1965 did not mark the origin of electric blues in American music, but the appearance at the Newport Folk Festival by Bob Dylan backed by a band including electric guitarist Mike Bloomfield pushed it into the nation’s mainstream of popular music.

Cherry Red Records, UK, has commemorated the seminal period from 1965 through 1971, compiling sixty three tracks by more than fifty artists in a new three disc box set on its Strawberry Records imprint, fittingly taking its title from a tune written by McKinley Morganfield, best known as a Chess Records recording artist under the moniker Muddy Waters.

Disc one comprises a total of twenty five tracks, opening with the often covered ‘Killing Floor’ written and issued on the Chess label by Chester Burnett under his better known sobriquet Howlin’Wolf, with lead guitar by Hubert Sumlin and rhythm guitar courtesy of Buddy Guy. The disc also contains works by such familiar black blues artists as Bo Diddley, Junior Wells’ Chicago Blues Band, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Albert Collins, Slim Harpo and B.B. King as well as noted white blues performers The Paul Butterfield Blues Band, John Hammond, Canned Heat and The Blues Project. Also included are takes by artists better known for their work in the soul genre Otis Redding, Johnnie Taylor and Etta James, well known pop artists The Lovin’ Spoonful, The Everly Brothers, The Charlatans and The Shadows Of Knight, and eclectic performers such as Captain Beefheart & His Magic Band and Kaleidoscope who defy pigeon holing in any single genre. The tracks range from the well known Paul Butterfield Blues Band’s ‘Born In Chicago,’ ‘Scratch My Back’ by Slim Harpo which reached #16 on the pop charts, John Lee Hooker’s ‘One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer’ and Etta James’ ‘I’d Rather To Blind’ to Dion’s obscure cover of ‘Spoonful’ a Willie Dixon composition.

Disc two contains twenty tracks, blending familiar and lesser known artists, hits and album cuts alike, beginning with a deep track by Magic Sam’s Blues Band ‘I Feel So Good (I Wanna Boogie’) followed by ‘Going Up The Country’ by Canned Heat which reached #11 on the Billboard charts. Taj Mahal’s cover of Blind Willie McTell’s ‘Statesboro Blues’ features slide guitar by Ry Cooder and lead work from Jesse Ed Davis. ‘Twisted’ by pre-Steppenwolf group John Kay & The Sparrow leads into the #12 hit ‘Piece Of My Heart’ by Big Brother & The Holding Company with vocals by Janis Joplin. Electric Flag’s take on Howlin’ Wolf’s ‘Killin’ Floor’ featuring lead guitar by Mike Bloomfield is followed by ‘Tom Cat’ by Muddy Waters taken from his 1968 psychedelic rock album issued on Chess’ Cadet Concept Records imprint, which Waters was not fond of. Workouts by two well known guitarists, Johnny Winter’s ‘Mean Town Blues’ and Otis Rush’s ‘Gambler’s Blues’ lead into Wilson Pickett’s cover of ‘Born To Be Wild’ featuring Duane Allman guesting on guitar. The James Gang’s original ‘Funk #48’ gives way to Steppenwolf’s cover of Willie Dixon’s ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’ followed by guitar virtuoso Lonnie Mack’s ‘Roberta’ and ‘Pack Fair And Square’ taken from The J. Geils Band’s 1970 debut album. ‘Speak My Mind’ by J.B. Hutto & His Hawks With Sunnyland Slim showcases the expertise of Hutto on slide guitar and Slim on piano. Quicksilver Messenger Service is next up with ‘Who Do You Love Part 1’ taken from the group’s 25 minute medley built around the Ellas McDaniel (Bo Diddley) composition. ‘I’ll Love You More Than You’ll Ever Know’ appeared on Blood, Sweat & Tears’ debut album, with Al Kooper featured on lead vocals and keyboards, while Blue Cheer’s cover of Mose Allison’s ‘Parchman Farm’ retitled ‘Parchment Farm’ appeared on their 1968 debut and showcased the guitar expertise of Leigh Stephens. The disc closes with Detroit’s MC5’s cover of John Lee Hooker’s ‘Motor City Is Burning’ a showcase for the guitar work of Wayne Kramer and Fred (Sonic) Smith.

Disc three opens with Ike & Tina Turner’s take on ‘The Hunter’ originally recorded by Albert King, but which the duo make their own. ‘Whipping Post’ is an Allman Brothers original, taken from their debut album, and featuring the twin lead guitars of Duane Allman and Dickie Betts. Aretha Franklin’s soulful ‘Why I Sing The Blues’ leads into Freddie King’s cover of slide guitar legend Elmore James’ ‘Yonder Wall’ and Howlin’ Wolf’s re-recording of ‘Evil’ taken from his 1969 Cadet Concept album which he not so flatteringly referred to as “dogshit.” B.B. King’s signature tune ‘The Thrill Is Gone’ reached #15 on the Billboard charts and was a staple of his live repertoire from its 1969 recording until his death. ‘Call Me The Breeze’ originated on J.J. Cale’s first album in 1971 but is perhaps best remembered for its recording by Lynyrd Skynyrd. ‘Blues And Trouble’ was included on Muddy Waters’ 1969 Cadet Concept album, which although not among the blues masters’ favorites was preferred over its predecessor. ‘Elephant Man’ is a latter day blues rocker from Chess legend Bo Diddley. Tony Joe White is best remembered for his hit ‘Polk Salad Annie’ but delivers a quite competent cover of John Lee Hooker’s blues standard ‘Boom Boom’ from 1970. Johnny Jenkins’ take on Dr. John’s ‘I Walk On Guilded Splinters’ features contributions from three members of the Allman Brothers Band, with Duane Allman on dobro, Jaimoe on timbales and Butch Trucks on drums. Slide guitar extraordinaire Ry Cooder’s ‘Alimony’ first appeared on his self-titled 1970 debut album. ‘Train’ by The Buddy Miles Express features pounding drums and soulful vocals from Miles along with searing blues rock guitar from Jim McCarty of Cactus fame. King Curtis’ funky saxophone is spotlighted on the cover of Led Zeppelin’s ‘Whole Lotta Love’ credited to King Curtis & The Kingpins. General Johnson and Chairmen Of The Board deliver a bluesy take on the Holland/Dozier/Holland penned ‘Chairman Of The Board.’ Dr. John, The Night Tripper’s ‘Where You At Mule’ finds the artist’s guitar and piano joined by Derek and The Dominos members Carl Radle on bass, Jim Gordon on drums, with Bobby Whitlock contributing backing vocals. ZZ Top are at their blues rock best on ‘(Somebody Else Been) Shaking Your Tree’ from their 1970 debut with Billy Gibbons shining on lead guitar. The disc and box set close on a roaring note, with Freddie King’s cover of Don Nix’s ‘Going Down’ with King’s roaring guitar and vocals joined by Leon Rusell, who co-produced the song with Nix, on piano, bass from Donald “Duck” Dunn of Booker T. And The MGs and drummer Charles Blackwell. The song was part of King’s live repertoire from its recording in 1971 until his untimely death in 1976.

‘Rollin’ And Tumblin’: American Electric Blues 1965-1971’ comes in a clamshell box with each of its three discs housed in cardboard mini-LP sleeves. The box set includes a lavishly illustrated 40 page booklet with photos of single and album artwork, posters and other memorabilia, as well as an introduction and track by track annotations by Jon Harrington. The music sounds crisp and clear thanks to the mastering of Alec Palao. This set will appeal to fans of blues and electric blues, as well as 1960s and early 1970s rock, and is most highly recommended.

Kevin Rathert

‘Rollin’ And Tumblin’: American Electric Blues 1965-1971’ (Cherry Red Records, 2025)