Willie Dixon “The Chess Box” released 1988, Chess Records. 3 LP set. Today, July 1st, is Willie Dixon’s birthday (b. 1915 d. 1992). Blues giant, prolific writer and collaborator, shaper of the Chicago blues sound as well as early rock-n-roll. Rock giants Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix and many, many others have all covered his songs over the years. On this box set his songs are performed not only by him (“Crazy For My Baby”) but also by blues legends like Muddy Waters (“I Just Want to Make Love to You”), Bo Diddley (one of my favorites – “Pretty Thing”), Howlin’ Wolf (“Little Red Rooster”) and Sonny Boy Williamson (“Bring It on Home”) among others. In 1987 Dixon reached an out-of-court settlement with Led Zeppelin after suing them for plagiarism for “Bring It On Home” (as well as for his lyrics from “You Need Love” on Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love”).