Chester Arthur Burnett, otherwise known as Howlin’ Wolf, was born in 1910 in White Station, Mississippi; he would go on to become one of the most important blues musicians of any era. His sound was hard and direct, the sand-grit howl and tough delivery would eventually transform music in the 1950s, laying foundation for sounds to come. Rock n’ roll and the inevitable British invasion in the 1960s, for examples, owe much to Wolf’s recordings and aesthetic.

He made records mostly for Chicago’s Chess label and his 78s are gems to anyone interested in blues shellac.

This particular side, recorded in 1958, was my first ever introduction to Howlin’ Wolf and it has a special place in my heart. I still listen to it often; the raw, wild energy sounds fresh every time.

Howlin Wolf – Moanin For My Baby  <<<PLAY