A superb 1959 first pressing of the classic blues album Down and Out Blues by Sonny Boy Williamson on Checker/Chess Records.

While this record was released on Chess subsidiary Checker Records, the label pressed discs in 1958 with both the black Checker labels and, as we have here, blue Chess labels (all copies had covers reading Checker.)

The cover is in Near Mint- condition, with small dings to the top corners, and short black ink lines on the back, highlighting the first songs on each side.  The thick Blue Label Deep Groove disc grades Near Mint, and looks as if it’s been played once or twice at most, with no sign of wear and a few spindle marks on one label.  Sheldon is stamped on the dead wax on both sides.

An exceptional copy of an essential blues album.