The Howlin' Wolf Story - The Secret History of Rock & Roll
by Don McGlynn
List Price:
Our Price: $8.72
You Save: $5.22 (37%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Director: Don McGlynnBrand: Sony
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Format: Black & White, Color, DVD, NTSC
Picture Format: 1.33:1
DVD Release Date: 2003-11-04
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: RCA
DVD Reviews of The Howlin' Wolf Story - The Secret History of Rock & Roll
DVD Review: The Hour Of The Wolf
Summary: 5 Stars
I have reviewed several of Howlin' Wolf's CDs in this space previously and had expected that this documentary about the life, the times and the influence of this incredible blues performer would merely be an appetizer for further reviews of his music. Not so. This well-done, lovingly put together and extremely informative documentary is a worthy viewing for the novice and old Wolf aficionados like me. Thus, rather than placing this commentary as a tail to some other Wolf entry it is worthy of separate entry here.
In this presentation filled, as always in this kind of work, with the inevitable "talking heads" we go from Wolf`s roots down in the Mississippi Delta, cotton country and nothing else, in the 1920's and 1930's through to the first stop up the Mississippi at Memphis on to the Mecca Chicago in the post- World War II period and finally to international renown in the blues revival started by the likes of The Rolling Stones in the mid-1960s. In short we are treated to a view of the trajectory of Wolf's life; unlike let us say Son House with whom Wolf worked with in the old days who stuck with the country roots, from country blues of the back road jukes to the electricity of the urban ghetto that made those old blues jump for at first migratory urban blacks and then young whites like this reviewer. Along the way many of the musicians that worked with Wolf like Hubert Sumerlin, a blues guitarist legend in his own right, and Sam Lay as well as Wolf's daughters, the Chess Record producer Marshall Chess and others give some amusing stories and anecdotes on the life of the great bluesman. And seemingly as always when blues or rock and roll are mentioned little segments with the ubiquitous Sam Phillips of the well-known Sun Recording studio in Memphis.
I do not generally comment on (or for that matter look at) the special features sections of DVD. Not doing so here would be a mistake. There is some nice home movie footage, some interesting Wolf stories by his companions and rivals, a nice segment on the rivalry between Wolf and Muddy Waters to be "King of The Chicago Blues" and a recording of a radio broadcast of Wolf doing Little Red Rooster. Damn, I flipped out the first time I heard that song when it was covered by The Rolling Stones in the early 1960's. I also flipped out when I first heard a Wolf recording of it. I don't know what I would have done had I heard it on my radio then. Probably started hitchhiking for Chicago.
All of this information is nice but I am sure the reader is just as interested to know about the music. Oh yes there is some great footage of classic Wolf efforts. Of course for this reviewer number one is always Wolf's Little Red Rooster. Christ, he is practically eating the harmonica by the end of the song. Lovin' Spoonful, Moaning at Midnight and a host of other songs get their usual Wolf professional treatment. That is a point to be underscored, he was a professional in his approach to the music, its presentation and the way that he could influence a genre that he practically build (along with his competitor Muddy Waters) from scratch. If you need an hour of the Wolf doin' his Midnight Creep then you really have to see this documentary. Kudos to the filmmakers on this one.
Description of The Howlin' Wolf Story - The Secret History of Rock & Roll
Studio: Sony Music Release Date: 11/04/2003Blues Music CDs
Bestsellers in Blues Music CDs
Southern String BandsRelease date: 1997-05-07; Music CD
Price in other shops:
Lightnin Hopkins - Texas BluesRelease date: 1993-11-30; Music CD
Price in other shops:
15 Regional Mexican Music ClassicsRelease date: 1997-02-25; Music CD
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops:
Etta James - Love's Been Rough on MeRelease date: 1997-04-29; Music CD
Best price: $8.97
Price in other shops:
Etta James - Mystery LadyRelease date: 1994-03-15; Music CD
Best price: $14.02
Taj Mahal - Dancing the BluesRelease date: 1993-09-28; Music CD
Best price: $9.72
Price in other shops:
![Moments to Remember [VHS] Image](/images/Moments-to-Remember-VHS-6304199058-X.jpg){kind=small}
Bill Gaither & Gloria - Moments to Remember [VHS]Chordant; Release date: 1996-09-03; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $3.55
Price in other shops:
![Sing Your Blues Away [VHS] Image](/images/Sing-Your-Blues-Away-VHS-630419904X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Sing Your Blues Away [VHS]Chordant Distribution; Release date: 1996-09-03; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.18
Price in other shops:
![Rhythm Country & Blues [VHS] Image](/images/Rhythm-Country-Blues-VHS-630303831X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Rhythm Country & Blues [VHS]Mca; Release date: 1994-03-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Robert Cray - Smoking GunPublished: 1988; Music CD
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Howlin Wolf - Definitive CollectionRelease date: 2007-04-17; Music CD
Best price: $7.08
Price in other shops:
John Lee Hooker - Come and See About Me: The Definitive DVDRED Distribution; Release date: 2004-06-01; DVD
Best price: $11.92
Price in other shops:
Lightning in a BottleLightning; Release date: 2005-03-08; DVD
Best price: $6.57
Price in other shops:
The American Folk Blues Festival 1962-1966, Vol. 1Universal Studios; Release date: 2003-08-26; DVD
Best price: $11.99
Price in other shops:
![American Folk-Blues Festival: The British Tours 1963-1966 [DVD] Image](/images/American-Folk-Blues-Festival-The-British-Tours-1963-1966-DVD-B000OPP7LS-X.jpg)
Various - American Folk-Blues Festival: The British Tours 1963-1966 [DVD]Uni; Release date: 2007-05-08; DVD
Best price: $10.72
Price in other shops:
Deep Blues: A Musical Pilgrimage to the CrossroadsSony; Release date: 2003-07-22; DVD
Best price: $8.10
Price in other shops:
Moanin' at Midnight: The Life and Times of Howlin' Wolfby James Segrest, Mark Hoffman
Da Capo Press; Published: 2005-06-03; Paperback; Book
Best price: $12.80
Price in other shops:
Muddy Waters: Classic ConcertsUniversal Studios; Release date: 2006-05-23; DVD
Best price: $6.55
Price in other shops:
The Search for Robert JohnsonJOHNSON,ROBERT; Release date: 2000-10-31; DVD
Best price: $5.59
Price in other shops:
Cadillac RecordsSONY PICTURES HOME ENT; Release date: 2009-03-10; DVD
Best price: $7.82
Price in other shops: