''The Real Folk Blues'' is an album by blues musician

Sonny Boy Williamson II Alex or Aleck Miller (originally Ford, possibly December 5, 1912 – May 24, 1965), known later in his career as Sonny Boy Williamson, was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter. He was an early and influential blues harp st ...

compiling songs recorded in Chicago between 1957 and 1964. Released by

Chess Records Chess Records was an American record company established in 1950 in Chicago, specializing in blues and rhythm and blues. It was the successor to Aristocrat Records, founded in 1947. It expanded into soul music, gospel music, early rock and roll ...

in 1966, the album contains mostly previously unissued material, including "

Checkin' Up on My Baby "Checkin' Up on My Baby" (or sometimes "Checking On My Baby") is a song recorded by Sonny Boy Williamson II in 1960 that has become a classic of the blues. The song was not released as a single, but was included on Williamson's ''The Real Folk B ...

" and " Bring It On Home", which have been called "some of the most accomplished masterpieces of postwar blues".

Reception

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

reviewer Stephen Cook commented: "Part of Chess' long line of introductory blues compilations, Sonny Boy Williamson's ''Real Folk Blues'' keeps up the high standard with another solid batch of classic Chicago blues. Mostly taken from his last years in the first half of the '60s, the 12 cuts here represent some of the best of Williamson's juke joint and dancefloor-friendly mix".

Track listing

All compositions credited to Sonny Boy Williamson except where noted # " One Way Out" – 2:44 # "Too Young to Die" – 2:52 # "Trust My Baby" – 2:41 # "

" – 1:52 # "Sad to Be Alone" – 2:52 # "Got to Move" – 2:24 # " Bring It On Home" (

Willie Dixon William James Dixon (July 1, 1915January 29, 1992) was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he ...

) – 2:34 # "Down Child" – 2:30 # "Peach Tree" – 2:31 # "Dissatisfied" – 2:41 # "That's All I Want" (Dixon) – 2:13 # "Too Old to Think" – 2:46 *recorded in Chicago on September 1, 1957 (track 10), January 30, 1960 (track 5), April 14, 1960 (track 4), June 1960 (track 9), September 15, 1960 (tracks 3 & 8), December 14, 1960 (track 2), September 8, 1961 (track 11 & 12), January 11, 1963 (tracks 6 & 7) and April 30, 1964 (track 1).

Personnel

* Sonny Boy Williamson – harmonica, vocals *

Buddy Guy George "Buddy" Guy (born July 30, 1936) is an American blues guitarist and singer. He is an exponent of Chicago blues who has influenced generations of guitarists including Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Keith Richards, Stevie Ray V ...

(track 1),

Robert Lockwood Jr. Robert Lockwood Jr. (March 27, 1915 – November 21, 2006) was an American Delta blues guitarist, who recorded for Chess Records and other Chicago labels in the 1950s and 1960s. He was the only guitarist to have learned to play directly fr ...

(tracks 2–5, 8 & 10–12), Eddie King (track 9), Matt Murphy (track 7),

Luther Tucker Luther Tucker (January 20, 1936 – June 18, 1993) was an American blues guitarist. While soft-spoken and shy, Tucker made his presence known through his unique and clearly recognizable guitar style. Tucker helped to define the music known as ...

(tracks 2-5 & 8–12)– guitar *

Otis Spann Otis Spann (March 21, 1924 or 1930April 24, 1970) was an American blues musician, whom many consider to be the leading postwar Chicago blues pianist. Early life Sources differ over Spann's early years. Some state that he was born in Jackson, Miss ...

(tracks 2-5 & 9–12) – piano *

Lafayette Leake Lafayette Leake (June 1, 1919 – August 14, 1990) was an American blues and jazz pianist, organist, vocalist and composer who played for Chess Records as a session musician, and as a member of the Big Three Trio, during the formative years of Chic ...

– piano, organ (tracks 1, 3 & 6–8) *

(tracks 2-5 & 8–12), Jack Meyers (track 1), Milton Rector (tracks 6 & 7) – bass *

Fred Below Frederick Below, Jr. (September 6, 1926 – August 13, 1988) was an American blues drummer, best known for his work with Little Walter and Chess Records in the 1950s. According to Tony Russell, Below was a creator of much of the rhythmic stru ...

(tracks 1, 3-5 & 8–12), Al Duncan (tracks 6 & 7), Odie Payne (track 2) – drums

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Real Folk Blues, The Sonny Boy Williamson II albums 1966 albums Chess Records albums