The Howlin’ Wolf Album was made at a time when Chicago blues was thought to be a dying art form. Wolf resisted this. In a spoken introduction to the final track, Wolf says, “Now listen, peoples. Everybody said the peoples don’t like the blues… but you’re wrong. See, the blues come from way back and I’m gonna tell you something again, the things that is going on today is not the blues, it’s just a good beat that people are carrying. But when you come down to the blues, I’m gonna show you how to play the blues. Now you just sit here and watch me.”

The Howlin’ Wolf Album gained a cult following, however, and reached No. 49 on the Billboard charts. Half a century later, it definitely has more to it than just novelty value.