Ep534: Celebrating Chess Records with Steve Jordan

Legendary drummer & producer Steve Jordan (The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Batiste, SNL & more), discusses the history and deep personal reverence for the music of Chess Records and the 75th vinyl reissue series.

Topics Include:

• Steve Jordan discusses touring with John Batiste at Davos Economic Summit
• He's producing Robert Cray's new album at Fame Studios in Muscle Shoals
• JayVee Records finishing Willie Mitchell documentary, The Verbs album, and Tony Joe White posthumous record
• Chess Records called arguably the cornerstone of modern music
• New vinyl reissue campaign marks first proper Chess reissues in decades
• Steve's compilation "Let's Play Chess" features personally meaningful recordings
• The Dells were his first Chess records—Chicago's hardcore R&B answer to Motown
• Tommy Tucker's "High Heel Sneakers" on Checker was childhood obsession
• British Invasion reintroduced American blues that establishment had suppressed racially
• Etta James "At Last" originals fetch four to five hundred dollars
• Universal fire destroyed masters; some duplicates recovered from Europe thankfully
• Early stereo versions often poorly done with hard-panned instruments and fake echo
• Chess building preserved physically but control room was completely stripped of gear
• Steve brought API console and ribbon mics for 2010 session there
• Correctly guessed drum placement; Hubert Sumlin confirmed the next day
• Otis Spann's piano still vibrates sympathetically when musicians play the room
• Jack Wiener designed Chess gear and later mastered recordings in basement
• Mastering represents twenty-five percent of the mix, often overlooked historically
• Jamie Krentz alerted Universal to Chess catalog's 75th anniversary reissue potential
• Rarities campaign revealed extraordinary alternate takes including deep Lowell Fulsom version
• Willie Mitchell spent years perfecting Royal Recording's signature snare drum sound
• Keith Richards session led to lifelong friendship with Willie Mitchell
• Willie gave Steve one of Al Jackson's tom-toms from Al Green recordings
• Recording, overdubbing, and mixing in same room captures authentic studio sound
• John Lennon was his white whale—missed meeting him by five minutes
• Finally played with Paul McCartney on Rolling Stones' Hackney Diamonds album
• Blues Brothers debuted on SNL's third season finale with Saturday Night Live band
• Matt Guitar Murphy was a Chess session player—Steve's first Chess connection unknowingly
• John Belushi educated Steve nightly on deep Chess catalog from his Chicago roots
• Devo's SNL performance was a life-changing moment Steve witnessed firsthand

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