VA - Chess Pieces: The Very Best of Chess Records (2005)

Tracklist:
1.01 - Jackie Brenston & His Delta Cats - Rocket 88 (Single Version) (2:50)
1.02 - Howlin' Wolf - How Many More Years (Single Version) (2:44)
1.03 - Little Walter - Juke (Single Version) (2:46)
1.04 - John Lee Hooker - Sugar Mama (Single Version) (3:14)
1.05 - Elmore James - Dust My Broom (3:01)
1.06 - Lowell Fulson - Reconsider Baby (Single Version) (3:11)
1.07 - Chuck Berry - Maybellene (Single Version) (2:22)
1.08 - Bo Diddley - Bo Diddley (Single Version) (2:47)
1.09 - Muddy Waters - Mannish Boy (Single Version) (2:58)
1.10 - Sonny Boy Williamson - Don't Start Me To Talkin' (Single Version) (2:35)
1.11 - Jimmy Witherspoon - When The Lights Go Out (2:52)
1.12 - Muddy Waters - (I'm Your) Hoochie Coochie Man (2:52)
1.13 - Little Walter - My Babe (Single Version) (2:42)
1.14 - Clarence Frogman Henry - Ain't Got No Home (2:22)
1.15 - Howlin' Wolf - Smokestack Lightnin' (Single Version) (3:09)
1.16 - Dale Hawkins - Suzie Q (2:15)
1.17 - Jimmy Rogers - Walking By Myself (Single Version) (2:49)
1.18 - Chuck Berry - Johnny B. Goode (Single Version) (2:41)
1.19 - Jimmy McCracklin - The Walk (2:47)
1.20 - The Moonglows - Ten Commandments Of Love (4:06)
1.21 - Bo Diddley - Say Man (Single Version) (3:14)
1.22 - Etta James - I Just Want To Make Love To You (Single Version) (3:07)
1.23 - Dave Baby Cortez - Rinky Dink (2:53)
1.24 - Bo Diddley - You Can't Judge A Book By It's Cover (Single Version) (3:11)
1.25 - Jan Bradley - Mama Didn't Lie (2:04)
1.26 - Jaynetts - Sally Go Round The Roses (Single Version) (3:00)
2.27 - Etta James - Something's Got A Hold On Me (Single Version) (2:47)
2.28 - Chuck Berry - No Particular Place To Go (Single Version) (2:41)
2.29 - Jackie Ross - Selfish One (3:17)
2.30 - Mitty Collier - I Had A Talk With My Man Last Night (3:42)
2.31 - Tommy Tucker - High Heel Sneakers (2:50)
2.32 - Sugar Pie DeSanto - Soulful Dress (2:48)
2.33 - Fontella Bass - Don't Mess Up A Good Thing (2:59)
2.34 - Fontella Bass - Rescue Me (Single Version) (2:53)
2.35 - Tony Clarke - The Entertainer (2:34)
2.36 - Little Milton - We're Gonna Make It (Single Version) (2:37)
2.37 - Billy Stewart - Sitting In The Park (Single Version) (3:16)
2.38 - Ramsey Lewis - Wade In The Water (Album Version) (3:45)
2.39 - Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces - Searching For My Love (2:30)
2.40 - Billy Stewart - Summertime (Long Version) (4:55)
2.41 - Koko Taylor - Wang Dang Doodle (Single Version) (3:00)
2.42 - Laura Lee - Dirty Man (2:52)
2.43 - Maurice & Mac - You Left The Water Running (2:41)
2.44 - Pigmeat Markham - Here Comes The Judge (2:41)
2.45 - Marlena Shaw - Woman Of The Ghetto (Album Version) (5:57)
2.46 - Rotary Connection - I Am The Black Gold Of The Sun (Album Version) (5:40)
2.47 - The Dells - Give Your Baby A Standing Ovation (Single Version) (4:36)
2.48 - Solomon Burke - Let Me Wrap My Arms Around You (Album Version) (4:03)

Although Chess Records is generally regarded as a blues label, the imprint, owned and run by brothers Leonard and Phil Chess, actually released a fair amount of R&B, early soul, gospel, nascent rock & roll, and the occasional jazz title, and as this powerful two-disc set shows, the range of classic music that came out of the label's Chicago studios in the 1950s and 1960s is pretty eye-opening. Included here are Elmore James' seminal "Dust My Broom," Clarence "Frogman" Henry's "Ain't Got No Home," the Jaynetts' eerie and delightful "Sally Go 'Round the Roses," Fontella Bass' "Rescue Me," Chuck Berry's "Maybellene" and "No Particular Place to Go," Bo Diddley's "Bo Diddley," and Dale Hawkins' "Susie-Q," and these tracks are just the tip of the iceberg. The brothers sold the label in 1969 to GRT, which promptly moved operations to New York City, effectively ending Chess Records' run as an important label. But a ton of great music was set down before that happened, and not all of it was blues. This is simply a great set, and revelatory as well.