Blues icon Koko Taylor was a force of nature. The legendary Queen of the Blues was one of the genre’s best-selling and most-honored artists, winning just about every award the blues world had to offer, including a GRAMMY and 29 Blues Music Awards (the most ever by any artist). With her huge, gritty voice and the backing of her powerhouse band, The Blues Machine, she delivered tough Chicago blues over a 45-year career, ending with her death in 2009. For people all over the world, her music IS the blues as much as B.B. King’s or Buddy Guy’s.
Crown Jewels is the first new Koko Taylor vinyl to be released in 35 years, and it’s packed with over 50 minutes of the finest performances from her celebrated Alligator years. These are songs blues fans know and love by heart, from “Wang Dang Doodle” to “Hey Bartender” to “Let The Good Times Roll.” This is unvarnished, old-school blues and proud of it, every track infused with Koko’s ageless energy and passion. Fellow Chicago blues greats Buddy Guy and Carey Bell guest.