Back in the early 60s, American blues players made records that were grabbed by teenage English boys and returned to the states in the form of a thing called “Rock and Roll.” One of the most influenced and influential groups, The Rolling Stones (in the form of Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts, Keith Richards and Ronnie Wood) select songs on this two disc collection that were major inspiration for their earliest albums, but which essentially never left their core dna.
This you get Muddy Waters’ “Rollin’ Stone” (which gave the band its name” as well as foundational material such as Howlin’ Wolf’s “Little Red Rooster,” Chuck Berry’s “Little Queenie” and “Carol” and Robert Johnson’s “Love in Vain Blues” all of which found their ways onto the early Stones albums. Songs with riffs you’ll recognize on hundreds of albums from Bonamassa to Clapton to Mayall are featured on pieces lie Boy Blue’s “Boogie Children,” Waters’ “Mannish Boy” and Elmore James’ “Dust My Broom,” but here they are presented as they were first created. You even get a bit of Kansas City jump with Jay McShann and Little Walter taking you to 12th and Vine on “Confessin’ The Blues.
10% of the net from this album will be donated to Willie Dixon’s Blues Heaven Foundation, so you’re even helping a cause while listening to the best juke joint party album of the decade.