Pianist Willie Mabon Gave Chess Records Its First Big Hit

Since 2004 Plastic Crimewave (aka Steve Krakow) has used the Secret History of Chicago Music to shine a light on worthy artists with Chicago ties who’ve been forgotten, underrated, or never noticed in the first place.

At that point Mabon was managed by Chicago DJ and promoter Al Benson, who launched the Parrot Records label in 1952. Willie Mabon & His Combo debuted on wax late that year with the Parrot single “I Don’t Know” b/w “Worry Blues,” where Mabon’s wheezy harmonica, classy vocals, and boogie-woogie piano are joined by Ernest Cotton’s tenor sax, Bill Anderson’s bass, and Bill Stepney’s drums.

Mabon moved to Paris in 1972, the same year he remade “Poison Ivy” for the Blues on Blues label run by Chicago bassist and producer Al Smith. American blues music had exploded in popularity in Europe, and Mabon benefited from that surge in interest. He swiftly released his first proper LPs, both recorded in ’72: Willie Mabon Is Back Funky for Blues on Blues (cut in Chicago with a band that included guitarist Mighty Joe Young) and Cold Chilly Woman for French label Black & Blue.