The Howlin’ Wolf Story
The Wolf on British TV
“Smokestack Lightnin’” in England
Howlin’ Wolf and the setting he finds himself in—British acceptance of American race music—the blues. The blues as an industrial, urban, class-based music that appeals to young musicians and becomes rock and roll. “Smokestack Lightnin’” is a perfect example of Chicago blues—up from the delta to the industrial north—to the world.
“Moving,” “Coon on the Moon”
I bought this album sometime around 1975. The song “Coon on the Moon”—about a black president—seemed most unlikely at the time. Check out the first two songs on this album for cultural overtones and meanings. All these songs feature the great Hubert Sumlin on guitar.
Mike Opitz Song Writing and Theory Project 