Following their efforts to release different recordings coming from genuine Chicago blues artists who sadly are practically forgotten today, Austrian record label Wolf Records reissues an album by Chicago blues singer Mary Lane that was released thirty years ago.

The album was recorded thanks to Kirk Whiting who, at that time, had just arrived to Chicago coming from Iowa. On the same day of his arrival, Kirk visited all South side and West side blues clubs immersing himself into the genuine Windy City sound.

There he met Mary Lane, who was performing with singer Little Johnny Christian. Kirk was deeply impressed by her melodic way of singing, totally different from many of the other divas in the city. At that time Mary was already one of the veterans of the Chicago blues scene and she had shared stage with Robert Nighthawk, Magic Sam, Howlin’ Wolf or Elmore James among many other great and legendary blues names.

Kirk didn’t stop until he got Mary to record for him. In fact, she was the first artist he recorded, and he did it on June 8, 1996. She was joined with musicians like Johnny B. Moore and Robert Mell on guitars, Jeffery Labon on bass, Detroit Jr. on piano, Erskine Johnson on organ, Michael Jackson on sax, plus Annette Allen and Annette Love on backing vocals.

From these lines we really thank Wolf Records for their commendable work to put again in the front line those names that most young blues lovers probably do not know, but that undoubtedly contributed and helped to forge the history of the blues as we know it today.