With a booming voice and looming physical presence, Burnett is commonly ranked among the leading performers in electric blues; musician and critic Cub Koda declared, "no one could match Howlin' Wolf for the singular ability to rock the house down to the foundation while simultaneously scaring its patrons out of its wits." A number of songs written or popularized by Burnett—such as "Smokestack Lightnin'", "Back Door Man", "Killing Floor" and "Spoonful"—have become blues and blues rock standards.
At 6 feet, 6 inches (198 cm) and close to 300 pounds (136 kg), he was an imposing presence with one of the loudest and most memorable voices of all the "classic" 1950s Chicago blues singers. This rough-edged, slightly fearsome musical style is often contrasted with the less crude but still powerful presentation of his contemporary and professional rival, Muddy Waters. Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson (Rice Miller), Little Walter Jacobs, and Muddy Waters are usually regarded in retrospect as the greatest blues artists who recorded for Chess in Chicago. Sam Phillips once remarked, "When I heard Howlin' Wolf, I said, 'This is for me. This is where the soul of man never dies.'" In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine ranked him #51 on their list of the "100 Greatest Artists of All Time".
Burnett died at Hines VA Hospital in Hines, Illinois on January 10, 1976 and was buried in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Hillside, Cook County, Illinois in a plot in Section 18, on the east side of the road. His large gravestone, allegedly purchased by Eric Clapton, has an image of a guitar and harmonica etched into it.
The Howlin' Wolf Memorial Blues Festival is held each year in West Point, Mississippi. Wolf's Juke Joint Jam is another annual Howlin' Wolf tribute festival held in West Point. Some of the artists who have played 'Wolf Jam' include Wolf's lead guitarist Hubert Sumlin, Muddy Waters' back band of Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, Calvin "Fuzz" Jones and "Steady Rollin" Bob Margolin, Willie King, Blind Mississippi Morris, Kenny Brown, Burnside Exploration, etc. The festival is held at the 500-acre (2.0 km2) festival grounds known as Waverly Waters Resort.
A popular music venue in New Orleans, Louisiana was named The Howlin' Wolf when it opened in 1988.
Burnett was portrayed by Eamonn Walker in the 2008 motion picture Cadillac Records.
Color and Kind
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh, you just my color, oh, you just my kind
Lord, you keep me worried babe
Oh, messed up in mind
Well, I got up last night, reachin' upside the wall
I got up last night, that he was reachin' upside the wall
Lord, I love my baby
Don't know what to do, 'bout the trouble I have
Don't know what to do, 'bout the trouble I have
I might try to find me some rest, babe
In the world somewhere
Well, my baby done left me, she don't know how I've cried
Well, my baby done left me, she don't know how I've cried
Lord, she's a pretty little girl
Oh, she's tryin' a wreck my life
In "Color and Kind," Howlin' Wolf sings about a troubled relationship that keeps him worried and messed up in his mind. He describes his lover as being just his color and kind, indicating that they may have similar backgrounds or share a common understanding. He confesses that he loves his partner, but she's the cause of all his troubles. In the second verse, the singer wakes up in the middle of the night and sees his lover reaching upside the wall, leaving the interpretation ambiguous for the listener. He then admits he doesn't know what to do about the problems in his relationship and considers finding rest somewhere else. In the final verse, the singer laments his lover leaving him and not understanding how much he has cried, adding that although she is pretty, she is trying to wreck his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, you just my color, oh, you just my kind
You are exactly the type of person I am looking for, both in appearance (color) and personality (kind).
Lord, you keep me worried babe
Being with you causes me anxiety and stress.
Oh, messed up in mind
Being with you has affected my mental health negatively.
Well, I got up last night, reachin' upside the wall
I had a restless night and found myself reaching up the wall in frustration.
I got up last night, that he was reachin' upside the wall
I woke up in the middle of the night to find that I was reaching up the wall due to my troubled state of mind.
Lord, I love my baby
Despite the turmoil she has caused me, I still have love for my partner.
But I declare oh, she's the cause of it all
Nevertheless, the root of all my troubles stems from being with her.
Don't know what to do, 'bout the trouble I have
I am at a loss as to how to deal with the problems and difficulties caused by my partner.
I might try to find me some rest, babe
I am considering seeking out a new and peaceful environment for some respite.
In the world somewhere
I have no specific destination in mind, just looking for a change of scenery and peace of mind.
Well, my baby done left me, she don't know how I've cried
My partner has left me, unaware of the emotional turmoil she has caused me.
Lord, she's a pretty little girl
Despite her actions, I cannot deny that she is physically attractive.
Oh, she's tryin' a wreck my life
Her behavior and actions are deliberately causing harm to my life and well-being.
Contributed by Leo E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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