Chess Club Rhythm & Soul / Various

The Chess Records catalogue (including as it does the output of such subsidiary labels as Cadet, Checker and Argo) is one of the finest collections of Black music recordings ever made by one record company. Chess Club Rhythm & Soul showcases the many club gems given birth to by founders Leonard and Phil Chess in the musical melting pot that was the Chicago of the late 50s and 60s. Pure blues classics like Little Walter’s My Babe and Sonny Boy Williamson’s heart-felt pleading blues Help Me rub shoulders with soulful funky jazz sides by Ramsey Lewis, Brother Jack McDuff and Lou Donaldson. Etta James (recently riding high with her version of I Just Want To Make Love To You) gets two look ins – solo on Mellow Fellow and dueting with Sugar Pie DeSanto on Do I Make Myself Clear. Don & Bob sing their ‘phasey’ pulsing R&B rendition of Good Morning Little Schoolgirl while Little Milton hits a tough soul-blues groove for Grits Ain’t Groceries. Soul men Maurice & Mac (in a Sam & Dave bag) deliver their stone classic You Left The Water Running (covered by the likes of the Flying Burrito Brothers and revived by writer Dan Penn for Do Right Man, his own brilliant album of recent vintage). Playing out the final minutes of this 25 track release, the insidious dance beats of yet another absolute R&B classic – Hi Heel Sneakers by Tommy Tucker.