Chess Records, one of three independent labels...

Chess Records, one of three independent labels that contributed most in the 1950s to the birth of rock ‘n’ roll, has found a new home on CD.

Along with New York’s Atlantic Records and Memphis’ Sun Records, the Chicago-based Chess label helped define both the attitude and style of early rock, thanks to the works of such artists as Chuck Berry, Muddy Waters, Bo Diddley and Howlin’ Wolf.

But the Chess catalogue virtually faded from the market place in the ‘70s and ‘80s as rights to the old records went through a succession of owners who didn’t promote them aggressively.

That situation changed in 1985 when giant MCA Records bought the rights and began re-releasing the old albums in vinyl and cassette forms. The label is now concentrating on the CD market and two dividends--due by Thanksgiving--will be boxed CD sets saluting Berry and Willie Dixon.

Andy McKaie, MCA’s director of artists and repertoire for special markets and products, said the three-CD Berry box (also available in vinyl and cassette) will feature 71 songs, including six tracks never before available in this country, and a 32-page booklet. Retail price: $39.95.

The two-disc Dixon box will retail for around $25 and feature 36 songs written by Dixon--30 of them sung by such artists as Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf. Also due in November: two single-disc budget retrospectives of Etta James’ Chess recordings.

McKaie said the projects climax a dramatic 1988 Chess reissue program that has resulted in more than 40 albums in budget (under $10) CDs. They include six multi-artist, “best of” packages. On tap for 1989: a Muddy Waters boxed set.

BONUS TRACK: Peter, Paul and Mary’s 1962 debut LP, which includes “If I Had a Hammer” and “Lemon Tree,” is out in CD from by Warner Bros., with the rest of the folk trio’s albums due shortly in CD. . . . Rockpile’s “Seconds of Pleasure,” a 1980 collection containing “Teacher Teacher,” offers remakes of four old Everly Brothers tunes (including “Take a Message to Mary” and “When Will I Be Loved”) as bonus tracks. It’s part of Columbia’s budget-line Collector’s Choice series. . . . Rykodisc, which started as a CD-only label, believes there is enough interest in King Sunny Ade’s “Live Live Juju”--recorded last year in Seattle--that the album is being released in vinyl and cassette as well as CD.