What It Takes: The Chess Years

~ Release by Koko Taylor (see all versions of this release, 3 available)

Annotation

1991 release. MCA on jewel case spine, Chess label on booklet and CD.

Annotation last modified on 2025-12-28 22:16 UTC.

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleRatingLength
1Got What It Takes
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1964-06-30)
producer:
Willie Dixon
bass:
Jack Meyers (US blues bassist) (on 1964-06-30)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Clifton James (on 1964-06-30)
guitar:
Buddy Guy (on 1964-06-30) and Robert Nighthawk (on 1964-06-30)
harmonica:
Walter Horton (blues harmonica player) (on 1964-06-30)
piano:
Lafayette Leake (on 1964-06-30)
vocals:
Koko Taylor (on 1964-06-30)
recording of:
I Got What It Takes
writer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Hoochie Coochie Music
3:09
2Don't Mess With the Messer
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1965-01-20)
producer:
Willie Dixon
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1965-01-20)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Clifton James (on 1965-01-20)
guitar:
Buddy Guy (on 1965-01-20) and Matt Murphy (US blues guitarist) (on 1965-01-20)
piano:
Lafayette Leake (on 1965-01-20)
saxophone [saxes] and background vocals [vocal group]:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (on 1965-01-20)
vocals:
Koko Taylor (on 1965-01-20)
recording of:
Don't Mess With the Messer
writer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Hoochie Coochie Music
2:45
3Whatever I Am, You Made Me
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1965-01-20)
producer:
Willie Dixon
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1965-01-20)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Clifton James (on 1965-01-20)
guitar:
Buddy Guy (on 1965-01-20) and Matt Murphy (US blues guitarist) (on 1965-01-20)
piano:
Lafayette Leake (on 1965-01-20)
saxophone [saxes] and background vocals [vocal group]:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (on 1965-01-20)
vocals:
Koko Taylor (in 1965)
recording of:
Whatever I Am (You Made Me) (on 1965-01-20)
lyricist and composer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Jewel Music Publ. (publisher; do NOT use as release label)
2:27
4I'm a Little Mixed Up
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1965-06-20)
producer:
Willie Dixon
double bass [bass]:
Willie Dixon (in 1965)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Clifton James (in 1965)
guitar:
Buddy Guy (in 1965) and Matt Murphy (US blues guitarist) (in 1965)
piano:
Lafayette Leake (in 1965)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
Gene Barge (in 1965)
background vocals [vocal group]:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (in 1965)
vocals:
Koko Taylor (in 1965)
cover recording of:
I’m a Little Mixed Up (in 1965)
writer:
Betty James and Edward Johnson (US songwriter)
publisher:
Garnet Publishing Co. and Sunflower Music, Inc. (publisher)
2:41
5Wang Dang Doodle
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1965-12-07)
producer:
Willie Dixon
bass:
Jack Meyers (US blues bassist) (on 1965-12-07)
drums (drum set):
Fred Below
guitar:
Buddy Guy (on 1965-12-07) and Johnny "Twist" Williams (Side-man blues guitar player, Big Boy Spires associate) (on 1965-12-07)
piano:
Lafayette Leake (on 1965-12-07)
saxophone [sax]:
Gene Barge (on 1965-12-07) and Donald Hankins (Saxophonist) (on 1965-12-07)
tenor saxophone:
Gene Barge
background vocals:
Willie Dixon (on 1965-12-07)
lead vocals:
Koko Taylor
vocals:
Koko Taylor (on 1965-12-07)
part of:
Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 1995)
cover recording of:
Wang Dang Doodle (on 1965-12-07)
lyricist:
Willie Dixon (in 1960-06)
composer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Bug Music Ltd. and Hoochie Coochie Music
43:02
6(I Got) All You Need
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1965-12-07)
producer:
Willie Dixon
bass:
Jack Meyers (US blues bassist) (on 1965-12-07)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1965-12-07)
guitar:
Johnny "Twist" Williams (Side-man blues guitar player, Big Boy Spires associate) and Buddy Guy (on 1965-12-07)
saxophone [sax]:
Gene Barge (on 1965-12-07) and Donald Hankins (Saxophonist) (on 1965-12-07)
vocals:
Koko Taylor (on 1965-12-07)
recording of:
I Got All You Need
writer:
Willie Dixon
2:18
7Love Me
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1966-12)
producer:
Willie Dixon
baritone saxophone [baritone sax] and background vocals [vocal group]:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (in 1966-12)
bass:
Dillard Crume (in 1966-12)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Al Duncan (in 1966-12)
guitar:
Rufus Crume (in 1966-12) and Johnny Williams (Side-man blues guitar player, Big Boy Spires associate) (in 1966-12)
piano:
Lafayette Leake (in 1966-12)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
Gene Barge (in 1966-12)
vocals:
Koko Taylor (in 1966-12)
recording of:
Love Me
writer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Hoochie Coochie Music
2:47
8What Came First the Egg or the Hen
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1966-12)
producer:
Willie Dixon
baritone saxophone [baritone sax]:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (in 1966-12)
bass:
Dillard Crume (in 1966-12)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Al Duncan (in 1966-12)
guitar:
Rufus Crume (in 1966-12) and Johnny "Twist" Williams (Side-man blues guitar player, Big Boy Spires associate) (in 1966-12)
piano:
Lafayette Leake (in 1966-12)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
Gene Barge (in 1966-12)
vocals:
Willie Dixon (in 1966-12) and Koko Taylor (in 1966-12)
recording of:
Egg or the Hen (in 1966-12)
lyricist and composer:
Willie Dixon
2:28
9Insane Asylum
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1967-08)
producer:
Willie Dixon
bass and drums (drum set) [drums]:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (in 1967-08)
guitar:
Buddy Guy (in 1967-08) and Johnny "Twist" Williams (Side-man blues guitar player, Big Boy Spires associate) (in 1967-08)
keyboard [keyboards]:
Lafayette Leake (in 1967-08)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
Gene Barge (in 1967-08)
vocals:
Willie Dixon (in 1967-08)
recording of:
Insane Asylum
lyricist and composer:
Willie Dixon
4:22
10Fire
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1967-08)
producer:
Willie Dixon
bass and drums (drum set) [drums]:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (in 1967-08)
guitar:
Buddy Guy (in 1967-08) and Johnny "Twist" Williams (Side-man blues guitar player, Big Boy Spires associate) (in 1967-08)
keyboard [keyboards]:
Lafayette Leake (in 1967-08)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
Gene Barge (in 1967-08)
vocals:
Willie Dixon (in 1967-08) and Koko Taylor (in 1967-08)
recording of:
Fire
lyricist and composer:
Willie Dixon
2:34
11I Don't Care Who Knows
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (in 1968-10)
producer:
Willie Dixon
vocals:
Koko Taylor (in 1968-10)
recording of:
I Don’t Care Who Knows
lyricist and composer:
Willie Dixon
2:13
12Twenty Nine Ways (To My Baby's Door)
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1969-04-23)
producer:
Willie Dixon
bass:
Jack Meyers (US blues bassist) (on 1969-04-23)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1969-04-23)
guitar:
Buddy Guy (on 1969-04-23)
harmonica:
Walter Horton (blues harmonica player) (on 1969-04-23)
vocals:
Koko Taylor (on 1969-04-23)
recording of:
29 Ways (on 1969-04-23)
lyricist and composer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Hoochie Coochie Music
3:13
13Blue Prelude
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1971-11-24)
producer:
Willie Dixon
bass guitar [bass]:
Louis Satterfield (on 1971-11-24)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Clifton James (on 1971-11-24)
guitar:
Joe Young (US blues guitarist) (on 1971-11-24) and Dennis Miller (blues guitarist) (on 1971-11-24)
piano:
Lafayette Leake (on 1971-11-24)
vocals:
Koko Taylor (on 1971-11-24)
cover recording of:
Blue Prelude (on 1971-11-24)
lyricist:
Gordon Jenkins
composer:
Joe Bishop
3:31
14I Need More and More
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1971-11-22)
producer:
Willie Dixon
bass guitar [bass]:
Louis Satterfield (on 1971-11-22)
brass and reeds:
[unknown] (Special Purpose Artist – Do not add releases here, if possible.) (on 1971-11-22)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Bob Crowder (Chicago Drummer. Worked with Art Ensemble of Chicago and The Artistic Heritage Ensemble) (on 1971-11-22)
guitar:
Reggie Boyd (US blues guitarist/bassist) (on 1971-11-22) and Joe Young (US blues guitarist) (on 1971-11-22)
piano:
Lafayette Leake (on 1971-11-22)
tenor saxophone [tenor sax]:
Gene Barge (on 1971-11-22)
recording of:
I Need More and More
writer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Monona Music Company
2:43
15Um Huh My Baby
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1971-11-22)
producer:
Willie Dixon
bass guitar [bass]:
Louis Satterfield (on 1971-11-22)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Bob Crowder (Chicago Drummer. Worked with Art Ensemble of Chicago and The Artistic Heritage Ensemble) (on 1971-11-22)
guitar:
Reggie Boyd (US blues guitarist/bassist) (on 1971-11-22) and Joe Young (US blues guitarist) (on 1971-11-22)
piano:
Lafayette Leake (on 1971-11-22)
vocals:
Koko Taylor (on 1971-11-22)
recording of:
Um Huh My Baby
writer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Hoochie Coochie Music
3:51
16Bills, Bills, & More Bills
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1971-11-24)
producer:
Willie Dixon
bass guitar [bass]:
Louis Satterfield (on 1971-11-24)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Clifton James (on 1971-11-24)
guitar:
Joe Young (US blues guitarist) (on 1971-11-24) and Dennis Miller (blues guitarist) (on 1971-11-24)
piano:
Lafayette Leake (on 1971-11-24)
vocals:
Koko Taylor (on 1971-11-24)
recording of:
Bills, Bills, & More Bills
writer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Hoochie Coochie Music
2:52
17Let Me Love You Baby
recorded in:
Chicago, Illinois, United States (on 1971-11-24)
producer:
Willie Dixon
bass guitar [bass]:
Louis Satterfield (on 1971-11-24)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Clifton James (on 1971-11-24)
guitar:
Joe Young (US blues guitarist) (on 1971-11-24) and Dennis Miller (blues guitarist) (on 1971-11-24)
piano:
Lafayette Leake (on 1971-11-24)
vocals:
Koko Taylor (on 1971-11-24)
recording of:
Let Me Love You Baby (on 1971-11-24)
lyricist and composer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Arc Music Corp. (U.S. rock & blues publisher), Bug Music (music publishing), Hoochie Coochie Music and Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
2:47
18I Got What It Takes
producer:
Esmond Edwards
double bass [acoustic bass]:
Willie Dixon (on 1972-06-17)
drums (drum set) [drums]:
Fred Below (on 1972-06-17)
electric bass guitar [electric bass]:
Dave Meyers (on 1972-06-17)
guitar:
Louis Meyers (Blues musician, 1929-1994) (on 1972-06-17)
piano:
Lafayette Leake (on 1972-06-17)
vocals:
Muddy Waters (blues musician) (on 1972-06-17) and Koko Taylor (on 1972-06-17)
recorded at:
Montreux Jazz Festival 1972 (1972-06-16 – 1972-06-29)
recorded at:
Le Pavillion in Montreux, Vaud (Canton of Vaud), Switzerland (on 1972-06-17)
recording of:
I Got What It Takes
writer:
Willie Dixon
publisher:
Hoochie Coochie Music
6:27