Chuck Berry, Koko Taylor, Sonny Boy Williamson & Etta James.

Chess Factoid : The Rolling Stones recorded 12X5 at Chess Records recording studio.

Should You DL? Of course, as your Doctor, I advise you to download your daily dosage of MP3s...



Take Up Thy Rock 'N Roll Stethoscope and Walk.

Enjoy these 11cc of Chess...

Tell Automatic Slim, tell Razor Totin' Jim, Tell Butcher Knife Totin' Annie, tell Fast Talking Fanny that the 115th Dream put on their lab coats and put together an assorted basket of the asylums favorite Chess tracks.

Sure nuff...

Howlin' Wolf - "Moanin' At Midnight"
Chuck Berry - "Maybellene"
Koko Taylor - "Wang Dang Doodle"
Little Walter - "Temperature"
Bo Diddley - "I'm a Man"
Muddy Waters - "Rollin' Stone"
Sonny Boy Williamson II - "Bring It On Home"
Buddy Guy - "First Time I Met The Blues"
Etta James & Sugar Pie DeSanto - "In The Basement - Part 1"
Laura Lee - "Dirty Man"
Willie Dixon & Koko Taylor - "Insane Asylum"

Fill Yer Prescription Stat...

Amazon.com...For All Yer Musical Needs

cdbaby.com...Music From A Baby, None The Less

*** If Yer Interested In Seeing What Doctor Mooney Has Prescribed In The Past Check Out The Sidebar. To The Right, Under "Cryogenically Frozen Forever/Archives"...