Artist profile · 07/07/2026
Howlin' Wolf
- 11
- Albums on Vinyles.com
- 855k
- Last.fm listeners
- 11M
- Last.fm plays
About
Howlin' Wolf, The raw power of Chicago blues from a Mississippi legend.
Howlin' Wolf emerged from the Mississippi Delta to become a foundational figure in electric blues. Beginning his musical journey with guitar and harmonica in the late 1920s and early 1930s, he moved to Chicago in 1952 to focus on singing. His collaborations with Chess Records yielded numerous influential tracks and albums, many written or arranged by Willie Dixon. His sound featured raw vocal delivery combined with electrified band arrangements that helped define Chicago blues. Howlin' Wolf maintained a recording career from the early 1950s until his death in 1976.
His vinyl catalog presents multiple original and reissue pressings highly valued by collectors.
Discography
Howlin' Wolf discography
Studio albums, live records, compilations and radio recordings. Each album groups all its editions.
Big City Blues
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl 4
- CD 3
- Cassette
Live in Europe 1964
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl 1
- CD 3
- Cassette 1
Message to the Young
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl 1
- CD 2
- Cassette
Live and Cookin' at Alices Revisited
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl 1
- CD 3
- Cassette 1
Change My Way
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl 1
- CD 3
- Cassette 1
Live In Cambridge, MA., 1966
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl 1
- CD 1
- Cassette
Rockin' the Blues
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl 1
- CD 3
- Cassette 1
all my blues
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl
- CD 1
- Cassette
The Memphis Sessions
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Moonlighting, with Howlin' Wolf
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Ain't Superstitious
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Bluebird
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Legends: Howlin' Wolf
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Wang Dang Doodle
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Blues Is My Business (24 Success)
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Little Red Rooster
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
One World
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Smokestack' Blues
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Two Birds
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Who's Been Talking
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
London Re-Visited
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
My Mind Is Ramblin'
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Original Folk Blues
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Tail Dragger
Howlin' Wolf
- Vinyl
- CD
- Cassette
Data provided by Discogs
Listen
Signature songs
- 01
Smokestack Lightnin'Moanin' In The Moonlight · 1959 - 02
SpoonfulHowlin' Wolf · 1962 - 03
Killing FloorThe Real Folk Blues · 1966 - 04Moanin' At MidnightMoanin' In The Moonlight · 1959
- 05How Many More YearsMoanin' In The Moonlight · 1959
- 06Back Door ManHowlin' Wolf · 1962
- 07The Red RoosterHowlin' Wolf · 1962
- 08
Wang Dang DoodleLive · 1996
Essentials
3 Howlin' Wolf albums you need to own
Our picks, approved by the editors.
#1 · 1959This LP captures Howlin' Wolf's raw Chicago blues style with 12 tracks including classics like 'Moanin' At Midnight' and 'Smokestack Lightnin''.
12 tracksMonoChess labelOriginal 1959 US pressing
#2 · 1962The 1962 self-titled LP features emblematic tracks such as 'Spoonful' and 'Back Door Man', showcasing the artist’s powerful vocals and electric blues band.
12 tracksMonoChess labelOriginal US pressing
#3 · 1966A 12-track album blending traditional blues with the Chicago sound, including standout cuts like 'Killing Floor' and 'Built For Comfort'.
12 tracksMono and Stereo versionsChess label1966 original pressing available
Go further
Artists similar to Howlin' Wolf
Artists who share part of Howlin' Wolf's musical DNA.
B-side
B-side: the hidden stories of Howlin' Wolf
Studio secrets, tour stories and B-sides worth the whole album.
Howlin' Wolf's 1959 Chess Sessions
The album Moanin' In The Moonlight was recorded in Chicago and released by Chess Records in 1959, featuring pioneering electric blues performances that shaped the Chicago sound.
Valued 1962 US Chess LP
The original 1962 US mono pressing of the Howlin' Wolf album on Chess (LP 1469) commands prices up to 930€ with only a handful of copies actively listed for sale.
Live in Cambridge, 1966
In 1991, a live album was released featuring Howlin' Wolf's 1966 performance in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This limited pressing is a rare capture of his live power.
My stage name 'Howlin' Wolf' comes from stories my grandfather told about wolves catching kids who misbehaved.— Howlin' Wolf
Willie Dixon's Role
Composer Willie Dixon wrote and arranged several hits for Howlin' Wolf, including 'Wang Dang Doodle' and 'You’ll Be Mine', integral to his Chess Records output.
Howlin' Wolf vinyl discography
See allMoanin' In The Moonlight + 4 Bonus Tracks (Limited Crystal Clear Vinyl)
Howlin' Wolf
BluesJazz/Blues
2025-03-28IntermusicFrom$24.77
1 offerBOY YOU GOT MORE BLUES HERE/THE WOLF S WEST MEMPHIS BLUES VOL 2
Howlin' Wolf
BluesJazz/Blues
2023-05-19BEAR FAMILYMOANIN IN THE MOONLIGHT/VINYLE NOIR AUDIOPHILE 180GR
Howlin' Wolf
Jazz Rock / Fusion / FunkJazz/Blues
2023-04-2820TH CENTURY MASTERWORKSFrom$24.47
1 offerHOWLIN BLUES SELECTED A AND B SIDES 1951/1962 /VINYLE 180GR
Howlin' Wolf
BluesJazz/Blues
2023-03-03ACROBATBOY YOU GOT THE THERE 1/WOLF S WEST MEMPHIS BLUES/LIVRET 12 PAGES
Howlin' Wolf
BluesJazz/Blues
2023-02-17BEAR FAMILYFrom$38.56
1 offerROCKIN CHAIR ALBUM/VINYLE NOIR AUDIOPHILE 180GR
Howlin' Wolf
BluesJazz/Blues
2022-04-01MUSIC ON VINYLFrom$28.90
1 offerMoanin' In The Moonlight + 4 Bonus Tracks + CD Digipack Containing Moanin' In The Moonlight + 15 Bonus Tracks.
Howlin' Wolf
BluesJazz/Blues
2021-04-09Intermusic
Howlin' Wolf CDs
See allMoanin' in the moonlight
Howlin' Wolf
BluesJazz/Blues
2016-10-01Hallmark Music & EntertainmentFrom$9.17
1 offer
Recommended accessories
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$21.99
View on Amazon
FAQ
FAQ
The most common questions about pressings, reissues and limited editions.
When did Howlin' Wolf start recording his music?
He began recording in the early 1950s after forming a band in Memphis in 1948 and settling in Chicago by 1952 to focus on his singing career.
What are some key Howlin' Wolf vinyl albums to collect?
Moanin' In The Moonlight (1959), Howlin' Wolf (1962), and The Real Folk Blues (1966) are essential records with multiple valued pressings.
Which record label released most of Howlin' Wolf’s famous albums?
Chess Records in Chicago released most of his influential LPs including Moanin' In The Moonlight and Howlin' Wolf.
Where was Howlin' Wolf born and when did he die?
Born in White Station, Mississippi in 1910, he passed away in Hines, Illinois in 1976.
Are original pressings of Howlin' Wolf albums expensive?
Original US vinyl pressings from the late 1950s and early 1960s can range from several hundred to almost a thousand euros, depending on condition and rarity.
What genres best describe Howlin' Wolf’s music?
His music is rooted in Chicago blues, electric blues, delta blues, and rhythm & blues.
Can I find Howlin' Wolf vinyl records in France?
Yes, live and studio albums have pressings released or reissued in France, including the Live In Cambridge album released by Fan Club label.
How influential was Howlin' Wolf on later blues and rock artists?
His songs were covered by early British rhythm and blues bands like the Rolling Stones, helping to revive his popularity in the 1960s.
Transparency
Sources & method
This profile is compiled by the vinyles.com editors from public sources and our marketplace.
Our method
- Discography data from MusicBrainz (dates, country, active years).
- Tracklists, covers and genres from Discogs Masters.
- Values (low / median / high) and stock from the Discogs Marketplace.
- Audience and similar artists from Last.fm.
- Page updated automatically and reviewed by the editors.