One of the more unsung blues giants on Chess, pianist
Memphis Slim plied an urbane form of barrelhouse blues a notch or two removed from the more raw stylings of, say,
Muddy Waters and
Howlin' Wolf. This edition of the label's bargain survey series,
Real Folk Blues, features
Slim in his prime from the early '50s. And while he would later cut many fine sessions alone at the piano, the 12 tracks here feature
Slim backed by a variety of top combos. Smooth yet dusky, the mix includes such stellar party odes as "Having Fun" and lowdown gems like "Trouble Trouble." The perfect place to start your
Memphis Slim collection.