And Sweet Home Chicago

Fuck, man, Howlin' Wolf.

One time in 1966 me and Joan were out of New York City, heading for the Coast, and we stopped off in Chicago to hear Wolf. “You peoples have never heard the Wolf..." We went to a little club in Old Town and after a while Wolf's band showed up and began to play. But Wolf didn't show up. “Where's Volf?" people asked, but nobody knew nd it beg m to loo 'c as though he wasn't oing to mrke it.

I was ready brought down - I had sen waiting to hear Wolf for a couple years, and we were leaving town the next morning. Shit. But I started to listen to the band, and they were pretty good. In fact, they were amazing. So after a while I aidn’t, care that Wolf wasn’t there - the music was enough, and we started feeling pretty good. “Listen to that music, peoples.,. ”

Then Wolf showed up. And I quit listening to the band. The music stayed with me on the road, so that when we got to San Francisco and the Grateful Dead were doing Howlin’ Wolf songs at the Fillmore (which was on Fillmore Street, curiously enough, this being an old story you understand) it was like there hadn’t been any break in the continuity at all.

Then, about a year ago, Wolf was going to play at Winterland. I was in bad shape. So I went to Winterland and sat way up front under the stage, feeling very down and,sorry for myself. Then, after a while, Wolf came out and started to play. And it was just like the time in Chicago because the music started to work, and I started feeling better. You know how r&b works. It was exactly what I needed at that precise instant, and I felt myself fall into it, let the music carry the weight.

Then Wolf started fucking around. He jumped off the stage and started crawling around on his hands and knees in the little space between the first bunch of people sitting on the floor and the front of the stage, singing into a hand mike. He crawled up and down, rolling his eyes, and it was sort of embarrassing because it was such an act, you know? Until he stopped crawling right in front of me. And still singing (it was “Smokestack Lightning,” for Christ’s sake) he grabbed my knee in his hand. And looked into my eyes. And sang to me..

It was like being plugged into a high voltage electrical socket. There was this vibration, like a 60 cycle AC, but it was heavier than an electric shock. It was totally different than anything that had ever happened to me before. I was washed clean of the last vestige of my misery. I was washed clean, period. I was /someone else, I was myself, I was right there.

Them Wolf let me go, crawled over to someone else, grabbed onto them, and did it again. WhooOOOOOooooo . . .

Which is to say that Howlin’ Wolf is something the entirely. Message To The Young (Chess CH-50002) is his new record, and there is no mention made of whether or not he likes it. (His last album, you’ll recall, was called Howlin’ Wolf’s New Record - He Doesn’t Like It. And quite right, too.) I think it’s really fine. Like the last album, it’s another departure for Wolf, but this tirne^ he pulls it off. Instead of the horrible phychedelic dogshit of New Record, all he has to contend with this time is soul music. He emerges triumphant, proving finally that Wolf is heavier than any of that shit. If you want him to sing soul music — cool, he’ll sing soul music. And make it more true, more meaningful than anything recorded in the last year. I prefer the older, purer r&b songs, but if you want to know is this a good album, the answer is fuck yes.

“If I Were A Bird” js Martha and the Vandellas Motown, slightly spruced up and with timely words. Wolf really sings it. WhooOOOooo . . . Man, why didn’t someone think of this before?

“I Smell A Rat” is funky, James Brown style, except Wolf sings it like it’s his — and it is.

“Miss James” sounds like one of those old-time Willie Dixon numbers. There’s an off-balance riff, repeating, while Wolf sings:

Miss James don’t have to worry ’bout the weather She’s well put-together Like a fine piece of leather I’m staking my claim On Miss James

“She’s Lookin’ Good” is more garden-variety soul music, James Cotton style this time. Korns riff around, sizzling and diddling in and out. But Wolf?

Mama get your mojo • Daddy get your gun I’m gonna steal your daughter I’m gonna be your son

“Romance Without Finance” is the latest in a series of Wolf songs about money. He thinks a lot about money, as do most folks who don’t have any.

You say you love me, but baby that ain’t so ’Cause you never want to see me unless I’ve got some dough I guess a poor man don’t got a change Because romancin’ without financin’ Ain’t nothing but the blues

Does Wolf sing like a Motherfucker? Don’t waste my time, kid.

“Turn Me On” is about sex, naturally enough, but oh, mama, it’s so heavy that it’s scary. The words start:

You give me a heart attack baby And my love is cornin’ down on me

Wolf sings the words like he’s had a heart attack, knows this babe is definitely gonna kill him, but he doesn’t care. And Wolf did have a heart attack: maybe that’s why the song is scary. Whatever it is, you believe the song completely.

Then there’s “Message To the Young,” which isn’t soul inusic at all. The band plays slow blues in the background, as Wolf raps his way through .. . well. . . The thing is that there’s gonna be a lot of people to whom it isn’t going to mean much, but then there’s others of us — and for us it’s important. Wolf has always been important, you dig?

“WhOoOOOoooo ... I got something I want to tell all the young peoples ... I got a MESSAGE for them ... I just thought that I would take my time . . . and rap with you for a little bit... there’s a lot of things I want to say. .. but I won’t be able to say ALL of them... but I CAN say a little bit . .. and I want you to know . . . this comes from the bottom of my heart . “There’s so much confusion i.. misunderstanding . . . there’s a whole lot of bad rappiri’ has gone down . . . but I want you to keep faith .. . BELIEVE in yourself . . . anil believe in your leaders .., keep this in mind .. . be on your own ... whooOOOOooo , +

v “I got something ELSE I want to tell you... a lot of people goin* around ... talkin’ about people’s long hair . .. but if you want to wear your hair ; long . . . wear your hair LONG . : . if you want to wear your beard . .. wear your beard ... if you want to wear a mustache... WEAR it .. not only that. . . wear any kind of clothes you want to wear.. . . whooOOOOoooo ,..

“I got somethin’ ELSE I want to tell you . .. you girls .. . you want to wear your dresses short... go on and wear your dresses short.. I’LL appreciate it if don’t nobody else will . whooOOOOoooo . . . now I got somethin’ ELSE I want to tell you . . . now dig, now dig this ... so much confusion’s goin’ around . . . and I know YOU confused . .'. but remember this ... I’m with you ... whooOOOOoooo ...

“Sometimes you feel lonely, and you don’t know where to go . . . that’s why I sing the blues .. . everybody know what I’m talkin’ .. . whooOOOOoooo .„. I feel that way sometime myself... I been playin’ blues for a LONG time . .. that’s why I SING the blues. sometime I just, like to moan .. . but when I moan you know. what I’m T A L K I N - ’ a b o u .t . . . whoPOOOOoooo . . . just think about what I’m sayin’,to yourself. . .

“Now you be sweet ’till we meet again . . . keep on lovin’ yourself, everybody . . . whooOOOOoooo . . . and love your mother and father . . . whooOOOOoooo .. . and thanks for lettin’ me TALK to you . ., you see what I’m SAYIN’? ..

In addition to all that, Pete Welding’s albuh) notes are really interesting and infonhative, telling you stuff about where Wolf was born, and all the famous blues cats he knew down home, and when, he started recording and like that. I’ve only had this record in my house for two days, but I think it’s going to be here for a while.

Oh the other hand, I went down to the local one-stop the other week and discovered all these Chess-Checker 45’s, including a whole batch of Wolf singles that aren’t on any albums yet. I don’t know if this is some incredible stroke of luck (my finding them, I mean), or if you can get them from Chess, but even if they’re something of a hassle to locate, you better believe they’re worth it. Ih no particular order:

HOWLIN’ BLUES b/w I BETTER GO NOW (Chess 1726)

“Howlin’ Blues”; Semi-psychedelic echo-chamber guitar intro, and then a straight, slow blues,, Good solid stuff, albeit nothing to freak over, Nice piano.

“I Better Go Now”; An up-tempo rocker with horns and echo. The mix is a little confused (guitar too loud, vocal too soft) but the harp playing is phenomenal, and the energy builds until by the end of the song the band is fairly flying:

I had that money to buy us a home When I came home the money was gone I better go now ’fore I get out of my place

MAMA’S BABY b/w DO THE DO (Chess-1844)

Two great Willie Dixon songs, with Wolf cookihg in the classic style. No build, no suspense, just straight-out, hard rocking r&b. Primitive arrangements, like on the rocking chair album. I bet Bo Diddley digs these sides,

COME TO ME BABY b/w DON’T MESS WITH MY BABY (Che& 1607)

“Come To Me”: Another smoker! Fine, driving lead guitar' all over the record. When Wolf comes in on harp he doesn’t get the lead, he steals it.

“Don’t ■;Mess”;-: Straight Chicago blues, with piano and guitar trading off On the lead. Wolf takes it easy, but he takes it.

GOING BACK HOME b/w MY LIFE (Chess 1648)

“My Life”; Real old stuff, like on the first Chess album (the One with the wolf on the cover). In fact, it sounds just like “Smokestack Lightning,” with horns and piano playing that hypnotic descending run over and over. The great golden age of r&b, Wolf so far into it that there’s nothing left over:

At midnight I cry Oh you just don’t treat me right I don’t want yoU to cook for me darlin’. I don’t want you to make up my bed All I want you to do darlin’ Just to treat me lovin’ nice This is my life baby ,, And you know you ain’t treatin’ me right

“Back Home”: More of the same. Neat Dixon lyrics, tight ensemble playing (piano, guitar", drums), fine harp.

I AIN’T SUPERSTITIOUS b/w JUST LIKE I TREAT YOU (Chess 1823)

“Superstitious”: A funny Dixon horn riff, burning guitar, incredible, intense singing from Wolf. The clunky arrangement hangs things up occasionally, but Wolf picks it up every time. It’s easily the best version of the song I’ve ever heard, but the real action is on the other side —

“Like I Treat You”: A full-tilt steam engine train driving song — much like “Meet Me At The Bottom” on the rocking chair album — pounding along under full steam. Whew! Grab hold, hang on and dig the ride.

I’VE BEEN ABUSED b/w MR. AIRPLANE MAN (Chess 1735)

“Airplane”: Like “Natchez Burning,” “Smokestack Lightning,” etc. — the real stuff from a long time ago:

Mr. Airplane man Won’t you fly down to Jackson for me I want you to find my baby And give here this here message from me

“Abused”: A rocker, with Wolf’s harp carrying the weight, up-tempo:

All my life, I call it hard All my life, I call it hard I been ’bused and I been scorned I feel so bad, it ain’t gonna last I feel so bad, it ain’t gonna last I been scorned, and I been kicked out

MY LAST AFFAIR b/w OH RED (Chess 1528)

“Red”: The sax section sounds like a swing band, or maybe Bill Haley — you can practically see them swinging their horns around. But then, in the middle, there’s a surprise Lester Young sax solo not by Pres, of course, but sounding almost as good. Wolf really goes to town.

“Last Affair”: A beautiful, slow blues, surprisingly powerful for a song that’s so completely under control. Straight Chicago blues again, Wolf at his best on his home ground. My favorite side of the 12.

“I know you wants to hear me, peoples. I’ll be in your town when I get there. ”* (*This and all other italic lines, come from “House Rockin’ Boogie,” by H. Wolf.) There was another line I wanted to include, but never found the right place for. I guess I’ll just stick it in here under the asterisks: “Play that guitar, Willie Johnson, ’till it smoke!”

Thanks, Wolf.