Chess Studio Images

[Jim Boylston]

While working in Chicago in January I made a cold pilgrimage to 2120 South Michigan Avenue, the old Chess Recording Studio building.
It's now owned by Willie Dixon's widow, who maintains a Blues Heritage organization there.
The place fell into disrepair for a while, but now it's been restored and looks the same as it did in the heyday of Chess.
This is a view from the studio looking toward the control room.

A view from the opposite direction, looking into the studio from control. The mural on the wall is a large photo from Muddy Waters' "Folk Singer" session, featuring Muddy, Buddy Guy, and Willie Dixon.

Another view from the same vantage point. The studio is a long, narrow space.

Downstairs used to house the shipping department, but now hosts a small exhibit room featuring these life masks of various blues players through the years.

[TRK]

Cool!

I wonder if that's the ceiling Keith Richards claims he saw Muddy Waters painting one time?

There's at least one or two books specifically on Chess Records and the Chess Brothers; any recommendations on a good one?

[Jim Boylston]

Rich Cohen wrote one called "Machers and Rockers" (also released as "The Record Men") that was a decent, if short, read. I'm currently reading "Spinning Blues Into Gold" by Nadine Cohodas, which looks to be much more detailed.
Robert Gordon's biography of Muddy, "I Can't Be Satisfied" had a good bit about Chess history in it as well. There are some cheap copies available from some of Amazon's used dealers.
Jim

[TRK]

I have Gordon's bio of Muddy; I'll check out the Cohodas book.