The Nighthawks were playing with Muddy Waters at the Cellar Door at the time, so they invited his band to come into the studio after hours to record some classic Chicago blues tunes, including Jimmy Rogers “Walking By Myself,” John Lee Hooker’s “Sugar Mama,” and Elmore James “Dust My Broom” and “The Sky is Crying.” The result was a classic—a showcase of inspired playing of outstanding blues, titled “Jacks & Kings.” The band to this day regards this as one of their finest moments, and it became probably their best selling album.

In 1979, Adelphi created “Jacks & Kings, Volume 2: Full House.” This featured some quality, previously unreleased material from Side Pocket Shot and the Jacks & Kings sessions. The musical highlights included Paul Butterfield’s “Born in Chicago,” Robert Nighthawk’s “Anna Lee,” and Earl Hooker’s “Two Bugs and a Roach.” It was another solid showcase of classic blues mixed with rock and roll, and has been re-released as the combined CD “Jacks & Kings Volume I & II.”