Apollo 450 (US 1953)
Delmark DE 655Classics CD 5154
Aristocrat 407 (US 1/1950)
Official CD 401
"I Don't Know" (Chess 1531) hit #1 on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues chart and remained on the charts for 15 weeks
Parrot 1050 (11/1952) [Al Benson's label]
= Checker 1050 (end 11/1952)
= Chess 1531
Answer song to "I Don't Know"
10 inch 78 rpm Recorded in Hollywood 244 (US 2/1953) [John Dolphin's label]
7 inch 45 rpm Recorded in Hollywood 244 (US 3/1953)
Chess 1538 (US 4/1953)
# Chess LP 1439
Answer song to "I'm Mad"
10 inch 78 rpm / 7 inch 45 rpm Checker 773 (US 1953)
Chess 1548 (8/1953)
Chess 1554 (US 12/1953)
Chess 1564 (US 4/1954)
Chess unissued
Chess 1580 (US 10/1954)
Chess 1592 (US 3/1955)
Chess 1608 (US 10/1955)
Chess 1627 (US 5/1956)
Federal 12306
Negro Rhythm Records discography
Mad 1298 (US 2/1960) [Tommy 'Madman' Jones' label]
Harvey Hill discography I'm not sure if the "Harvey Hill" accompanying Willie Mabon is the same musician as the one recorded on S.R.C. 104 and Spivey
Mad 1300 (US 2/1960)
# Chess/Teldec 6.24806
Formal 1016
= USA 823
= Sue WI-320 (UK 10/1964)
Formal 1018
# = Solar 54001
# Formal 1018
Solar 54001
USA 735
= Sue WI-331 (UK 2/1965)
USA 741
= USA 785
# = Sue WI-382 (UK 9/1965)
USA unissued
Jewel / P-Vine PLP-9017Flyright LP 580
USA 750
USA 759
USA 767
USA 787
USA 805
notes by Joe SegalArgo 4042 (US 1964)
notes by Joe Segal = Chess CRL 4003 (UK 1964)
= Chess/MCA CH/CHD-9220 (1990)
Sue WI-382 (UK 9/1965)
notes by Paul Oliver Storyville SLP 176 (Denmark 1965)
= Teichiku ULS-1817-R (Jp)
= Storyville SLP 840
Storyville Records discography
notes by Marshall Chess and Willie Dixon Cadet LP-4051 (US 1965 ff.) "All Platinum Record Group" "GRT Record Group" "Chess Producing Corp."
= Chess CRL 45123 (UK 1965)
notes by Marshall Chess and Willie Dixon Cadet LPS-4051 (US 1966) "Electronically altered for STEREO"
LPnotes by Marshall Chess, Mary Katherine Aldin, Willie Dixon = Chess/MCA CH-9320 (US 1990)
CDnotes by Marshall Chess, Mary Katherine Aldin, Willie Dixon = Chess/MCA CHD-9320 (US 1990)= Chess/MCA CHC-9320 (cassette)
Argo/Cadet/Chess 'The Blues' series discography
notes by Mike Leadbitter Decca LK 4748 (UK 1966)
original notes by Mike Leadbitter = Flyright LP 521 (UK 1976)
notes by Mike Leadbitter = Decca TAB 63 (UK 1983) (Rock Echoes series)
Flyright Records discography
Checker 1235
Checker unissued
Chess LPS 1528
# rec. August 1964 in Chicago, IL by Willie Dixon; Homesick James, voc, g; ## Walter Horton, hca; Henry Gray or Willie Mabon, p; Mighty Joe Young, g; Willie Dixon, b; Clifton James, dr * rec. 1964 in Chicago, IL; Walter Horton, voc, hca; Henry Gray, p; Mighty Joe Young, g; Willie Dixon, b; Clifton James, dr § rec. 1964/65 in Chicago, IL; Prez Kenneth (Kenneth Kidd), voc, b; Willie Welchess, ts; Birmingham Jones, hca; Kermit Chandler, g; Leroy Spottsville, dr + rec. 1968 in Chicago, IL; Otis "Big Smokey" Smothers, voc, hca, g; b; dr || rec. 1965 in Chicago, IL; "Poor" Bob Woodfork, voc, g; Henry Gray, p; Buddy Guy, Mighty Joe Young, g; Willie Dixon, b; Clifton James // rec. 1964 in Chicago, IL; L.C. McKinley, voc, g; p; g; b; dr \\ rec. 1954 in Chicago, IL by the Rev. Houston H. Harrington for his Atomic-H label; Snooky Pryor, voc, hca; Lazy Bill Lucas, p; Homesick James, g
notes on four leaflets (December 1970) by Mike A. Leadbitter Sunnyland KS 101 (UK 1970)
Sunnyland discography
notes by Al Smith Blues On Blues BOB 10004 (US 1972) [Al Smith's label]
notes by Pete WeldingAntilles AN 7013 (Fr 1976) "Willie Mabon Sings 'I Don't Know' and other Chicago Blues Hits"
Blues on Blues discography
Blues on Blues BOB 2002 (US 1972)
2 LP set
notes by Pete Welding Chess 2CH 60012
= Chess CH 50 011 (Fr)
= Chess CXMD4053 (UK Chess Masters)
= Chess/MCA 2CH 92520 (1984)
Black & Blue 33.501 (Fr 1973)
= Black & Blue CD 463 (Fr 2004)
notes by Laurent Goddet America 30 AM 6126 (Fr)
notes by Tony Cummings Big Bear BEAR 9
Big Bear Records discography
Barclay 920439 (Fr 1973)
= Polygram Jazz / Verve 261006 (1993)
notes by Philippe Rault= Maison De Blues 983 212-6 (Fr 2006)
notes by S.A. Christmann Ornament CH-7.102 (Germany 1974)
= ESCEHA CH-7.102
= CMA/Ornament CD CM 8008 (Germany 1991)
(original 1977) notes by S.A. Christmann Chrisly CD CM-30008 (Germany 2000) "Rainy Night In Georgia"
Ornament Records discography
America 30 AM 6136 (Fr 1974)[very poor sound quality]
notes by Jacques Morgantini Black & Blue 33.504 (Fr 1974)
(=) Black & Blue 33.544 (Fr 19??) "Sloppy Drunk"
(=) Black & Blue CD 59.544 (Fr 1989) "Sloppy Drunk"
notes by Bill Dahl = Evidence ECD 26036-2 (US 1993) "Sloppy Drunk"
= Black & Blue CD 452-2 "That's All Right" (Blues Reference series)
Jimmy Rogers discography
Black & Blue LP 33.542 track sequence:@ youtube (full album) - I'm A Little Mixed Up (73-191) (3:38) # [Black & Blue CD 33.505] - Wonder Why (73-185) (3:18) # [Black & Blue CD 33.505] - What Kind Of Man Is This? (73-183-1) (4:55) # [Black & Blue CD 33.505] - Black Nights (73-189-2) (3:55) # [Black & Blue CD 33.505] - Love Me To Death (73-184-1) (4:04) # [Black & Blue CD 33.505] - I Got What It Takes (73-191) (4:25) * [previously unissued] - Big Boss Man (73-188) (4:57) * [previously unissued] @ youtube - I'm Gonna Get Lucky (73-186-2) (5:22) * [previously unissued] - Twenty-Nine Ways (73-192-2) (3:48) * [previously unissued]
Black & Blue CD 59.542 / Evidence ECD 26007-2 track sequence: - I'm A Little Mixed Up (73-191) (3:38) # [Black & Blue LP 33.505, LP 33.542] - Wonder Why (73-185) (3:18) # [Black & Blue LP 33.505, LP 33.542] - What Kind Of Man Is This? (73-183-1) (4:55) # [Black & Blue LP 33.505, LP 33.542] - Black Nights (73-189-2) (3:55) # [Black & Blue LP 33.505, LP 33.542] - Love Me To Death (73-184-1) (4:04) # [Black & Blue LP 33.505, LP 33.542] - I Got What It Takes (73-191) (4:25) * [Black & Blue LP 33.542] - Big Boss Man (73-188) (4:57) * [Black & Blue LP 33.542] - I'm Gonna Get Lucky (73-186-2) (5:22) * [Black & Blue LP 33.542] - Twenty-Nine Ways (73-192-2) (3:48) * [Black & Blue LP 33.542] - I Love A Lover Like You (73-190-2) (2:47) * [previously unissued] - Wonder Why II (73-162) (4:54) # [previously unissued] - Wang Dang Doodle (73-163) (7:06) * [Black & Blue LP 33.505] - I Got What It Takes (73-164) (5:08) * [Black & Blue LP 33.505] - Twenty Nine Ways (73-190-2) (4:50) # [Black & Blue LP 33.505] - I Got My Mojo Working (73-166) (3:43) * [Black & Blue LP 33.505] originally unissued tracks from same sessions: - What Kind Of Man Is This? (73-183-2) # - What Kind Of Man Is This? (73-183-3) (4:06) # [Black & Blue CD BB 426.2] - Love Me To Death (73-184-2) # - I'm Gonna Get Lucky (73-186-1) # - Black Nights (73-189-1) # - I Love A Lover Like You (73-190-1) # - Twenty Nine Ways (73-192-1) # # rec. December 13, 1973 at Condorcet Studio, Toulouse, France; Koko Taylor, voc; Willie Mabon, p; Jimmy Rogers, Louis Myers, g; Dave Myers, b; Fred Below, dr * rec. December 1, 1973 live at Casimir Hall, Amstelveen, The Netherlands by Martin van Olderen; Koko Taylor, voc; Willie Mabon, p; Jimmy Rogers, Louis Myers, g; Dave Myers, b; Fred Below, dr Black & Blue LP 33.505 cover design: Bernard Niquet, Emmanuel Choisnel Black & Blue LP 33.542 cover design: Jean Buzelin Black & Blue CD 59.542 front cover photo by Jean-Pierre Tahmazian Black & Blue CD BB 426-2 photos by Jean-Pierre Arniac (cover) and Jean-Pierre Tahmazian
notes by Bernard Niquet & Emmanuel Choisnel Black & Blue LP 33.505 (Fr 1974) "Southside Baby"
= Black & Blue LP 33.542 (Fr 1974?) "Southside Lady" (The Blues Singers & Players Collection Vol.3)
= Estúdio Eldorado LP 113.88.0539 (Brazil 1980s?
= Limited Edition LDR 3201 (Russia 2002) "Southside Lady"
(=) Black & Blue CD 59.542 (Fr 1989) "Southside Lady"
= Evidence ECD 26007-2 (US 1992) "Southside Lady"
(=) Black & Blue CD BB 426.2 (Fr 1999) "Southside Lady" (Blues Reference series)
= Limited Edition LDR 3201 (Russia 2002)
= Solid CDSOL-46160 (Jp 2018) "Southside Lady"
Black & Blue 33.506 (Fr 1975)
= Black & Blue 33.545 (Fr 19??)
= Black & Blue CD 435-2 (Blues Reference)
= P-Vine PCD 5532
notes by Didier Tricard Black & Blue 33.516 (Fr 1975)
notes by Armando Aflalo = Black & Blue LP 3.035 (Brazil 1988)
notes by Lois Ulrey = Evidence ECD 26014-2 (US 1992)
(=) Black & Blue CD BB 516 (Fr 1993)
Otis Rush discography
notes by Tony Cummings Big Bear BEAR 5
notes by Tony Cummings = Big Bear / Intercord INT 146.408 (Germany 1979)
notes by Paul Oliver Storyville SLP 176
notes by Paul Oliver = Teichiku ULS-1817-R (Jp)
notes by Paul Oliver = Storyville SLP 840
Blues On Blues BOB 10004
notes by Pete WeldingAntilles AN 7013 (Fr 1976)
notes (in French) by Didier Tricard (English translation by Gwen Persiany) Black & Blue 33.521 (Fr 1976)
notes (in French) by Didier Tricard (English translation by Gwen Persiany) = Black & Blue 33.521 (Fr 19??)
(=) Black & Blue CD 59.521 2 (Fr 1989)
notes by Chris Heim (=) Evidence ECD-26023-2 (US 1993)
notes (in French) by Jacques Périn (English translation by Jeff & Patricia Kresser) (=) Black & Blue BB 442.2 (Fr 2000)
Mighty Joe Young discography
Black & Blue 33.558
The Sirens 102
(=) The Sirens CD 5002 (2002)
Media 7
= Media 7 MDCD 201 (1989)
Negro Rhythm 107 [George Paulus label]BU 130/26
notes by Willy Leiser inner sleeve notes by Willy Leiser ("About Willie Mabon") and Horst Lippmann ("About The Session") L+R 42.003 (Germany 1979)
= Evidence CD 26063 (US 1995)
(=) Bellaphon CDLR 82003 (Germany 1996) "Willie Mabon" (Blues Classics series)
L+R Records discography
accompanying flyer
DLP notes by Manfred Miller (English translation by Christa M. Gowing) Storyville 6.28470 (Germany 1979)to read liner notes click on pictures of covers: G = German / E = English text has been black/white reversed to improve readability
= PGP RTB 2LP 3220044 (Yugoslavia 1981)
Adda 590119 (Fr 1979)
= Adda CD 590119 (Fr 1992)
= Swing Land SLCD 1503
Milan unissued
L+R 42.006 (Germany 1980)
= L+R 30 888 2 (Germany 1980) "Blues Meeting" (Club Edition)
Jewel / P-Vine PLP-9017 (Jp 1980)
notes by Alan Balfour = Flyright LP 580 (UK 1981)"Original USA recordings1963-64"
notes by Norbert Hess L+R 42.013 (Germany 1980)
(=) Optimism/L+R LR CD-2013 (US 1991)= Optimism LRC-2013 (cassette)
(=) Bellaphon/L+R CDLS 42013 (Germany 1998)
4 CD boxnotes by Ulfert Goemann (=) Bellaphon / L+R CDLR 726123 (EU 2002) "American Folk Blues Festival 1970/1972/1980/1981"
American Folk Blues Festival discographyHubert Sumlin discography
Crown Prince IG-402 (Sweden 1982)
notes by Manfred Miller Teldec/Chess 6.24806 AG (Germany 1982)
= Sugar Hill/Chess CH 9189 (US 1984)
= Green Line/Chess GCH 8099 (It 198?)
'Blues Roots' discography
Chess/P-Vine PLP-6020 (Jp 1984)
Chess CXMP 2056 (UK 1984)
2 LP setnotes by Jim O'NealAtlantic 7-81694-1part of "Atlantic Blues: Guitar, Piano, Vocalists, Chicago" (8 LP box)Atlantic 7-81713-1
4 CD set(=) Atlantic CD 82309 (US 1990) "Atlantic Blues: Guitar, Piano, Vocalists, Chicago"
Chess CHD-31315 (US 1987)
Chess/MCA CH/CHD9330 (US 1991)
3 CD set Chrisly CM 11002 ("Chrisly Records Blues Box")
3 CD set Chrisly CM 11003 (Germany 1992) ("Chrisly Records Blues Box")
Charly CDBM44 (UK 1993)
notes by John Brisbin Delmark DD-655 (US 1992) (Apollo series)
= Delmark DC-655 cassette (US 1992) (Apollo series)
= P-Vine PCD-1856 (Jp 5/1992)
Delmark Records discographyJimmy Rogers discographySt. Louis Jimmy discography
L+R CDLR 72010 (Germany 1994)
Wolf WBJ 020 (Austria 1995)
°° previously unreleased (in the USA)
2 CD setnotes by Don Snowdon at www.45worlds.com/cdalbum/cd/chd29385 MCA/Chess CHD2-9385 (US 6/1997)
Eddie Boyd discographyOtis Spann discography
2 CD setnotes by Scott Barretta, Björn Helander, Peps Persson, Sven Zetterberg & Louise Hoffsten Jefferson Records SBACD 12653/4 (Sweden 1999)
notes (1998) by Ray Topping Ace CDCHD 717 (UK 1999)
Smokey Smothers discographyEddie Clearwater discography
2 CD setnotes by Jim SimpsonIndigo IGOXDCD 2503 (UK 2002)
= Sanctuary CD 81268 (UK 2003)
= Castle CD 36170 (US 2005)
notes by Bill Dahl Fuel 2000 061209 (US 2002)= Varese Sarabande (US 2002)
Mad MR-1005 [or 1003?]
Harvey Hill discography
2 CD setnotes writer's name not given, most likely Leif Gäverth Jefferson Records SBACD 12658/9 (Sweden 2004)
Classics CD 5154 (Blues & Rhythm Series)
Jasmine JASMCD 3040
CDr Official CD 401 (2014)
thanks to Alan Balfour, Marc Claes, Phil Wight, Lex Jansen, Max Hoeffner, Robert Pruter, Kedric Mabon, Johnny Alexander and Jesse Birdsall for additional info / scans
Chess publicity photo, c. 1953source: Blues Forum Nr. 7 (3. Quartal 1982), p. 21photographer: Maurice, Chicago
Jimmy Bolden, Willie Mabon & Luther Tucker, Chicago, 1959source: Blues Unlimited #143 (Autumn/Winter1982), p. 27; photographer: Marcel Chauvard
Willie Mabon & Luther [not "Otis"!] Tucker, Chicago, 1959 [not 1961!]source: ; photographer: Marcel Chauvard
Willie Mabon at American Folk Blues Festival 1980 (?)source: Front cover of Teldec/Chess 6.24806 AG; photographer: Stephanie Wiesand