Chess Records Launches 75th Anniversary Series
Muddy Waters, Chuck Berry, Etta James and more will be celebrated this fall.
Legendary imprint Chess Records is celebrating a major anniversary with a series of special reissues. Beginning in October, Chess Records will launch a comprehensive audiophile series focusing on some of the most iconic rhythm and blues from the label’s history. The series will kick off on October 17 with Muddy Waters’ The Best of Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf’s Moanin’ in the Moonlight. Both albums will be available on vinyl, and both have been newly remastered from the original analog tapes. On November 21, the series will celebrate Chuck Berry’s Berry Is on Top and Etta James’ At Last, and on December 12, Chess Records will re-release Little Walter’s The Best of Little Walter and Sonny Boy Williamson II’s The Real Folk Blues. The October releases are available for pre-order now.
“Chess Records didn’t just help birth rock & roll—it gave voice to the legends who defined it,” says Steve Berman, Vice Chairman at Interscope Capitol, in a press statement. “This 75th anniversary series honors that legacy by bringing these foundational recordings back to life, cut with extraordinary care directly from the original masters. These releases are a gift to lifelong fans and a revelation for new listeners discovering the roots of modern music.” Adds Bruce Resnikoff, President & CEO of UMe, “Chess Records electrified the sound of American music. The legendary rhythm and blues label released albums from Muddy Waters to Howlin’ Wolf to Etta James, becoming one of the most influential labels in history. These new albums showcase incredible artists and their legacy on peerless audiophile quality vinyl releases.”
Founded in 1950 in Chicago, Chess Records was the brainchild of Polish immigrant brothers Leonard and Phil Chess and helped rhythm and blues music cross racial barriers. The music of the label often existed at the intersection of R&B and folk music and gave platforms to artists like John Lee Hooker, Buddy Guy, Willie Dixon, and Big Bill Broonzy—artists who later influenced everyone from The Beatles to Beyoncé. For 75 years, artists have been inspired by Chess Records, and will be for many more to come.
