CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

The Definitive Collection

by: Muddy Waters

Release Date May 23, 2006
There is a huge amount of Muddy Waters-compilations out there, and while MCA/Chess's two-disc, 50-track "Anthology 1947-1972" is certainly more definitive than this Geffen compilation, it does offer a very good overview of Muddy Waters' career.

Opening with the classic 1948 single "I Can't Be Satisfied", this CD takes you through (most of) the highlights from the 1950s and 60s. "Hoochie Coochie Man", "I'm Ready", "I Just Wanna Make Love To You", "Mannish Boy", and "Got My Mojo Working" are here, of course, and in the original versions, too, but it's a shame that some slightly lesser known (but equally fine) singles like "I Love The Life I Live, I Live The Life I Love", "She's Nineteen Years Old" and "I Want To Be Loved" are missing. ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Breakin' It Up & Breakin' It Down

by: Muddy Waters

Release Date June 05, 2007
What a concert CD! "Breakin' it Up, Breakin' it Down" features the vocals of three pretty good bluesmen--Muddy Waters, James Cotton, and Johnny Winter. Waters and Winter also play guitar, and James Cotton is referred to as "Superharp" in the notes accompanying the CD. Also in the group: Bob Margolin (guitar and vocals), Pinetop Perkins (vocals and piano), Willie "Big Eyes" Smith (drum), and Charles Calmese (Bass). They play awfully well together. . . .

Bob Margolin wrote to notes. At one point he says of this CD: "[The CD] showcases each of these [three] blues legends leading the band, but more important historically, and much more fun, we find them jamming together, pushing, teasing, and inspiring one another."

Let's take a look ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Fathers and Sons

by: Muddy Waters

Release Date October 30, 2001
There are seminal moments in the arts when circumstances bring giants together in perfect alignment, and this album is one of them. The cast could never be better than the one contained herein, with the huge blues voice of Muddy Waters leading the way, half-brother Otis Spann pounding out some of his most brilliant piano ever, Paul Butterfield blowing his harp as if nations rise or fall by his effort, Mike Bloomfield (not long for this world after this 1969 recording) spinning out black blues guitar licks in a faithful but trailblazing fashion, plus a killer rhythm section of Stax/Volt's Donald "Duck" Dunn and Muddy's own Sam Lay on drums.

The songs are Muddy classics, from the thundering "40 Days And 40 Nights" to the braggadocio of "I'm Ready" ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

At Newport

by: Muddy Waters

Release Date February 27, 2001
This album is so good it should be mandatory listening before any young punk even thinks about playing guitar.

Great songs, great recording, even greater artist.

Buy it, play it and share it with folks who think rock and roll started with Elvis...

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Folk Singer

by: Muddy Waters

Release Date July 27, 1999
This is one of my alltime favorite blues albums. It is an acoustic album and Muddy shines in this format. The only thing I didn't care for on this version were the five bonus tracks. They just don't fit the vibe of the original version. On the other hand, it's some additional Muddy Waters for no extra cost! Get this album and you won't be disappointed.

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

The Anthology: 1947-1972

by: Muddy Waters

Release Date August 28, 2001
This was purchased as a gift for a fiend who "loves" Muddy Waters. She was thrilled with this collection and said it was the best!

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

Muddy "Mississippi" Waters Live

by: Muddy Waters

Release Date September 02, 2003
I am not leaving a long detailed review for this album. I just wanted say that this is an amazing set. Johnny and Bob compliment Muddy so well. I love this album. I played it nonstop for like six months. If you love Muddy Waters, or are just a lover of the blues, you will absolutely love this album. Plus the remastered quality of this recording make it a joy to listen too. I dare you to try and not move your head and stomp your feet when have this disc in.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

Hard Again

by: Muddy Waters

Release Date May 18, 2004
Not much new I can say about a classic, but I will say that it's very rare anymore to listen to a band and say to yourself, "Hey, these guys sound like they're having a real good time". In a world dominated by plastic sounding music(Plastic People! Oh, baby now you're such a draaaaaag! Sorry about that, I couldn't resist), it's so refreshing to listen to a group that doesn't sound like it's playing music simply because it's their job. Now while this was an attempt for Muddy to make a comeback, these guys sound like they love what they're doing so much that they couldn't care less if they sold one copy of the album, or even gave a hoot if they were being recorded at all! Muddy had a fantastic musical career long before this album, but in teaming up with Johnny Winter and his crew, he showed the world ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Electric Mud

by: Muddy Waters

Release Date November 19, 1996
Muddy is always great but this CD is a little sad. I bought it when it first came out and it was disappionting then. I think it an attempt to cash in on white performers sucess with "electric" versions of classic blues tunes. The fuzz-tone guitars are just out of place with Muddy's robust blues voice. It has some historical value given the unique nature of the collaboration but other than that forget it. For the real thing get "Mississippi Muddy Waters" a great live album with Pinetop Perkins and Johnny Winter. It's 100 proof.

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

His Best: 1947 to 1955

by: Muddy Waters

Release Date March 25, 1997
There may be slightly (and I do mean slightly) better produced Muddy Waters CDs, but this stands out as my favorite. It has an intimate, yet at the same time outstanding, archival feel. Without R+B musicians like Muddy Waters its hard to imagine the evolution of mainstream Rock.

This CD has got to be in any music anthology, and certainly in any R&B collection.

It is a cultural treasure.

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