Customer Rating: 
Summary: Willie the Legend
Comment: How can you give Willie Dixon less than five stars? The man has played on some of the greatest blues recordings in history and he has written some of the genre's most memorable songs. Recorded in Chicago during the summer of 1969, the album only features one third of the material recorded in that session. The band featured Johnny Shines on guitar, Walter "Shakey" Horton on harmonica, Clifton James on drums, either Sunnyland Slim or Lafayette Leake on piano, and of course Willie Dixon on bass and vocals. If you're looking for instrumental flash, this is not for you. However, Willie's deep growl is pleasant, it has a great beat, and every single song is a classic!
Customer Rating:
Summary: This guy is an true originator - and the album is a "Must Have"
Comment: Willie Dixon really is the Blues, and the genius who wrote many of your classic rock favorites. Unless you already know more about this guy than I did when I bought this album, you'll find yourself saying...."I didn't know he wrote that song" over and over again. On this album we hear the man who lived the life that became classic rock and roll songs by The Doors, The Rolling Stones, and Eric Clapton. This album is a must have.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Worth Having
Comment: Probably more interesting for who he is, rather than the music itself. There isn't a song on this recording that isn't done better elsewhere - but Willie wrote 'em and adds his own style and emphasis to each one. The backing is by un-named session players who deliver stock riffs, for the most part. I agree with another reviewer that the harp playing is really good, though I disagree on the piano playing, which comes off as tinkly and pedestrian. Willie is best on "Back Door Man", on which he really rips and which fits his voice to a "T". It's worth the price for that tune alone. The best-balanced song might be "Seventh Son", with a really nice shuffle/swing to it. I was particularly disappointed in "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Little Red Rooster", but given recordings of the original artists (the tunes given to them BY Willie), the bar was pretty high.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The Ultimate Blues Masterpiece
Comment: You don't have to look very far to have proof this is a good album. In fact, just look at the tracklist of just about any rock album from the '60's and '70's. Chances are, you'll see a Willie Dixon song off this album. Out of the nine tracks, a good seven have been covered by famous rock bands, be they Jeff Beck (You Shook Me, I Ain't Superstitious), Led Zeppelin (You Shook Me, I Can't Quit You Baby), Cream (Spoonfull), the Doors (Backdoor Man), the Allmans (Hoochie Coochie Man) or the Stones (Little Red Rooster).
Okay, so a lot of people played his music. But is it any good? A stupid question, of course. The answer is a loud, resounding, "Yes". Nine cuts of pure blues, with Willie providing the bass, the vocals, and innuendo-laced lyrics. But hey, it's the blues. As for the best songs, I'd say the top three are Spoonful, Back Door Man and Little Red Rooster, though I love every song here (You Shook Me and I Ain't Superstitious, by the way, get honorable mention). Although it's a blues album and recommended to any blues fan, it'll do well in a rock fan's collection as well.
Customer Rating:
Summary: He Is The Blues...
Comment: Willie Dixon is one of the few that could name an album "I Am The Blues" and not have it be a brash overstatement. Where would the blues be without the songs on this collection, every one of which he wrote himself. The proof is the number of artists that have covered his songs over the years: The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Cream, Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Magic Sam, Sonny Boy Williamson, and Sam Cooke, just to name a few. Willie Dixon was an integral part of the Chess records label and the Chicago blues scene, but also could deliver as a performer. Unlike the Amazon reviewer, I found this collection to be worth getting. While Dixon may not be the greatest blues singer ever in terms of technique, he delivers with heart and feeling, which is what the blues is all about. The backing musicians are talented too; my only complaint is that the personnel and the recording dates are not listed in the liner notes. Aside from that though, this disc is a chance to hear a blues legend play some of his best known material, and if you are a fan of the blues (as I am), you will enjoy this one.
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