His Best (Sonny Boy Williamson II album) explained

His Best
Type:	greatest
Artist:	Sonny Boy Williamson II
Cover:	His Best Sonny Boy Williamson.jpg
Released:	^[1]
Recorded:	August 12, 1955 – April 30, 1964
Studio:	Chess Studios Chicago, Illinois
Genre:	Harmonica blues, Chicago blues, country blues
Label:	Chess, MCA
Producer:	Leonard Chess, Phil Chess, Willie Dixon, Andy McKaie
Compiler:	Andy McKaie, Dick Shurman
Prev Title:	Portrait of a Blues Man
Prev Year:	1996
Next Title:	Boppin' with Sonny
Next Year:	1997

His Best is a 1997 greatest hits compilation album by Sonny Boy Williamson II released by Chess and MCA Records in May as a part of The Chess 50th Anniversary Collection, which released many albums titled His Best for musicians such as Bo Diddley, Little Walter, and others.

Songs

The album features all three of Williamson's singles that charted on Billboards R&B Singles chart; "Don't Start Me Talking" (#3), "Keep It to Yourself" (#14), and "Help Me" (#24).^[2] The album also featured "Bring It On Home" (later covered by Led Zeppelin) and "One Way Out" (covered by Allman Brothers Band).

Track listing

All tracks written by Sonny Boy Williamson II, except where noted.

1. "Good Evening Everybody" – 2:36
2. "Don't Start Me Talking" – 2:36
3. "All My Love in Vain" – 2:51
4. "Keep It to Yourself" – 2:50
5. "Fattening Frogs for Snakes" – 2:23
6. "I Don't Know" – 2:28
7. "Cross My Heart" (Williamson, Greg Guidry) – 3:24
8. "Born Blind" – 2:35
9. "Ninety Nine" – 2:40
10. "Your Funeral and My Trial" – 2:33
11. "Keep Your Hands Out of My Pockets" – 2:51
12. "Sad to Be Alone" – 2:59
13. "Checkin' Up on My Baby" – 1:59
14. "Down Child" – 2:37
15. "Nine Below Zero" – 3:30
16. "Bye Bye Bird" (Williamson, Willie Dixon) – 2:35
17. "Help Me" (Williamson, Dixon, Ralph Bass) – 3:11
18. "Bring It On Home" (Dixon) – 2:39
19. "My Younger Days" – 3:24
20. "One Way Out" (Williamson, Elmore James) – 2:46

Personnel

All personnel per Allmusic^[1]

Performers

• Sonny Boy Williamson II – lead vocals, harmonica
• Buddy Guy – guitar
• Robert Lockwood, Jr. – guitar
• Matt "Guitar" Murphy – guitar
• Eugene Pierson – guitar
• Jimmy Rogers – guitar
• Luther Tucker – guitar
• Muddy Waters – guitar
• Willie Dixon – double bass
• Jack Meyers – bass
• Milton Rector – bass
• Lafayette Leake – piano
• Otis Spann – piano
• Fred Below – drums
• Al Duncan – drums
• Clifton James – drums
• Jarrett Gibson – saxophone
• Donald Hankins – saxophone

Production

• Leonard Chess – producer, engineer
• Phil Chess – producer, engineer
• Willie Dixon – producer, engineer
• Andy McKaie – producer, compiler
• Dick Shurman – liner notes, compiler
• Erick Labson – remastering
• Bill Inglot – remixing
• John Strother – remixing

Artwork/Design

• Vartan – art director
• Geary Chansley – photo research
• Meire Murakami – design
• Val Wilmer – photography
• Galen Gart – photography

Notes and References

1. Web site: . His Best [MCA] - Sonny Boy Williamson II | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=[[AllMusic]] |date= |accessdate=2015-12-10].
2. Web site: . Sonny Boy Williamson II | Biography & History . . 2015-12-10.