Willie Dixon - Peace? (1971)

Willie Dixon's life and work was virtually an embodiment of the progress of the blues, from an accidental creation of the descendants of freed slaves to a recognized and vital part of America's musical heritage. That Dixon was one of the first professional blues songwriters to benefit in a serious, material way - and that he had to fight to do it - from his work also made him an important symbol of the injustice that still informs the music industry, even at the end of the 20th century. A producer, songwriter, bassist, and singer, he helped Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, and others find their most commercially successful voices.

Here´s his album "Peace?" from 1971. Even though Chicago was a strong blues city in the 70s, there still weren't that many underground recordings of the music – as most of the sessions were in the hands of the bigger (or soon to be bigger) labels, which wasn't really the case with the soul sessions at the same time. This one's one of the few real indie albums we ever see from the time, and it features Chicago's classic bluesman playing with a group that includes Lafayette Leake on piano, Buster Benton on guitar, and the more famous soul stars Louis Satterfield and Phil Upchurch on bass. Tracks are pretty straight blues, but they sound a lot better than most of Willie's other records from the decade – and titles include "I'm Wanted", "Suffering Son Of A Gun", "If I Could See", and "You Got To Move".

This album expresses some of Willie Dixon's serious thoughts about the current troubled world. Willie contends that all blues songs must be based on actual facts, it's the only way to feel what you are singing. The entire production including the cover design has all been Willie's idea. This was the first album released by Yambo Records, a label founded by Willie Dixon in the late 1960s after he left Chess Records

Tracklist:

01. I'm Wanted 

02. Peace 

03. It's In The News 

04. I'd Give My Life For You 

05. You Got To Move 

06. Suffering Son Of A Gun 

07. Jelly Jam 

08. You Don't Make Sense Or Peace 

09. Blues You Can't Lose 

10. If I Could See

Willie Dixon - Peace?
(320 kbps, cover art included)