Message To The Young
Label: Elemental Music
Genre: Country/Folk/Blues, Blues
$36.99
Availability: In stock
This was the eighth album by blues master Howlin’ Wolf released by Chess Records. 1971 marked a tumultuous yet historic year for Chicago blues legend Howlin’ Wolf. His health failing after suffering a second heart attack, doctors discovered his kidneys were also shutting down and he was ordered on dialysis to save his life. Wolf’s doctors demanded that the legend quit performing at all costs, but the legendary blues musician did not have any quit in him. Three months after being ordered never to perform again he was headlining opening night at the Ann Arbor Blues Festival. That same year he presented his experimental album Message to the Young. Often considered another attempt at offering the masses a psychedelic record, its sound ranges from acid-rock to blues, to funk, and back again. The title song is Wolf’s attempt at reaching the youth of the era in a beautiful spoken word ballad which can easily be summed up in two words: Be Yourself. Arranged and conducted by Cash McCall (electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter best known for his 1966 R&B hit “When You Wake Up”), this album presents Wolf in the company of legendary pianist Sonny Thompson.