About.com Blues Blog announced new Muddy Waters reissues from the BGO Records specializing in blues, folk and jazz CDs. There's nothing on the label's official page, but the thing seems interesting. One of the disks is a compilation They Call Me Muddy Waters, which would be great if not for the fact that it contains material from early 50s to late 60s. There are many better releases! But the second one looks damn better: it's Live at Mr. Kelly's from 1971. Awesome band (Cotton, Perkins...) and awesome setlist: there are even covers of Jimmy Reed ("You Don't Have to Go") and John Lee Hooker ("Boom Boom").
Another good news: mentioned previously James Cotton, a brilliant harp player, is releasing a new album on Alligator Records. More here. Get ready ;)
I'm also waiting for anothet Ronnie Wood's solo release. Rumours state it's gonna happen this year, probably in September. The album called More Good News was recorded a long time ago...
Showing posts with label muddy waters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label muddy waters. Show all posts
21 July 2010
Muddy Waters - Screamin' and Cryin'
This album by Muddy is very close to my heart. It was recorded in my hometown, 16 years before I was born and 16 years after the famous Newport performance that marked his prime days. Waters was 61 at that time and well after his best years, but what does it matter? The recording is in very fine quality, the band is tight (my favorite, Pinetop Perkins, is on piano) and I'm sure all of the fans gathered at the Warsaw Jazz Jamboree '76 festival were amazed such a legend invaded Poland.
Everything starts kinda shaky but by the time the band gets into 3rd song ("Corrina, Corrina" sung by a duet Muddy-Pinetop) it's obvious I'm in for a treat! The legend is literally screamin' and cryin', but he's also a charismatic bandleader. He leaves the stage for a couple of songs to let his band show off ("Floyd's Guitar Blues" is remarkable - "hey, I know this riff!"), but then suddenly Muddy's back, never tired of singing his biggest hits: "Got My Mojo Workin'" and "Hoochie Coochie Man".
Highlights of the lenghty show include "After Hours" - several years later Pinetop Perkins recorded a solo album containing this song with the same title - and closing tracks (of 16 all - were they encores?), standard "Goin' Down Slow" and "What's the Matter With the Mill" also known as "Can't Get No Grindin'" straight from the 30s.
It's better than his previous work from the 70s and way more natural than all of the work he did after this while pairing with Johnny Winter. It's the last time we can hear Muddy howl "Howlin' Wolf" (by the way, the real Wolf died that year) or "Blow Wind Blow". Apart from a surprisingly great 1974's Unk In Funk, for me this is the most important of Muddy's outings from the 70s.
Everything starts kinda shaky but by the time the band gets into 3rd song ("Corrina, Corrina" sung by a duet Muddy-Pinetop) it's obvious I'm in for a treat! The legend is literally screamin' and cryin', but he's also a charismatic bandleader. He leaves the stage for a couple of songs to let his band show off ("Floyd's Guitar Blues" is remarkable - "hey, I know this riff!"), but then suddenly Muddy's back, never tired of singing his biggest hits: "Got My Mojo Workin'" and "Hoochie Coochie Man".
Highlights of the lenghty show include "After Hours" - several years later Pinetop Perkins recorded a solo album containing this song with the same title - and closing tracks (of 16 all - were they encores?), standard "Goin' Down Slow" and "What's the Matter With the Mill" also known as "Can't Get No Grindin'" straight from the 30s.
It's better than his previous work from the 70s and way more natural than all of the work he did after this while pairing with Johnny Winter. It's the last time we can hear Muddy howl "Howlin' Wolf" (by the way, the real Wolf died that year) or "Blow Wind Blow". Apart from a surprisingly great 1974's Unk In Funk, for me this is the most important of Muddy's outings from the 70s.
04 April 2010
Muddy Waters' birthday!
It would've been 97th Muddy's birthday... Time to hail the Father of not only Chicago Blues, but music as we know it today ;) Can't write no more, no words can say how much he's missed.
The one and only Hoochie Coochie Man ;)
28 January 2010
The Holy Muddy Trinity
Countless compilations of Muddy Waters singles have been released and they're all fun (especially early sides). But, after you've heard first Muddy singles, it's time to dig a little bit deeper. Let me present the Holy Trinity of Muddy Waters LPs, three definitive and absolutely essential blues albums that I've listened to about a hundred times each ;-)
Without doubt, the finest Muddy's live album with his biggest hits and lesser-known songs. Classic sound and a great lineup, also worthy of note is wild audience full of screaming girls :)
On this LP Muddy covers songs by delta blues legend, songwriter, singer and guitar player, Big Bill Broonzy. "Feel So Good" and "Mopper's Blues" deserve Grammys. Or something.
Finally, this is late session, recorded for Chess in 1964. All-acoustic work with Buddy Guy on some kind of rhythm guitar. It is as good as that sounds!
Yeah.
Without doubt, the finest Muddy's live album with his biggest hits and lesser-known songs. Classic sound and a great lineup, also worthy of note is wild audience full of screaming girls :)
On this LP Muddy covers songs by delta blues legend, songwriter, singer and guitar player, Big Bill Broonzy. "Feel So Good" and "Mopper's Blues" deserve Grammys. Or something.
Finally, this is late session, recorded for Chess in 1964. All-acoustic work with Buddy Guy on some kind of rhythm guitar. It is as good as that sounds!
Yeah.
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