Various Artists – The Chicago Blues Box – Storyville Records CD SCD 8612 

This early 2013 release, eight CDs total, the contents of which were originally released on the MCM Records label chronicles Chicago blues at the city’s Ma Bea’s, Big Duke’s, and the Golden Slipper blues joints, with a parade of artists and sidemen who continually offer a mesmerizing peek into the city’s blues scene. 

These selections date from 1975-1977, and the bluesmen submitting their brands of blues for consideration including Big Mojo Elem, John Littlejohn, Eddie Clearwater, Eddie Taylor, Jimmy Johnson, Luther Johnson, Jr., Willie Kent, Willie James Lyons, Jimmy Dawkins, Hip Linkchan, Alabama Junior Pettis, Blueblood McMahon, Joe Carter, Bobby King, and Magic Slim.

The 98 total tracks here pull back the curtain of the informal Chicago blues scene where blues “stars” and the lesser-knowns took the stages and poured their hearts out with their unique interpretations of the music.  What makes the entirety of this set so appealing is the non-studio nature of the cuts; things are raw, meandering, and genuine.  Many of the sidemen here will be familiar to blues enthusiasts, as well.  Take it from someone who spent countless hours in these surroundings; this is the proverbial “real deal” Chicago neighborhood blues.           

This is hard blues, meaning that the improvisational, intense, and direct nature of it is not encumbered by the sanitizing efforts of studio gimmickry.  This is the sort of Chicago blues that for a cover charge of a dollar and the price of a beer would spellbind the most hardboiled blues fan.

Pull back the curtain on the mid-1970’s Chicago blues scene with this fascinating assemblage of blues delivery at your own peril!  Once you step from behind the drapery, even the best studio work will sound too clean to be mean!  This is blues brilliance captured as it once was all over Chicago’s south and west sides.

Highly-recommended, indeed!