Howlin' Wolf -: How Many More Years

Before he was a Chicago legend, Chester Arthur Burnett was a force of nature in Memphis. In July 1951, he walked into Sam Phillips’ Memphis Recording Service (now legendary as ) and recorded a track that arguably laid the groundwork for rock and roll: "How Many More Years."

: At 6'3" and 300 pounds, Wolf had a voice that Sam Phillips described as the place "where the soul of man never dies." His gravelly, primal delivery on this track was unlike anything on the radio. A Double-Sided Heavyweight Howlin' Wolf - How Many More Years

: This recording contains some of the earliest known uses of power chords and heavy electric distortion. Johnson’s aggressive, distorted tone predated the "rock" sound by years. Before he was a Chicago legend, Chester Arthur

The Birth of a Heavyweight: Howlin' Wolf’s "How Many More Years" "How Many More Years" isn't just a blues

While the "A-side" captured the eerie, hypnotic atmosphere of the Delta, "How Many More Years" captured the stomp and fire of the juke joint. Legacy and Influence Howlin' Wolf — Blog — Peter Guralnick

Released by Chess Records in the fall of 1951, the song was actually a double-sided hit with "Moanin' at Midnight." It climbed to , instantly making Howlin' Wolf a star.

"How Many More Years" isn't just a blues song; it's a sonic assault. At the time, blues was often acoustic or politely amplified. Wolf changed that. The track is famous for: