Willie Dixon & Company

Willie Dixon

William James "Willie" Dixon (July 1, 1915 – January 29, 1992) was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. A Grammy Award winner who was proficient on both the upright bass and guitar and as a vocalist, Dixon is perhaps best known as one of the most prolific songwriters of his time.  He is recognized as one of the founders of the Chicago blues sound.  Dixon's songs have been recorded by countless musicians in many genres as well as by various ensembles in which he participated.  A short list of the man's most famous compositions includes "Little Red Rooster, Hoochie Coochie Man, Evil, Spoonful, Back Door Man, I Just Want to Make Love to You, I Ain't Superstitious, My Babe, Wang Dang Doodle, and Bring It On Home.  These tunes were written during the peak of Chess Records, 1950–1965, and performed by Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, and Little Walter, influencing a worldwide generation of musicians. I saw Willie Dixon several times, in the early 70's, at the Le Coq d'Or, aka The Hawks Nest (for Ronnie Hawkins) in Toronto.  Willie, a huge round man with a moon face and affable smile, dominated the stage with his stand-up bass.  With an effervescent energy, Dixon and his band rocked the house. Cadillac Records is an interesting movie that chronicles the rise of Chess Records and its recording artists.

Howlin' Wolf

Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910 – January 10, 1976), known as Howlin' Wolf, was an influential American blues singer, guitarist and harmonica player.  With a booming voice and looming physical presence, Burnett is commonly ranked among the leading blues performers.  In electric blues; musician and critic Cub Koda declared, "no one could match Howlin' Wolf for the singular ability to rock the house down to the foundation while simultaneously scaring its patrons out of its wits."  A number of songs written or popularized by Burnett, such as: Smokestack Lightnin', Back Door Man, Killing Floor and Spoonful, have become R&B and blues rock standards.

Elmore James

Elmore James (January 27, 1918 – May 24, 1963) was an American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, band leader.  He was known as the King of the Slide Guitar and had a unique guitar style, noted for his use of loud amplification and his stirring voice.  James established residency in Chicago in 1952, forming his legendary band the Broomdusters.  James became one of the city's most influential guitarists.  He recorded for a variety of labels throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, leaving a legacy of slow blues, boogies, and full-fledged rave ups that dominate the musical vocabulary of Chicago blues.

Bo Diddley

Ellas Otha Bates (December 30, 1928 – June 2, 2008), known by his stage name Bo Diddley, was an American rhythm and blues vocalist, guitarist, songwriter (usually as Ellas McDaniel), and rock and roll pioneer.  He was also known as The Originator because of his key role in the transition from the blues to rock.  Bo Diddley influenced a host of acts, including Buddy Holly, Jimi Hendrix, Rolling Stones, Velvet Underground, The Who, Yardbirds, Eric Clapton, Elvis Presley, and The Beatles, among others.  He introduced more insistent, driving rhythms and a hard-edged electric guitar sound on a wide-ranging catalog of songs, along with African rhythms and a signature beat (a simple, five-accent rhythm) that remains a cornerstone of rock and pop music.  Accordingly, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and received Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation and a Grammy Award from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences.  He was known in particular for his technical innovations, including his trademark rectangular guitar, aka the ax.

Wanderin' Spirit
February, 2007
"Willie Dixon & Co."

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Psychedelic Blues

With Electric Mud

Rolling Stones and American R&B
Beginnings 1962-1965	Tripping Out 1966-1969	Flat Out 1970-1980	Rolling On 1981-2005
Live Stones	Exposed Mick Jagger	Riff It Up Keith & Ronnie	Forty Rocks
Muddy Waters	Little Walter	Jimmy Reed	Chuck Berry
Willie Dixon	Koko Taylor	Barbara Lynn	Etta James
Got Soul	Motown Classics	Doo Wop Party	Juke Joint

Favorites From the Record Cupboard
Beatlemania 1962-1966	Pepper's MMT 1967	Beatles Revolution 1968-1970	Beach Boys
Grateful Dead Workingman's Dead	Grateful Dead American Beauty	Grateful Dead Europe 72	Jefferson Airplane
The Doors	Moody Blues	Pink Floyd	Jimi Hendrix
Them Van Morrison	Van Morrison Into the Mystic	Van Morrison Back on Top	Eric Clapton
Small Faces	Faces	Rod the Mod Stewart	Rod Stewart Superstar
Flying Burrito Brothers	Chocolate Watchband	Flamin' Groovies	Electric Prunes
Bob Dylan	Simon & Garfunkel	Mamas And Papas	The Byrds
Joan Baez	CSNY	Joni Mitchell	The Band
Jackie DeShannon	Led Zeppelin Mothership	The Who My Generation	Carole King Natural Woman
M. Faithfull Swinging London	M. Faithfull Aftermath	Claudine Longet	Nancy Sinatra
Bruce Springsteen	Tina Turner	Janis Ian	Olivia Newton John
Liberty Silver	Fleetwood Mac White Album	Fleetwood Mac Rumours	Eurythmics
Patti Smith Horses

Rock'n'Roll Time Capsules
1950's Rock & Roll	1960-63 Twistin'	1964 British Invasion	1965 Retrospective
1966 Hits of 66	1967 Flowers, Peace & Love	1968 Great in 68	1969 The 69er
Woodstock Festival	1960's Psychedelic Era	1970's Decade of Decadence	1980's Big Chill

Rockin' Out in the Garage
Canada	New York	California	Texas
Midwest	Heartland	North West	South West
Old South	Deep South	International	Spirit's Favs

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