The London Howlin’ Wolf Session (Back Cover)
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 guitarplayers of the latter two bands, Michael Bloomfieldand Eric Clapton, talking and joking around. Dayron approached Clapton and, on impulse, asked “how would you like to do an album with Howlin’ Wolf?”[2] 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 Stonesrhythm section, pianistIan Stewart, bassistBill Wyman, and drummerCharlie Watts, while Dayron assembled further musicians, including 19-year-old harmonicaprodigy Jeffrey Carp, who died shortly after these recordings.[3] 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.[4]
For the first day of May 2, Watts and Wyman were unavailable, and a call went out for immediate replacements. Many showed up, but only recordings featuring Klaus Voormannand Ringo Starrwere released from that day.[5] In the initial album credits, Starr is listed as “Ritchie,”[6] as Dayron was under the impression that, being a Beatle, his name could not be used directly.[7]
Further overdubbing took place at the Chess studios in Chicago, with Chess regulars Lafayette Leakeon piano and Phil Upchurchon bass, and horn players Jordan Sandke, Dennis Lansing, and Joe Miller of the 43rd Street Snipers, Carp’s band.[8] Ex-Blind Faith keyboardistSteve Winwood, on tour in theUnited 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.