Ignored Obscured Restored
Next week, on June 10th, Howlin’ Wolf would have turned 115 years old. A giant of a man — both in physical stature and musical legacy — he stood 6’3”, weighed nearly 300 pounds, and loomed just as large in the world of blues.
He’s best known for recording many blues standards, including:
- Smokestack Lightning
- Spoonful
- Little Red Rooster
- Wang-Dang Doodle
- Back Door Man
- Killing Floor
A personal favorite of mine is “Evil (Is Going On)”.
What draws me to this track is its dark, menacing tone. It capitalizes on the fearsome image Wolf projected — using his imposing size and the gravelly, raw timbre of his voice. After just a single, ominous guitar chord, Wolf bursts in, practically shouting the opening lines:
If you’re a long way from home
Can’t sleep at night
Grab your telephone
Somethin’ just ain’t right
He heightens the drama by using a different voice for the chorus, creating a chilling call-and-response effect:
That’s evil
Evil is goin’ on wrong
I am warnin’ you, brother
You better watch your happy home
The band behind him is equally powerful. Guitarists Hubert Sumlin and Jody Williams deliver a fierce dual-guitar attack. Otis Spann dances over the keys in the high register. Willie Dixon — who also wrote the song — anchors everything with a deep, steady bassline, while Earl Phillips keeps flawless time on the drums. Wolf himself adds some haunting blues harp work.
The entire track carries the weight of the lyrics: a desperate, urgent warning to men (himself included) to beware of creeping infidelity.
Originally released in 1954, “Evil” didn’t chart until 1969, when a re-recorded version finally reached #43 on the Billboard R&B chart.
Let’s honor Howlin’ Wolf’s birthday this June 10th by keeping his music — and his legacy — alive.
Enjoy… until next week.