Chess

Based in Chicago, Illinois, Chess was one of the premier blues labels of the 1950s and 60s. They released records by every major blues artist in Chicago, including John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters, Elmore James, Bo Diddley, Chuck Berry, Little Walter and many others. Founded by brothers Leonard Chess and Phil Chess in 1950, they started out as a small R&B label called The Aristocrat Of Records before changing their name to Chess. In 1969, the label was sold to General Recorded Tape for $6.5 million. Leonard Chess passed away later that year.

The label also released music in other genres such as R&B, soul, jazz, gospel and rock. Over the years they had various associated publishing companies like Arc Music Corp., co-founded by Leonard Chess in 1953.

Throughout its history, Chess went through different label designs for their first pressings with variations in color and design elements like chess pieces or vertical letters spelling "Chess". Some releases even had red vinyl issues.