Various Artists - Chicago / The Blues / Today! (2020) [Hi-Res]

After his tenure at Chess, Otis Rush signed with Duke Records in Houston, who only released one 45 during his entire five year stay at the label. This Vanguard session from 1966 was his first in several years and finds him in exemplary form. Backed by a tough little club band, Otis' guitar tone is crystal clear and well focused, while his singing is simply superb. With two excellent instrumentals aboard ("Rock" is Otis' version of Earl Hooker's "Universal Rock"), the other big ticket highlight is the version of "I Can't Quit You, Baby" that Led Zepplin would later copy note for note on their first album. This is part of a three volume series and also features excellent tracks by James Cotton ("Cotton Crop Blues" and a wild version of "Rocket 88") and Homesick James. ~ Cub Koda

Tracklist:
01 - Junior Wells' Chicago Blues Band - Help Me (A Tribute To Sonny Boy Williamson) (4:10)
02 - Junior Wells' Chicago Blues Band - It Hurts Me Too (When Things Go Wrong) (2:47)
03 - Junior Wells' Chicago Blues Band - Messin' With The Kid (2:25)
04 - Junior Wells' Chicago Blues Band - Vietcong Blues (5:00)
05 - Junior Wells' Chicago Blues Band - All Night Long (3:50)
06 - J.b. Hutto And His Hawks - Going Ahead (2:06)
07 - J.b. Hutto And His Hawks - Please Help (2:56)
08 - J.b. Hutto And His Hawks - Too Much Alcohol (2:32)
09 - J.b. Hutto And His Hawks - Married Man Blues (3:11)
10 - J.b. Hutto And His Hawks - That's The Truth (2:51)
11 - Otis Spann's South Side Piano - Marie (2:31)
12 - Otis Spann's South Side Piano - Burning Fire (3:17)
13 - Otis Spann's South Side Piano - S.P. Blues (2:55)
14 - Otis Spann's South Side Piano - Sometimes I Wonder (3:31)
15 - Otis Spann's South Side Piano - Spann's Stomp (2:22)
16 - The Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet - Cotton Crop Blues (2:22)
17 - The Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet - The Blues Keep Falling (4:03)
18 - The Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet - Love Me Or Leave (3:29)
19 - The Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet - Rocket 88 (2:06)
20 - The Jimmy Cotton Blues Quartet - West Helena Blues (3:31)
21 - The Otis Rush Blues Band - Everything's Going To Turn Out Alright (3:55)
22 - The Otis Rush Blues Band - It's A Mean Old World (2:25)
23 - The Otis Rush Blues Band - I Can't Quit You Baby (3:16)
24 - The Otis Rush Blues Band - Rock (3:35)
25 - The Otis Rush Blues Band - It's My Own Fault (5:59)
26 - Homesick James And His Dusters - Dust My Broom (3:18)
27 - Homesick James And His Dusters - Somebody Been Talkin' (2:18)
28 - Homesick James And His Dusters - Set A Date (2:47)
29 - Homesick James And His Dusters - So Mean To Me (2:52)
30 - Johnny Young's South Side Blues Band - One More Time (2:28)
31 - Johnny Young's South Side Blues Band - Kid Man Blues (3:03)
32 - Johnny Young's South Side Blues Band - My Black Mare (3:45)
33 - Johnny Young's South Side Blues Band - Stealin' Back (3:21)
34 - Johnny Young's South Side Blues Band - I Got Mine In Time (4:21)
35 - Johnny Young's South Side Blues Band - Tighten Up On It (3:14)
36 - The Johnny Shines Blues Band - Dynaflow Blues (2:38)
37 - The Johnny Shines Blues Band - Black Spider Blues (3:06)
38 - The Johnny Shines Blues Band - Layin' Down My Shoes And Clothes (2:27)
39 - The Johnny Shines Blues Band - If I Get Lucky (3:26)
40 - Big Walter Horton's Blues Harp Band With Memphis Charlie - Rockin' My Boogie (3:29)
41 - The Johnny Shines Blues Band - Mr. Boweevil (3:13)
42 - The Johnny Shines Blues Band - Hey, Hey (2:26)