The story of Chess Records is the story of American popular music in the second half of the twentieth century. Best-known for capturing the sound of acoustic blues, originating from the Mississippi Delta and filtered through Chicago’s South Side, going electric and for releasing some of the earliest rock n’ roll singles, Chess also has a deep catalog of jazz, R&B and soul recordings. The legacy of Chess Records endures more than 75 years later.
Curated by Grammy-winning producer, Chess Records scholar and current Rolling Stones drummer Steve Jordan, Let’s Play Chess: A Chess Records Anthology presents 25 of the label’s best, some of the most important and thrilling recordings to be found on any label.
LP 1
Side A
1. Muddy Waters – (I’m Your) Hoochie Coochie Man
2. Little Walter – Juke
3. Howlin’ Wolf – Smokestack Lightnin’
4. Chuck Berry – Maybellene
5. Lowell Fulson – Reconsider Baby
6. Etta James – At Last
7. The Moonglows – Sincerely
Side B
1. Ramsey Lewis Trio – The “In” Crowd
2. Fontella Bass – Rescue Me
3. Tommy Tucker – High Heel Sneakers
4. Buddy Guy – First Time I Met the Blues
5. Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats – Rocket 88
6. Chuck Berry – Johnny B. Goode
LP 2
Side C
1. John Lee Hooker – Ground Hog Blues
2. Bo Diddley – Bo Diddley
3. Billy Stewart – I Do Love You
4. The Dells – Stay in My Corner
5. Etta James – All the Way Down
Side D
1. Little Walter – Crazy Mixed Up World
2. Muddy Waters – Rollin’ Stone
3. Otis Rush – So Many Roads, So Many Trains
4. Sonny Boy Williamson – Don’t Start Me To Talkin’
5. Jimmy Rogers – That’s All Right
6. Howlin’ Wolf – Spoonful
7. Gene Ammons – My Foolish Heart
