This album was first released in the UK in 1965 as In Memorium, (Williamson died in May of 1965). In the US it was retitled to The Real Folk Blues and released in 1966. Later reissues have appeared with either title in different regions.

This is one of my favorite blues albums of all time – Williams is backed here by Willie Dixon, Luther Tucker, Otis Spann, Fred Bellow, Matt Murphy, Robert Lockwood Jr and others.

Note there are two blues artists who recorded as “Sonny Boy Williamson” – this is the later one, sometimes called Sonny Boy Williamson II, whose recordings came out in the post-WW II era, starting in the late 50s, and who recorded with The Yardbirds and toured Europe in the 60s along with The Animals (See The Night Time is the Right Time). The other, sometimes called Sonny Boy Williamson I, died in 1948 and was actively recording in the late 30s.

My copy is from the “Original Chess Masters” series and was reissued in 1987. Acquired at the Worcester Record Riot record fair in Worcester MA.