Alligator Records is set to release Crown Jewels, a new compilation that features some of the finest performances by the legendary Koko Taylor, known worldwide as the “Queen of the Blues.” The album arrives July 18, 2025, on vinyl and digital platforms (no CD).
Widely regarded as the greatest female blues vocalist of her generation, Taylor earned her place in history with a gritty, powerful voice that inspired countless imitators. Over the course of her career, she toured internationally, appeared in films and on television, and won a Grammy Award with nine additional nominations. She also received more Blues Music Awards than any other artist.
Taylor’s relationship with Alligator Records was both professional and personal. From her 1975 label debut I Got What It Takes until her passing in 2009, she collaborated closely with founder Bruce Iglauer, who produced or co-produced nine of her albums. Known for her exacting standards, Taylor demanded excellence from her bandmates and herself, delivering high-impact performances marked by charisma and emotional depth.
Her life story reflects her deep roots and resilience. Born into a sharecropping family in rural Tennessee, she lost her mother at a young age and left school in third grade to help support her family. After relocating to Chicago in 1952 with her future husband Robert “Pops” Taylor, she worked as a laundress and domestic worker while immersing herself in the city’s blues scene. Encouraged by Pops, she began sitting in at South and West Side clubs, eventually catching the attention of blues luminary Willie Dixon at Sylvio’s. Dixon signed her to Chess Records and produced several singles and albums, including the 1966 breakout hit “Wang Dang Doodle.”
After Chess folded, Taylor briefly returned to domestic work before returning to the stage. In the early 1970s, Iglauer saw her perform at Wise Fools Pub and was struck by her vocal strength and subtlety. That encounter led to a long-lasting partnership that helped define both her career and the Alligator label.
For Crown Jewels, Iglauer selected and remastered a collection of Taylor’s most beloved songs, including iconic originals like “I’m A Woman,” “Can’t Let Go,” and “Voodoo Woman.” The compilation also features notable collaborations, Buddy Guy on “Born Under A Bad Sign,” Carey Bell on “Mother Nature,” and Pinetop Perkins on “Hey Bartender,” recorded two years before the Blues Brothers popularized it. Her rendition of “I’d Rather Go Blind” demonstrates her dynamic range, from whisper to full-throated roar.
Buy Crown Jewels.
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.