The album opens with Killing Floor, a version recorded as a single in 1964. His voice is dirty and powerful, a traditional black sound that exploded around this time and changed how white music sounded. Before this, popular music included "Who's That Puppy in the Window?", romance ballads and crooning standards. Who needs it?
The "Real Folk Blues" series includes all the greats like John Lee Hooker and Memphis Slim, and this rendition includes what's surely the best of Wolf. I don't know his other stuff except the random Grooveshark search, but the dazzling piano and guitar work behind Wolf's incredible scowl makes it a must-have album for anyone interested in the real folk blues.
One thing I like about this genre is how the lyrics are simple while being, often, entirely sexual. Take this song about a "sugar mama" who gives Wolf sugar for his tea at night. Oh that's right. "You know they're bragging about your good sugar, mama!" he barks. "You know they're bragging all over town. Yeah that's granulated sugar!"
No kidding! Amazing. Listen.
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Man now I wish I made this post about Otis Redding's song "Tramp." Ooo-oo-oo it's such a good song with Carla Thomas calling Otis a "tramp" for not wearing stetson hats or continental clothes. And he calls her a "tramp" back saying that he still knows he's a "lover." Find it here: http://listen.grooveshark.com/#/song/Tramp/3249429
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