His Best (Sonny Boy Williamson II album)
| His best | |
|---|---|
| Compilation album by Sonny Boy Williamson | |
|
Publication |
1997 |
|
admission |
1955 to 1964 |
| Label (s) | MCA / Chess |
|
Format (s) |
CD |
|
Title (number) |
20th |
| occupation | Sonny Boy Williamson (vocals, harmonica); Billy Emerson (organ); Eugene Pierson, Jimmy Rogers , Luther Tucker , Matt "Guitar" Murphy , Muddy Waters , Robert Lockwood, Jr. , Buddy Guy (guitar); Jarrett Gibson, Donald Hankins (saxophone); Lafayette Leake , Otis Spann (piano); Clifton James , Fred Below , Al Duncan (drums); Milton Rector, Jack Meyers, Willie Dixon (bass) |
|
Leonard Chess , Phil Chess , Willie Dixon |
|
His Best is a compilation album by Sonny Boy Williamson II and was released in 1997 as part of the MCA / Chess ' 50th Anniversary series that celebrated the 50th anniversary of Chess Records .
General
Even if hardliners may note that the early recordings at Trumpet Records Sonny Boys are the most pristine, it has to be said that his time at Chess Records was the longest and most artistically and commercially successful. If you want to deal with the artist, you can't avoid the Chess recordings.
This compilation contains seventeen tracks from the 2 CD compilation "Essential Sonny Boy Williamson" and also includes the tracks "Sad To Be Alone," "My Younger Days" and an alternative version of "One Way Out" with Buddy Guy on guitar . During the recording, Williamson was supported by the cream of the Chicago blues musicians, from Muddy Waters to Willie Dixon and Buddy Guy .
Track list
All titles were written by Sonny Boy Williamson, otherwise the composers are given:
- Good Evening Everybody - 2:36
- Don't Start Me to Talkin - 2:36
- All My Love in Vain - 2:51
- Keep It to Yourself - 2:50
- Fattening Frogs for Snakes - 2:23
- I Don't Know - 2:28
- Cross My Heart - (Guidry, Williamson) - 3:24
- Born Blind - 2:35
- Ninety Nine - 2:40
- Your Funeral and My Trial - 2:33
- Keep Your Hands Out of My Pockets - 2:51
- Sad to Be Alone - 2:59
- Checkin 'up on My Baby - 1:59
- Down Child - 2:37
- Nine Below Zero - 3:30
- Bye Bye Bird - (Dixon, Williamson) - 2:35
- Help Me - ( Bass , Dixon, Williamson) - 3:11
- Bring It on Home - (Dixon, Page, Plant) - 2:39
- My Younger Days - 3:24
- One Way Out - ( James , Sehorn, Williamson) - 2:46
Musician
Sonny Boy Williamson (vocals and harmonica) on all tracks, all tracks were recorded in Chicago, Illinois:
Track 1, 2, 3:
- Bass - Willie Dixon
- Drums- Fred Below
- Guitar- Jimmy Rogers, Muddy Waters
- Piano - Otis Spann
Track 4, 5, 6,:
- Bass - Willie Dixon
- Drums- Fred Below
- Guitar- Luther Tucker, Robert Lockwood Jr.
Tracks 7, 8, 9:
- Bass - Willie Dixon
- Drums- Fred Below
- Guitar- Luther Tucker, Robert Lockwood Jr.
- Piano - Otis Spann
Track 10, 11:
- Bass - Willie Dixon
- Drums- Fred Below
- Guitar - Eugene Pierson, Robert Lockwood Jr.
- Piano - Lafayette Leake
Track 12:
- Bass - Willie Dixon
- Drums- Fred Below
- Guitar- Luther Tucker, Robert Lockwood Jr.
- Piano - Otis Spann
Track 13:
- Bass - Unknown artist
- Drums- Fred Below
- Guitar - Luther Tucker, Robert Lockwood Jr.
- Piano - Otis Spann
Track 14:
- Bass - Willie Dixon
- Drums- Fred Below
- Guitar- Luther Tucker, Robert Lockwood Jr.
- Piano - Lafayette Leake
Track 15:
- Bass - Willie Dixon
- Drums- Fred Below
- Guitar- Luther Tucker, Robert Lockwood Jr.
- Piano - Otis Spann
Track 16, 17,18:
- Bass - Milton Rector
- Drums- Al Duncan
- Guitar- Matt Murphy
- Organ- Billy Emerson, Lafayette Leake
Track 19:
- Bass - Jack Meyers
- Drums- Clifton James
- Guitar Buddy Guy
- Piano - Lafayette Leake
- Saxophone - Donald Hankins, Jarrett Gibson
Track 20:
- Bass - Jack Meyers
- Drums- Fred Below
- Guitar Buddy Guy
- Piano - Lafayette Leake
Criticism
The review of the CD on CD Universe does not highlight any particular recording as a highlight as they are too numerous. Cub Koda says in the All Music Guide that the CD is an excellent entry point for anyone for whom more extensive compilations are too expensive.