Cadillac Records

The story of the birth of Chicago blues is well-told through this ensemble portrait of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry, Etta James, Little Walter, and their label, Chess Records.

"...that worked on timetables unconnected to human biology. Cadillac Records is a music portrait that looks at one of..."

Dec. 12, 2008 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

The Gay

"...Trick, etc., the Gay prefers obscure extracurricular quirkiness like chess club presidents the Feelies, Look Blue Go Purple, Martha..."

March 12, 2004 Music Review by Kate X Messer

ACL Interview: JD McPherson

Uncanny rockabilly from the time warp

"...Elvis at Sun Studios and more like Specialty or Chess Records R&B...."

Oct. 2, 2013 Music Post by Tim Stegall

Eddie Stout Is a One-Man Historical Blues Society

On the eve of his Eastside Kings Festival the Dialtone Records founder remains doggedly preservationist

"...Dialtone Records founder and head of the Eastside Kings Foundation and..."

Sept. 8, 2017 Music Feature by Kahron Spearman

JD McPherson

Broken Arrow rocker makes retro modern

"...Arrow, Oklahoma. The young singer-songwriter evoked the sound of Chess Records in the Fifties (Howlin’ Wolf, Chuck Berry, Bo..."

Feb. 28, 2013 Music Post by Jim Caligiuri

Reissues

"...THE SUGAR HILL RECORDS STORY..."

June 27, 1997 Music Review

Little Walter

"...Little WalterThe Complete Chess Masters (1950-1967) (Hip-O Select/Geffen)..."

April 24, 2009 Music Review by Raoul Hernandez

The Complete Jake Langley

Guitarist makes dazzling choices and then some

"...I’m a huge fan of all that, all the Chess Records stuff...."

March 28, 2014 Music Post by Tim Stegall

Down in the Swamps

Excello Records Reissues

"...Slim Harpo, Lightnin' Slim (who would also record for Chess), and Lazy Lester, as well as the lesser known..."

May 5, 1995 Music Feature by Margaret Moser

ACL Interview: JD McPherson

6pm, Zilker Tent stage

"...at [New Orleans legend Cosimo Matassa's studio] J&M or Chess Records or someplace."..."

Oct. 4, 2013 Music Feature by Tim Stegall

Blues Lessons with Eve Monsees

Guitarist starts at Jimmy Reed and ends up in New Orleans

"...The new disc arcs from Chess Records to Third Man Records, so who better to..."

Dec. 3, 2015 Music Post by William Harries Graham

SXSW Film Review: 'Born in Chicago'

Archival footage meets contemporary performances in this music doc

"...music that hasn’t passed through Chicago.” So declares Marshall Chess, scion of legendary Chess Records and narrator of Born..."

March 15, 2013 SXSW Post by Michael King

Calling the Shots

Jesse Dayton is finally an Austin musician again after years of only being mistaken for one

"...trying to get out of his contract with Justice Records, the Houston-based label that released his first solo effort..."

Sept. 28, 2001 Music Feature by Jerry Renshaw

Pink Floyd's Roger Waters Gets Political With the Chronicle

He should be a prime-time news analyst. Televisions would melt.

"...off all their artists, a common accusation leveled at Chess Records. In that situation too, antisemitism clouded the real..."

March 20, 2020 Music Feature by Raoul Hernandez

Record Reviews

"...Miss Peaches, know about her years as one of Chess Records' premiere screamers -- Love's Been Rough on Me..."

Aug. 15, 1997 Music Review

Chairman of the Board

Antone's Blue Monday boss Derek O'Brien keeps the music alive and blue

"...a Grammy with Robert Cray for the joint Alligator Records recording Showdown!..."

April 25, 2014 Music Feature by Margaret Moser

King of Bongo

Tracking Spain/France's illusive King of Latin punk rock, Manu Chao

"...a good year to work the door at Rasputin's Records in Berkeley. The counter crew – cashiers, baggers, backpack..."

Aug. 11, 2006 Music Feature by Raoul Hernandez

ACL Interview: JD McPherson, Part Two

Friday, Oct. 11, 6pm, Zilker Tent stage

"...and drummer/keyboardist Alex Hall didn't attempt to re-create Sun Records. Instead, they so accurately re-created the sound of Chess..."

Oct. 4, 2013 Music Feature by Tim Stegall

Summer Reading: Sam Phillips

Digging into the landmark bio of rock & roll’s colonel

"...them himself or leasing to other seminal imprints like Chess Records, reveals that the title to Peter Guralnick’s definitive..."

June 17, 2016 Music Post by Tim Stegall

Crossroads 3

I went up to the Crossroads – and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame – fell down on my knees

"...U2 label rejections preserve RSO Records executive Alexander Sinclair's A&R acumen, while a hate, hate,..."

July 2, 2010 Music Feature by Raoul Hernandez

The Sonics

Ancient garage-rock back from before the Summer of Love

"...up the Sonics brief but blistering tenure for Etiquette Records. From 1964 to '65, the Tacoma, Wash.-bred quintet was..."

March 20, 2009 Music Feature by Austin Powell

Record Review

Honeydripper Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

"...pulling at the roots of rock & roll. Atlantic Records pioneer Ruth Brown waxes nostalgic on the weary "Things..."

Jan. 18, 2008 Music Feature by Austin Powell

A Detour With Taj Mahal

"...who owned their own record companies, pressed their own records, and competed with the bulk of the record companies...."

Nov. 7, 2007 Music Post by Jim Caligiuri

Checking In: Johnny Nicholas Moans in the Moonlight

Venerable Hill Country bluesman digs into Cherry Springs

"...is Howlin’ Wolf’s Moanin’ in the Moonlight album on Chess Records. It is as dark and foreboding as anything..."

Oct. 28, 2020 Music Post by Raoul Hernandez

The Origins of Austin Punk in the Aftermath of the 13th Floor Elevators

Roky Erickson hurtles toward Doug Sahm in Chapter 1, Part 1 of the Austin Punk Chronicles

"...Fort Worth to replicate the sounds of scratchy old Chess Records blues 45s. At the low end of that..."

Aug. 2, 2019 Music Feature by Tim Stegall

Peacemakers

"...you're a fan of raucous Chicago blues à la Chess Records with a bit of the swampy Excello sound..."

Aug. 18, 2017 Music Review by Jay Trachtenberg

Bobby Rush

"...Chicago with Otis Rush knockoffs, but steered away from Chess Records production into Isley Brothers territory on 1969 nod..."

Dec. 18, 2015 Music Review by Scott Jordan

Eve Monsees & the Exiles

"...Yardbirds/Pretty Things ("One Glass," "Follow the Thread") and grinding, Chess Records- drenched blues ("Mr. Devil, Parts 1 & 2")...."

Dec. 4, 2015 Music Review by Tim Stegall

The Unabridged Billy Joe Shaver

Country outlaw wanted – alive and kickin’

"...today along with a 5pm in-store performance at Waterloo Records, the 74-year-old country music legend was running late for..."

Aug. 5, 2014 Music Post by Kevin Curtin

When I Left Home: My Story

Louisiana birds and John Lee Hooker's "Boogie Chillen'" birthed this badass

"...he's embellishing. Otherwise, it's an insightful look into a Chess Records crew that got into just as much trouble..."

June 15, 2012 Music Feature by Chase Hoffberger

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