His Best (Howlin' Wolf album)

His Best is a greatest hits album by American blues musician Howlin' Wolf. The album was originally released on April 8, 1997 by MCA/Chess Records,[1] and was one of a series of releases by MCA for the 50th anniversary of Chess Records that year (see 1997 in music). Ten years later – on April 17, 2007 – the album was reissued by Geffen Records as The Definitive Collection.[3]

His Best
Greatest hits album by
Howlin' Wolf
ReleasedApril 8, 1997 (1997-04-08)[1]
RecordedMay 14 or August 1951 at Memphis Recording Service, Memphis, Tennessee
May 25, 1954 – August 1964 in Chicago, Illinois[2]
GenreChicago blues
Length55:41
LabelMCA/Chess
ProducerSam Phillips, Leonard Chess, Phil Chess, Willie Dixon, Andy McKaie[2]
CompilerAndy McKaie[2]
Howlin' Wolf chronology
Bluesmaster
(1996)		 His Best
(1997)		 His Best, Vol. 2
(1999)

The album features several of his most well-known recording including "Smokestack Lightnin'", "Spoonful", and "Killing Floor".

Recording and production

The first two songs on the collection – "Moanin' at Midnight" and "How Many More Years" – were recorded at Memphis Recording Service on either May 14, or August 1951 and were produced by Sam Phillips, who would later produce Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash. The rest of the songs on the album were recorded in Chicago, Illinois from May 1954 to August 1964. The original recordings were produced by either the Chess brothers – Leonard and Phil – and/or Willie Dixon, who recorded numerous artists for Chess Records. The reissue production was handled by Andy McKaie with digital remastering by Erick Labson.[2]

Artwork, packaging

The album's art director was Vartan, the album was designed by Mike Fink. The photographs for the album were credited to Brian Smith, Joseph Sia, Frank Driggs, Ray Flerlage, Peter Amft, John Gibbs Rockwood, and the Universal Music Archives. The liner notes for the album were written by Mark Humphrey.[2]

Track listing
No.TitleRecording date[2]Length
1."Moanin' at Midnight" (Chester Burnett)May 14, or August 19512:56
2."How Many More Years" (Burnett)May 14, or August 19512:43
3."Evil (Is Going On)" (Willie Dixon)May 25, 19542:55
4."Forty-Four" (Burnett)October 19542:49
5."Smokestack Lightnin'" (Burnett)January 19563:09
6."I Asked for Water (She Gave Me Gasoline)" (Burnett)July 19, 19562:52
7."Who's Been Talkin'" (Burnett)June 24, 19572:24
8."Sitting on Top of the World" (Walter Vinson, Lonnie Chatmon; arr. Burnett)December 19572:34
9."Howlin' for My Darlin'" (Burnett, Dixon)July 19592:33
10."Wang Dang Doodle" (Dixon)June 19602:25
11."Back Door Man" (Dixon)June 19602:51
12."Spoonful" (Dixon)June 19602:45
13."Shake for Me" (Dixon)June 19612:18
14."The Red Rooster" (Dixon)June 19612:29
15."I Ain't Superstitious" (Dixon)December 19612:56
16."Goin' Down Slow" (James B. Oden)December 19614:04
17."Three Hundred Pounds of Joy" (Dixon)August 14, 19633:07
18."Hidden Charms" (Dixon)August 14, 19632:23
19."Built for Comfort" (Dixon)August 14, 19632:39
20."Killing Floor" (Burnett)August 19642:49

Personnel
gollark: Parapolymetric endocofunctors.
gollark: Call it null. That'll confuse them.
gollark: Like isomorphism. Nobody knows what it means, but cool-sounding it is.,
gollark: You just need to pick some really cool-sounding word.
gollark: 35678

References
  1. Koda, Cub. "His Best – Howlin' Wolf: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
  2. Humphrey, Mark (2007). The Definitive Collection (CD liner). Howlin' Wolf. Geffen/Chess Records. B0008784-02.
  3. Leggett, Steve. "The Definitive Collection – Howlin' Wolf: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". Allmusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved January 18, 2013.
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