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.
Everybody's in the Mood
Howlin' Wolf Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Everybody's in the mood
Everybody's in the mood
Everybody's in the mood
Everybody's in the groove
Groove, groove, groove, groove
Drank your whiskey, drank your wine
Everybody's in the groove
Everybody's in the mood
Everybody's in the mood
And a singing in the groove
Everybody's in the groove
Everybody's in the mood
Everybody's in the groove
Everybody's in the mood
Everybody's in the mood
Groove, groove, groove, groove
The lyrics to Howlin' Wolf's song "Everybody's in the Mood" suggest a joyous and celebratory atmosphere where everybody is feeling good and in the groove. The repetition of the lines "Everybody's in the mood" and "Everybody's in the groove" emphasizes the collective feeling of the moment. The reference to drinking whiskey and wine suggests that the mood may be fueled by alcohol, but the focus of the song seems to be on the shared experience of feeling good together. The line "Look at your baby that sang all night" suggests that the feeling may have been brought about by a good performance, perhaps at a party or a dance. The repetition of the phrase "groove, groove, groove, groove" reinforces the idea of being in sync with one another and feeling the music.
Overall, the song seems to be a celebration of the transcendent feeling of being in the moment and experiencing joy with others. Unlike many blues songs that dwell on heartbreak and struggle, "Everybody's in the Mood" is a rare instance of a blues song that celebrates life in the moment.
Line by Line Meaning
Everybody's gonna move
Everyone is going to start dancing.
Everybody's in the mood
Everyone is feeling good and ready to have fun.
Everybody's in the groove
Everyone has found their rhythm and is dancing seamlessly together.
Groove, groove, groove, groove
The music and dancing is continuous and never-ending.
Drank your whiskey, drank your wine
You have consumed alcohol and are feeling the effects.
Look at your baby that sang all night
You are admiring the person you are with who has been singing and enjoying the music all night.
And a singing in the groove
You are singing along with the music and enjoying yourself in the rhythm.
Everybody's in the mood
Everyone is still feeling good and ready to continue dancing and having fun.
Contributed by Mia K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@corrindion
Man love this!!
@graxjpg
Those licks are so hot!!