Koko Taylor - What It Takes - The Chess Years (1964-72) (Expanded Edition, 2009)

Artist: Koko Taylor
Title Of Album: What It Takes
Year Of Release: 1964-72/2009
Label (Catalog#) Geffen [B0013186-02]
Country: USA
Genre: Blues
Bitrate: Lossless
Quality: Flac (image+cue,log)
Time: 01:13:04
Full Size: 509mb(+3%)(booklet)

AllMusic Review by Hal Horowitz
This single disc neatly collects everything of importance that Chicago blues belter Koko Taylor released through Chess and its subsidiary Checker label, presenting a thoroughly enjoyable, collection as historically important for Taylor's sizzling performances as it is for Willie Dixon's sublime compositions and sympathetic production. Those who know these formative years from Taylor's immortal "Wang Dang Doodle" will thrill to realize that the classic isn't even the best entry here. It's a toss-up as to which others challenge it, but "What Came First the Egg or the Hen," with Dixon joining in on vocals, is in the running, as is the absolutely chilling "Insane Asylum," where Dixon interestingly kicks off the song before Taylor appears over a minute later. The producer/bassist/songwriter/singer pens all but one of the 18 songs. Of those, Taylor takes sole songwriting credit on 1964's "What Kind of Man is That?" and covers J.B. Lenoir's "Good Advice." The latter is an unusually pop-oriented moment that she still roughs up with her usual dynamic vocal attack. Taylor tackles politically charged territory in "Bill, Bills and More Bills," one of the few times that the material leans in that direction. While her later Alligator years might have exposed her talents to the world and helped crown her Queen of the Blues, this is where it all started. It shows how Taylor developed, with assistance from Willie Dixon over this fertile, seven-year stretch, to her well-earned legendary status.

Tracks:
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1. I Got What It Takes - 3:08
2. Don't Mess with the Messer - 2:45
3. Whatever I Am, You Made Me - 2:28
4. I'm a Little Mixed Up (Betty James, Edward Johnson) - 2:42
5. Wang Dang Doodle - 3:01
6. (I Got) All You Need - 2:18
7. Love Me - 2:48
8. What Came First the Egg or the Hen - 2:28
9. Insane Asylum - 4:22
10.Fire - 2:35
11.I Don't Care Who Knows - 2:13
12.Twenty-Nine Ways to My Baby's Door - 3:13
13.Blue Prelude (Joe Bishop, Gordon Jenkins) - 3:32
14.I Need More and More - 2:44
15.Um Huh My Baby (Harold Barrage, Willie Dixon) - 3:52
16.Bills, Bills and More Bills - 2:52
17.Let Me Love You Baby (Willie Dixon, James Ingram) - 2:48
18.I Got What It Takes (feat: Muddy Waters) - 6:24
19.What Kind Of Man Is That? (Koko Taylor) - 3:02
20.Blues Heaven (Willie Dixon, Dick LaPalm) - 2:21
21.Tell Me The Truth (Johnnie Mae Dunson) - 2:03
22.Good Advice (J. B. Lenoir) - 2:27
23.Separate Of Integrate - 3:06
24.Tease Your Man - 4:20

Personnel
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Koko Taylor - Vocals
Willie Dixon - Bass, Vocals
Muddy Waters - Vocals
Gene Barge - Tenor Sax
Fred Below, Bob Crowder - Drums
Dillard Crume - Bass
Al Duncan - Drums
Rufus Grume, Buddy Guy - Guitar
Donald Hankins - Saxophone
Big Walter Horton - Harmonica
Clifton James - Drums
Lafayette Leake - Keyboards, Piano
Jack Meyers - Bass
Dennis Miller - Guitar
Matt "Guitar" Murphy - Guitar
Dave Myers - Bass
Louis Myers, Robert Nighthawk - Guitar
Louis Satterfield - Bass
Sunnyland Slim - Piano
John Williams - Guitar