Little Walter Complete Chess Masters 1950-1967

I recently picked up this 5-CD set from Charlie at Bluebeat Music, upgrading from an earlier box set that didn't have as much as this one.

What an amazing amount of great blues harmonica! This is essential listening for anyone who likes or wants to play modern urban blues harmonica.

It's really interesting to hear the alternate takes to well-known classics.

For instance, you can hear the "other" Juke from the same recording session, which sounds very little like the issued take, and the 1967 version (in G!) from the "Super Blues" sessions with Muddy Waters and Bo Diddley.

"Off the Wall" comes in not only the issued and an alternate take, but in five additional earlier versions under different names (four versions of "Fast Boogie" and one of "Don't Have to Hunt No More").

This only scratches the surface of th treasures on this compilation.

Scott Dirks, Tony Glover, and Ward Gaines, who wrote the Little Walter biography, Blues with a Feeling, wrote the liner notes and Dirks produced the compilation with Andy McKaie. It's issued on the Hip-O Select label, which has been reissuing classic blues, soul, rock, and country from several labels, including Chess and Motown.