The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions w/ Clapton, Winwood, Wyman, Watts, Chess PROMO

$

50

Selected titles from the private collection of a music business veteran are now being made available for the first time. Titles offered by this Seller are one-owner and came directly from the pressing plant, record company warehouse, other label reps or record store unless otherwise noted. 

Grading is based on visual inspection.

Album ships in a 2 MIL poly cover sleeve and poly inner sleeve.

I package records outside the cover to avoid seam splits.

• This 1972 release was the forerunner to the Super Session concept. And what a Super Session this was!
• This Promotional Copy is probably a First Pressing. "Promotion Copy" is printed on the label and the Sterling stamp is on the dead wax.
• I could easily have called this Mint but I found a spindle mark on one side. The playing surfaces are clean.
• The matte paper on board gatefold cover has tight seams, stiff spine and shows no wear. There are 2 slight corner bumps.
• The Promotional Copy sticker is on the upper right front cover.
• The inner sleeve has no splits and lyrics on both sides. I have included a soft poly inner sleeve.
• The Seller got this Promo in 1972 in his record store from the Chess rep. It has been in storage for more than 41 years.

Side one

1. "Rockin' Daddy" – 3:43 (recorded May 4, 1970)
   • Howlin' Wolf – vocal; Hubert Sumlin – rhythm guitar; Eric Clapton – lead guitar; Ian Stewart – piano; Phil Upchurch – bass; Charlie Watts – drums.
2. "I Ain't Superstitious" (Willie Dixon) – 3:34 (recorded May 2, 1970)
   • Wolf – vocal; Sumlin – rhythm guitar; Clapton – lead guitar; Steve Winwood – piano; Klaus Voormann – bass; Ringo Starr – drums; Jordan Sandke – trumpet; Dennis Lansing – tenor saxophone; Joe Miller – baritone saxophone; Bill Wyman – cowbell.[9]
3. "Sittin' On Top Of The World" – 3:51[10] (recorded May 6, 1970)
   • Wolf – vocal; Jeffrey Carp – harmonica; Sumlin – rhythm guitar; Clapton – lead guitar; Lafayette Leake – piano; Wyman – bass; Watts – drums.
4. "Worried About My Baby" – 2:55 (recorded May 7, 1970)
   • Wolf – vocal, harmonica; Sumlin – rhythm guitar; Clapton – lead guitar; Leake – piano; Wyman – bass; Watts – drums.
5. "What A Woman!" (James Oden) – 3:02 (recorded May 7, 1970)
   • Wolf – vocal; Carp – harmonica; Sumlin – rhythm guitar; Clapton – lead guitar; Winwood – organ; Wyman – bass; Watts – drums.
6. "Poor Boy" – 3:04 (recorded May 4, 1970)
   • Wolf – vocal; Carp – harmonica; Sumlin – rhythm guitar; Clapton – lead guitar; Winwood – piano; Wyman – bass; Watts – drums.

Side two

1. "Built For Comfort" (Dixon) – 2:08 (recorded May 7, 1970)
   • Wolf – vocal; Sumlin – rhythm guitar; Clapton – lead guitar; Stewart – piano; Wyman – bass; Watts – drums; Sandke – trumpet; Lansing, Miller – saxophones
2. "Who's Been Talking?" – 3:02 (recorded May 7, 1970)
   • Wolf – vocal, harmonica; Sumlin – rhythm guitar; Clapton – lead guitar; John Simon – piano; Winwood – organ; Wyman – bass, shaker; Watts – drums, conga, percussion.
3. "The Red Rooster (Rehearsal)" – 1:58 (recorded May 7, 1970)
   • Wolf – vocal; guitar; other personnel as below
4. "The Red Rooster" (Willie Dixon) – 3:47 (recorded May 7, 1970)
   • Wolf – vocal; Sumlin – rhythm guitar; Clapton – lead guitar; Leake – piano; Wyman – bass; Watts – drums.
5. "Do The Do" (Willie Dixon) – 2:18 (recorded May 6, 1970)
   • Wolf – vocal; Sumlin – rhythm guitar; Clapton – lead guitar; Stewart – piano; Wyman – bass, cowbell; Watts – drums.
6. "Highway 49" (Joe Lee Williams) – 2:45 (recorded May 6, 1970)
   • Wolf – vocal; Carp – harmonica; Sumlin – rhythm guitar; Clapton – lead guitar; Winwood – piano; Wyman – bass; Watts – drums.
7. "Wang-Dang-Doodle" (Willie Dixon) – 3:27 (recorded May 4, 1970)
   • Wolf – vocal; Carp – harmonica; Sumlin – rhythm guitar; Clapton – lead guitar; Stewart – piano; Wyman – bass; Watts – drums

Backstage at the Fillmore Auditorium, after a concert by the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Electric Flag, and Cream, Chess Records staff producer Norman Dayron spotted the guitar players of the latter two bands, Mike Bloomfield and Eric Clapton, talking and joking around. Dayron approached Clapton and, on impulse, asked "how would you like to do an album with Howlin' Wolf?" After confirming that the offer was legitimate, Clapton agreed, and Dayron set up sessions in London through the Chess organization to coordinate with Clapton's schedule.

Clapton secured the participation of the Rolling Stones rhythm section (pianist Ian Stewart, bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts), while Dayron assembled further musicians, including 19-year-old harmonica prodigy Jeffrey Carp, who died shortly after these recordings] Initially, Marshall Chess did not want to pay the expense for flights and accommodations to send Wolf's long-serving guitarist Hubert Sumlin to England, but an ultimatum by Clapton mandated his presence. Sessions took place between May 2 and May 7, 1970, at Olympic Studios.

On the first day, May 2, Watts and Wyman were unavailable, and a call went out for immediate replacements. Many showed up, but only recordings featuring Klaus Voormann and Ringo Starr were released from that day. In the initial album credits, Starr is listed as "Richie," as Dayron was under the impression that, being a Beatle, his name could not be used directly.

Further overdubbing took place at the Chess studios in Chicago with Chess regulars Lafayette Leake on piano and Phil Upchurch on bass, and horn players Jordan Sandke, Dennis Lansing, and Joe Miller of the 43rd Street Snipers, Carp's band. Ex-Blind Faith keyboardist Steve Winwood, on tour in the United States, contributed to the overdubbing sessions as well. Although he actually plays on only five tracks for the original album, his name is featured on the cover below the Wolf's, along with Clapton, Wyman, and Watts.