Little Walter Jacobs was blues harmonica player, singer, songwriter and occasional guitarist who revolutionised the way that the harmonica was played and recorded, bringing a new dimension to the blues during the 1950s. He was one of the first artists to amplify his harmonica by holding it to a microphone and maybe the first artist on any instrument deliberately to use electronic distortion as part of his range of sounds. He was a member of Muddy Waters band, appearing on many of his records during the 1950s, but from 1952 recorded for the Chess subsidiary Checker, his releases regularly featuring a harmonica-led instrumental on one side and a vocal performance on the others.
He scored an R&B No. 1 with his first solo single Juke, and another one a few years later with what became a staple of blues bands the world over My Babe. Little Walter became the only harmonica player to be inducted into the Rock n Roll Hall Of Fame. This great value collection, with extensive booklet notes plus comprehensive discographical, chart, session and personnel information, comprises all of his Checker A & B sides from 1952 to 1960 plus two bonus tracks from 1961 and 1962, and includes all of his 15 R&B chart hits.
REVIEWS
"Blues Genius." - Norman Darwen (R2)
"Little Walter was the first to really grasp the possibilities of amplification, reslishing the opportunities for distortion and innovative, modern sounds." - Trevor Hodgett (R2)
"Astounding how rewarding it is to play these... there is nothing here that isn't completely wonderful" - Howard Rye (Blues & Rhythm)
"Potent enough to blow off your pedal-pushers and get you shaking all over. It's classic R'n'B opening the door to Rock'n'Roll but reaching well beyond." - Andrew Liddle (JustJazz)
| Disc 1 | ||
| Track | Title | Artist |
| 1 | Juke | Little Walter and the Night Cats |
| 2 | Can't Hold On Much Longer | Little Walter and the Night Cats |
| 3 | Mean Old World | Little Walter and the Night Cats |
| 4 | Sad Hours | Little Walter and the Night Cats |
| 5 | Don't Have To Hunt No More | Little Walter |
| 6 | Tonight With A Fool | Little Walter |
| 7 | Off The Wall | Little Walter and the Night Cats |
| 8 | Tell Me, Mama | Little Walter and the Night Cats |
| 9 | Blues With A Feeling | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 10 | Quarter To Twelve | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 11 | Lights Out | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 12 | You're So Fine | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 13 | Rocker | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 14 | Oh, Baby | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 15 | You'd Better Watch Yourself | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 16 | Blue Light | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 17 | Last Night | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 18 | Mellow Down Easy | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 19 | My Babe | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 20 | Thunder Bird | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 21 | Roller Coaster | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 22 | I Got To Go | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 23 | Too Late | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 24 | I Hate To See You Go | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 25 | Who | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| Disc 2 | ||
| Track | Title | Artist |
| 1 | It Ain't Right | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 2 | One More Chance With You | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 3 | Flying Saucer | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 4 | Teenage Beat | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 5 | Just A Feeling | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 6 | It's Too Late, Brother | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 7 | Take Me Back | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 8 | Nobody But You | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 9 | Everybody Needs Somebody | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 10 | Boom, Boom, Out Goes The Light | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 11 | Temperature | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 12 | The Toddle | Little Walter |
| 13 | Confessin' The Blues | Little Walter |
| 14 | Key To The Highway | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 15 | Rock Bottom | Little Walter and the Jukes |
| 16 | My Baby's Sweeter | Little Walter |
| 17 | Crazy, Mixed Up World | Little Walter |
| 18 | Everything's Gonna Be All Right | Little Walter |
| 19 | Back Track | Little Walter |
| 20 | Me And Piney Brown | Little Walter |
| 21 | Break It Up | Little Walter |
| 22 | Ah'w Baby | Little Walter |
| 23 | I Had My Fun | Little Walter |
| 24 | My Babe | Little Walter |
| 25 | Blue Midnight | Little Walter |
| 26 | I Don't Play | Little Walter |
| 27 | Just Your Fool | Little Walter |