# Howlin' Wolf — Smokestack Lightnin'

Howlin' Wolf’s Smokestack Lightnin' (1956) is No. 2 in our Blues ranking. The full verdict, and where to hear it.

- **Released:** 1956
- **Label:** Chess
- **On one list:** Blues
- **Updated:** 2026-08-30
- **Artist:** [Howlin' Wolf](https://waxonia.com/artist/howlin-wolf/)
- **Canonical page:** https://waxonia.com/track/howlin-wolf--smokestack-lightnin/

## What we say

### No. 2 in [Blues](https://waxonia.com/genre/blues/)

One chord, a harmonica and a howl, held for three minutes without developing at all. The most hypnotic record on this list and the one the British bands could never get right.

## Listen

[Search Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/search/Howlin'%20Wolf%20Smokestack%20Lightnin') · [YouTube Music](https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=VMUt8KdDtTY)

---

Hand-curated by Waxonia. We host no audio; all links point to streaming platforms.