Legendary drummer & producer Steve Jordan (The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Batiste, SNL & more), discusses the history and deep personal reverence for the music of Chess Records and the 75th vinyl reissue series.
Topics Include:
- Steve Jordan discusses touring with John Batiste at Davos Economic Summit
- He's producing Robert Cray's new album at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals
- JayVee Records finishing Willie Mitchell documentary, The Verbs album, and Tony Joe White posthumous record
- Chess Records called arguably the cornerstone of modern music
- New vinyl reissue campaign marks first proper Chess reissues in decades
- Steve's compilation "Let's Play Chess" features personally meaningful recordings
- The Dells were his first Chess records—Chicago's hardcore R&B answer to Motown
- Tommy Tucker's "High Heel Sneakers" on Checker was childhood obsession
- British Invasion reintroduced American blues that establishment had suppressed racially
- Etta James "At Last" originals fetch four to five hundred dollars
- Universal fire destroyed masters; some duplicates recovered from Europe thankfully
- Early stereo versions often poorly done with hard-panned instruments and fake echo
- Chess building preserved physically but control room was completely stripped of gear
- Steve brought API console and ribbon mics for 2010 session there
- Correctly guessed drum placement; Hubert Sumlin confirmed the next day
- Otis Spann's piano still vibrates sympathetically when musicians play the room
- Jack Wiener designed Chess gear and later mastered recordings in basement
- Mastering represents twenty-five percent of the mix, often overlooked historically
- Jamie Krentz alerted Universal to Chess catalog's 75th anniversary reissue potential
- Rarities campaign revealed extraordinary alternate takes including deep Lowell Fulsom version
- Willie Mitchell spent years perfecting Royal Recording's signature snare drum sound
- Keith Richards session led to lifelong friendship with Willie Mitchell
- Willie gave Steve one of Al Jackson's tom-toms from Al Green recordings
- Recording, overdubbing, and mixing in same room captures authentic studio sound
- John Lennon was his white whale—missed meeting him by five minutes
- Finally played with Paul McCartney on Rolling Stones' Hackney Diamonds album
- Blues Brothers debuted on SNL's third season finale with Saturday Night Live band
- Matt Guitar Murphy was a Chess session player—Steve's first Chess connection unknowingly
- John Belushi educated Steve nightly on deep Chess catalog from his Chicago roots
- Devo's SNL performance was a life-changing moment Steve witnessed firsthand
High resolution version of this podcast is available at: www.Patreon.com/VinylGuide
