Queen Of The Blues Koko Taylor's CROWN JEWELS LP Set For July 18 Release

Artiest/Band: Koko Taylor Album: Crown Jewel Release: 18 July 2025 Label: Alligator Records Genre: Soul/Blues/Gospel Crown Jewels, the new greatest hits LP and digital-only album from the legendary Queen Of The Blues, Koko Taylor. The album collects 12 of Taylor's most powerful, dynamic and impactful performances, all newly remastered. From the iconic Wang Dang Doodle to the revelatory I'm A Woman to the raucous Hey Bartender to the heart-melting live rendition of I'd Rather Go Blind to the blistering original Ernestine, Taylor proves why, over the course of her four-decade career, she had no peers...........

PRE-ORDER YOUR COPY BEFORE JULY 19, 2025

Crown Jewels, the new greatest hits LP and digital-only album from the legendary Queen Of The Blues, Koko Taylor. The album collects 12 of Taylor's most powerful, dynamic and impactful performances, all newly remastered. From the iconic Wang Dang Doodle to the revelatory I'm A Woman to the raucous Hey Bartender to the heart-melting live rendition of I'd Rather Go Blind to the blistering original Ernestine, Taylor proves why, over the course of her four-decade career, she had no peers.

Koko Taylor is the great female blues singer of her generation.

 – Rolling Stone

 

Koko Taylor is a national treasure. She packs firepower a lot of youngsters only wish they had.

– Chicago Tribune

 

Koko Taylor is the blues…a growling goddess of down-and-dirty. Sheer, unstoppable shouting power, full steam ahead and damn the torpedoes. There are many kings of the blues but only one queen. Koko’s voice is capable of pinning a listener to the back wall.

– Boston Globe

Raucous, gritty, good-time blues…Taylor belts out blues in a gravel voice with ferocious intensity. Foot-stomping music that’s rough, raw and wonderfully upbeat.

-- People

1.  Wang Dang  Doodle  4:24   2. Mother Nature 4:42     3. You Can Have My Husband 2:46     4. Born Under A Bad Sign 4:56     5. I'm A Woman 4:34     6. Voodoo Woman 3:47     7. I’d Rather Go Blind (Live) 4:42     8. Can't Let Go 4:59     9. Hey Bartender 2:52     10. Ernestine 5:03     11. Come To Mama 4:48     12. Let The Good Times Roll 3:01

Koko Taylor, vocals
with

Tracks 1, 3, 5, 9, 12:
Sammy Lawhorn, Guitar
Johnny B. Moore, Guitar
Pinetop Perkins, Piano
Abb Locke, Tenor Sax
Cornelius Boyson, Bass
Vince Chappelle, Drums
Harmonia Hinds, Harmonica on I’m A Woman
Produced by Koko Taylor, Bruce Iglauer and Richard McLeese
Recorded and Mixed by Fred Breitberg at Mantra Studios, Chicago IL

Tracks 2, 4:
Criss Johnson, Lead Guitar
Calvin “Vino” Louden, Rhythm Guitar
Jeremiah Africa, Keyboards
Jerry Murphy, Bass
Ray “Killer” Allison, Drums
Carey Bell, Harmonica on Mother Nature
Buddy Guy, Guitar and Vocals on Born Under A Bad Sign
Produced by Criss Johnson, Koko Taylor and Bruce Iglauer
Recorded and Mixed by David Axelbaum at Streeterville Studios, Chicago IL

Track 6:
Mighty Joe Young, Lead Guitar
Sammy Lawhorn, Guitar
Bill Heid, Piano
Abb Locke, Tenor Sax
Cornelius Boyson, Bass
Vince Chappelle, Drums
Produced by Koko Taylor, Joe Young and Bruce Iglauer
Recorded by Stu Black and Mixed by Alan Hendler at Sound Studios, Chicago, IL

Track 7:
Michael “Mr. Dynamite” Robinson, Lead Guitar
Eddie King, Rhythm Guitar
Jerry Murphy, Bass
Clyde “Youngblood” Tyler, Drums
Produced by Bruce Iglauer, Koko Taylor and Robert “Pops’’ Taylor
Recorded by Justin Niebank and Timothy Powell at FitzGerald’s Roadhouse, Berwyn, IL
Mixed by Justin Niebank at Streeterville Studios, Chicago, IL

Track 8:
Criss Johnson, Guitar
Jim Dortch, Organ
Jerry Murphy, Bass
Ray “Killer” Allison, Drums
Horns Arranged by Gene Barge
Produced by Bruce Iglauer, Koko Taylor and Criss Johnson
Recorded and Mixed by David Axelbaum, assisted by Justin Niebank and Steve Frisk at Streeterville Studios, Chicago IL

Track 10:
Criss Johnson, Guitar
Johnnie Johnson, Piano
Matthew Skoller, Harmonica
Kenny Hampton, Bass
Kriss T. Johnson, Jr., Drums
Produced by Koko Taylor, Criss Johnson and Bruce Iglauer
Recorded and Mixed by David Axelbaum at Chicago Recording Company, Chicago, IL

Track 11:
Criss Johnson, Guitar
“Professor” Eddie Lusk, Organ
Johnny B. Gayden, Bass
Ray “Killer” Allison, Drums
Produced by Koko Taylor, Bruce Iglauer and Criss Johnson
Recorded and Mixed by Justin Niebank at Streeterville Studios, Chicago, IL

Crown Jewels produced by Bruce Iglauer
Remastered by Collin Jordan, The Boiler Room, Chicago, IL
Front cover photo by Paul Natkin/Photo Reserve
Back cover photo by Sandro Miller
Packaging designed by Kevin Niemiec