Muddy Waters

INCLUDES FREE MP3 FREE ALBUM DOWNLOAD PLUS 2 BONUS TRACKS

4 1/2 STARS ALL MUSIC GUIDE TO BLUES

is collector’s edition includes Muddy Waters’ sensational second album, Muddy Waters Sings “Big Bill”, originally released on the Chess label in January 1960. Muddy’s electric recasting of blues pioneer Big Bill Broonzy’s usually acoustic numbers is incredibly effective.The guitar work is earthy and throbbing, never superfluos. Backing Waters on harmonica is James Cotton. The collaboration between these two giants makes even the album’s lightest song, “Hey, Hey,” an exciting, rock solid performance. As for the vocals, Waters was never in better form. His voice is gentle on “How Long,” while it threatens on “Double Trouble.” Other highlights include “Just a Dream”, a wonderfully tough rendition of “Tell Me Baby”, the swaggering slow grind of “When I Get to Thiniking”, the muscular shuffle of “Baby I Done Got Wise”, and the classic “I Feel So Good. The drumming of Francis Clayton is exceptionally powerful and more prominent in the mix than on most ‘50s blues recordings.In addition to the original masterpiece, this WaxTime LP includes 2 bonus tracks from the same period: the great “Soon Forgotten” and “Meanest Woman.

PERSONNEL:

MUDDY WATERS vocals and guitar, plus:

James Cotton (harmonica) Pat Hare (guitar) Andrew Stephenson (bass)
Otis Spann (piano) Francis Clay or Willie “Big Eyes” Smith (drums)

Recorded at Chess Studio, Chicago, June-August 1959.

*BONUS TRACKS:
James Cotton (harmonica), Pat Hare (guitar), Andrew Stephenson (bass),
Otis Spann (piano), Francis Clay (drums).
Recorded in Chicago, June 1960.

SIDE 1

01 TELL ME BABY
02 SOUTHBOUND TRAIN
03 WHEN I GET TO THINKING
04 JUST A DREAM (ON MY MIND)
05 DOUBLE TROUBLE
06 SOON FORGOTTEN (*)

SIDE 2

01 I FEEL SO GOOD
02 BABY, I DONE GOT WISE
03 MOPPER’S BLUES
04 LONESOME ROAD BLUES
05 HEY, HEY
06 MEANEST WOMAN (*)

(*) Bonus tracks