More than a decade before Alligator Records began reviving the careers of Koko Taylor, Fenton Robinson, Lonnie Brooks, and Detroit Junior, among others in the 1970s, these cats were cutting killer sessions for little labels that you probably have never heard of, including USA Records (not to be confused with Leonard Allen s twin labels United and States from the 50s). Recorded between 1963 and 1966, The USA Records Blues Story captures a dozen of Chicago s best at their peak, often in the midst of some kind of historic transition artistically, witness Koko Taylor a couple years shy of Wang Dang Doodle, Fenton Robinson a couple years shy of Somebody Loan Me a Dime, and Junior Wells a couple years shy of his Hoodoo Man Blues breakthrough. But USA also lured more bankable talent, including Willie Mabon and J.B. Lenoir, who were both still going strong long after their stints with Chess Records. If USA Records ever cut any duds, you wouldn t know it from the way Bill Dahl compiled the reissue; this one hits the jackpot all the way through. Ken Chang, All Music Guide

Tracklist:

01. Lonnie Brooks - Figure Head (2:43)
02. Eddy Clearwater - The Duck Walk (2:24)
03. Willie Mabon - Some Time I Wonder (2:55)
04. Fenton Robinson - From My Heart (2:59)
05. Ricky Allen - Going or Coming (3:13)
06. Jimmy Burns - Forget It (2:34)
07. Detroit Junior - It s Bad to Make a Woman Mad (3:07)
08. Andrew Brown - You Better Stop (2:54)
09. Mighty Joe Young - Hard Times (Follow Me) (3:12)
10. Koko Taylor - Like Heaven to Me (2:36)
11. J.B. Lenoir - I Feel So Good (2:13)
12. A.C. Reed - I d Rather Fight Than Switch (2:46)
13. Willie Mabon - Just Got Some (2:38 )
14. Jesse Fortune - Too Many Cooks (2:49)
15. Homesick James - Crossroads (2:45)
16. Ricky Allen - I Have Made a Change (2:57)
17. Junior Wells - She s a Sweet One (3:00)
18. Jimmy Burns - Through All Your Faults (2:15)
19. Detroit Junior - Call My Job (2:53)
20. Eddy Clearwater - Momee, Momee (2:25)
21. Andrew Brown - Something Can Go Wrong (2:05)
22. Lonnie Brooks - I m Not Going Home (2:35)
23. Fenton Robinson - Say You re Leavin (2:37)
24. Homesick James - My Baby s Sweet (2:56)
25. Koko Taylor - Honky Tonky (2:06)
26. Jesse Fortune - Good Things (2:42)



Recorded in Chicago, 1963-1966.
Compiled by Bill Dahl