The Essential Little Walter
Recorded
1952-1963
Released
Little Walter was the Jimi Hendrix of the harmonica; his simple but revolutionary technique of cupping a microphone in his hand along with the instrument and plugging into his own amp onstage allowed him to compete in terms of volume and distortion with the guitars, and his wild solos and accompaniment in Muddy Waters’ band made him a sensation. When he recorded the 1952 instrumental “Juke” on his own, it was Chess Records’ first #1 hit. This two-disc set contains all of his big singles and well-known songs (“Key to the Highway,” “Boom, Boom Out Goes the Light,” “My Babe”), which display a looser, sometimes almost jazzy rhythm and an insouciant vocal style in direct contrast to his wild, fierce blowing.