Chess Records Revives Classic Albums from Etta James and Chuck Berry on Vinyl, with Bo Diddley and Muddy Waters to Follow

​Chess Records Revives Classic Albums from Etta James and Chuck Berry on Vinyl, with Bo Diddley and Muddy Waters to Follow

​ now available on vinyl. Order the newly released vinyl albums HERE.

​Chess Records brings two landmark albums back to vinyl, spotlighting the enduring legacy of **Etta James’ At Last! ** and Chuck Berry’s Berry Is On Top. With forthcoming reissues from Bo Diddley and Muddy Waters also announced, the series reaffirms why these recordings remain foundational to blues, soul, and rock & roll.

Berry Is On Top captures Chuck Berry at his most influential, distilling the essence of early rock & roll through era-defining songs such as “Johnny B. Goode” and “Roll Over Beethoven.” At Last! stands among Etta James’ most iconic works, blending soul, jazz, blues, and gospel into a vocal performance that remains both intimate and commanding.

​Both albums have been newly remastered from the original analog tapes, with At Last! sourced from a recently rediscovered original master. Lacquers were cut by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab, with pressings on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings (QRP). Each release is housed in archival-quality tip-on gatefold jackets, offering collectors and audiophiles a premium listening experience.

​The Chess/Acoustic Sounds series has also opened preorders for two upcoming titles that further underline the label’s historic impact. Bo Diddley’s Bo Diddley (Chess 1431) includes the explosive title track alongside genre-shaping recordings like “I’m a Man” and “Pretty Thing,” songs that helped define the rhythmic backbone of rock & roll.

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Also slated for release is Muddy Waters’ Folk Singer, a raw and deeply influential acoustic blues album featuring an all-star lineup including Buddy Guy, Willie Dixon, and Clifton James. Stripped to its essentials, the record revisits early blues traditions through performances of classics such as “Good Morning School Girl” and “Feel Like Going Home,” showcasing Waters’ voice and presence in their most elemental form.