"The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album" by MUDDY WATERS – April 1975 US LP on Chess Records featuring Pinetop Perkins, Paul Butterfield, Bob Margolin, Garth Hudson and Levon Helm of The Band, Fred Carter and Howard Johnson with Producer Henry Glover (October 1995 UK/EUROPE MCA/Chess Expanded Edition CD Reissue with One Bonus Track – Part of The Original Chess Masters Reissue Series - Erick Labson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

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After 27 years recording for Chess Records, this April 1975 American album was Muddy's last for the label (never got a UK release) and I think it's a bit of a forgotten gem. 

"The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album" is also one of those CDs that actually received an official British and European release by MCA as part of 'The Original Chess Masters' Series. Here is the love, deep as an ocean...

UK/EUROPE originally released 24 October 1995 - "The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album" by MUDDY WATERS on Chess/MCA MCD 09359 (Barcode 076732935927) is an Expanded Edition CD Reissue with One Bonus Track and is part of The Original Chess Masters Reissue Series. It plays out as follows (43:54 minutes):

1. Why Are People Like That [Side 1]

2. Going Down To Main Street 

3. Born With Nothing 

4. Caldonia 

5. Funny Sounds [Side 2]

6. Love, Deep As The Ocean

7. Let The Good Times Roll 

8. Kansas City

Tracks 1 to 8 are the album "The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album" – released April 1975 in the USA on Chess Records CH 60035 and was produced by HENRY GLOVER. 

BONUS TRACK: 

9. Fox Squirrel – PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED CD-Only Bonus Track 

MUSICIANS: 

MUDDY WATERS – Vocals and Guitar 

PINETOP PERKINS – Piano and Additional Vocals on "Kansas City" and "Caldonia"

PAUL BUTTERFIELD – Harmonica 

BOB MARGOLIN – Guitar 

HOWARD JOHNSON – Saxophone 

GARTH HUDSON (of The Band) – Organ, Accordion and Saxophone

FRED CARTER – Bass and Guitar 

LEVON HELM (of The Band) – Drums and Bass

As you can see from the list provided above, an impressive array of musicians were involved in the sessions recorded across two days in February 1975 at Bearsville's Studios in Turtle Creek, New York (the 6th and 7th). Paul Butterfield of Elektra Records' The Butterfield Blues Band provides fabulous bluesy Harmonica throughout; the legendary (Joe Willie) Pinetop Perkins tinkles the ivories and guest vocals on "Kansas City" and "Caldonia" with both Garth Hudson and Levon Helm of those Americana champions The Band throwing in Keyboards/Accordion and Drums/Bass respectively. 

While "The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album" is a straight-up blues record for the most part, Hudson's Accordion playing gives some of the tracks a slightly Swing/Cajun feel - and is a genuine surprise and treat for it too. Special mention should also go to Butterfield's harp warbling which is typically fantastic throughout - clearly enthused by the mere proximity of the great blues man. In fact you can 'feel' the love of each musician towards Muddy in each and every recording.

Five of its eight tracks are Muddy Waters originals topped up with three cover versions - Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller's peach "Kansas City", made famous by Wilbert Harrison and done by hundreds of others since, with the other two being Louis Jordan R 'n' B classics, "Let The Good Times Roll" and "Caldonia" - penned by his wife Fleecie Moore. The original vinyl album was afforded the luxury of a colour gatefold sleeve picturing the famous Blues and Rock World guests on the inside - the 12-page booklet reproduces those photos (smiles all around) and adds new liner notes from CHRIS MORRIS of Billboard Magazine. 

Producer-Songwriter Henry Glover had cut albums on King Records in the Fifties and Sixties with some amazing names – James Brown, Little Willie John and Hank Ballard - whilst Drummer and full-on Muddy enthusiast Levon Helm had been the catalyst for the Rock-Blues album – emulating what Howlin Wolf had done with The Rolling Stones on their label for the stunning 'London Sessions' series of albums (Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley and so on). I have reviewed "The Howlin Wolf London Sessions: 2CD Deluxe Edition" reissue (check that out).  

This 1995 ERICK LABSON remaster has typically ace sound from one of Universal's primo engineers (over a thousand transfer credits to his name including huge swathes of the Chess, Cadet and Checker catalogues). What is cool too is that "Fox Squirrel" - a CD-only bonus track – is just that - a genuine discovery and bonus (astonishing that this McKinley Morganfield original was left off the record nor ever used as a B-side?).

"The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album" divides some fans, but I feel it's a forgotten gem from a golden age that deserves a rethink. For sure it isn't the hard-hitting Chicago Blues-Rock that the later Johnny Winter/Muddy Waters collaborations on Blue Sky Records would produce - "Hard Again" in 1977, "I'm Ready" in 1978 and the "Live" Album in 1979 - stuff that revitalised the great man's career. But it is good, just in a different way, criminally overlooked and like almost all of his 70's recordings - I have always loved it to bits. 

I know there are those who would say that his 40ts, 50ts and 60ts Aristocrat and Chess sides are the only Holy Grail worth sipping from - but I say knob to that. 

Test out "Going Down To Main Street" on iTunes or any streamer service and you'll get to a deeper part of an ocean you will want to swim/drown in...

"Fathers And Sons" by MUDDY WATERS – August 1969 (USA) and October 1969 (UK) Double-Album on Chess Records in Stereo - featuring Otis Spann, Mike Bloomfield, Paul Butterfield, Donald "Duck" Dunn of Booker T & The MGs, Phil Upchurch and Buddy Miles (October 2001 US MCA/Chess CD Reissue – Part of the Blues Classics - Remastered & Revisited Series - Erick Labson Remaster) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…She's Been Gone Twenty-Four Hours... 

And That's Twenty-Three Hours Too Long…"

If you were to pick one release that perfectly blended great Old-School Blues with Classic Rock - then 1969s "Fathers And Sons" featuring the mighty MUDDY WATERS and good friends would be the album. And now that 16-track sweet-as-a-nut double LP set is further supplemented on this fabulous CD reissue with 4 great bonuses (part of Universal’s “Blues Classics - Revisited & Remastered” CD Series). Its like being handed a virtual master class in Blues-Rock - truly blistering stuff. Here are Honey Bee details…

USA released October 2001 - "Fathers And Sons" by MUDDY WATERS on MCA/Chess 088 112 648-2 (Barcode 008811264826) is an Expanded Edition Reissue in the Blues Classics - Remastered And Revisited Series that offers the original 2LP Remastered onto 1CD with Bonus Tracks. It plays out as follows (77:38 minutes):

1. All Aboard

2. Mean Disposition

3. Blow Wind Blow

4. Can’t Lose What You Ain’t Never Had

5. Walkin’ Thru The Park

6. Forty Days And Forty Nights

7. Standin’ Round Cryin’

8. I’m Ready

9. Twenty Four Hours

10. Sugar Sweet 

11. Country Boy - Previously Unreleased

12. I Love The Life I Live (I Live The Life I Love) - Previously Unreleased

13. Oh Yeah - Previously Unreleased

14. I Feel So Good - Previously Unreleased

15. Long Distance Call [Live]

16. Baby, Please Don’t Go [Live]

17. Honey Bee [Live]

18. The Same Thing [Live]

19. Got My Mojo Working, Part One

20. Got My Mojo Working, Part Two

Tracks 1 to 10 of the CD (studio recordings) combined with 15 to 20 (live recordings) make up the "Fathers And Sons" double-album issued August 1969 on Chess LPS-127 in the USA and October 1969 on Chess CRL 4556 in the UK (both 2LP vinyl sets).

Tracks 11 to 14 are previously unreleased studio tracks from the sessions; Track 14 (a cover of Big Bill Broonzy's “I Feel So Good") is previously unreleased in the USA on album - it was a USA 7" single in 1970 - the B-side to "Going Home" on Chess 2085.

The studio tracks (1 to 14) were recorded 21, 22 and 23 April 1969 in Chicago, Illinois, while the live tracks were recorded on 24 April 1969 (with the same band) at the "Super Cosmic Joy-Scout Jamboree" also in Chicago, Illinois.

The band for the sessions was:

MUDDY WATERS - Vocals and Guitar

OTIS SPANN - Piano

MIKE BLOOMFIELD - Guitar

PAUL BUTTERFIELD - Harmonica

DONALD "DUCK" DUNN - Bass

SAM LAY - Drums

Guests were:

PHIL UPCHURCH - Bass on "All Aboard" only

JEFF CARP - Chromatic Harmonica on "All Aboard" only

PAUL ASBELL - Rhythm Guitar on "Walking Thru The Park", "Forty Days & Forty Nights" and "Sugar Sweet" only)

BUDDY MILES - Drums on "Got My Mojo Working, Part Two" only

Digitally remastered by ERICK LABSON of Universal - the sound quality is typically fantastic (he has over 1000 mastering credits to his name for audio restoration and transfer) and reflect the superb original Production skills of NORMAN DAYRON. The 12-page booklet has typically brilliant and informative liner notes by Blues and R'n'B expert BILL DAHL and features a few photos of the sessionmen (Butterfield, Donald "Duck" Dunn etc) - clearly enthused to be playing with a legend.

Highlights would include Muddy's mournful yet fun cover of Eddie Boyd's "Twenty Four Hours" (lyrics from the song title this review), the live version of Willie Dixon's sex song "The Same Thing" and the in-your-face rocking of "Blow Wind Blow". Then there's the accompaniment - Donald "Duck" Dunn of Booker T & The MG's providing tight-as-a-nun's-knickers bass playing, Mike Bloomfield blissed out and licking away on Guitar - while Paul Butterfield and his mean harmonica simply blast their way through the songs like a pair possessed (Butterfield is particularly brilliant on “Forty Days And Forty Nights”). The icing on the cake is the four studio cuts that make “Fathers And Sons” even stronger than before - "Country Boy" being intense Blues Rock with Butterfield laying down a harmonica storm that would have made Little Walter proud - wow…

This is a great Muddy Waters record - not just a good one - and this cool CD reissue (at less than five quid from some retailers) does that vinyl-double proud - and then some…

Titles in the Universal US-Only 

Blues Classics - Remastered & Revisited CD Series

1 and 2 are SUHA GUR remasters

 3 to 11 are ERICK LABSON remasters (I've reviewed most)

1. Bad News Is Coming - LUTHER ALLISON

(1972 Gordy LP, 2001 CD Remaster + Four Previously Unreleased Bonus Tracks) - Universal 440 013 407-2 (Barcode 044001340727)

2. Luther’s Blues - LUTHER ALLISON

(1974 USA 9-track LP with 3 Previously Unreleased bonuses, 70:28 minutes)

Universal 440 013 409-2 (Barcode 044001340925)

3. Two Steps From The Blues - BOBBY BLAND

(1961 USA 12-track LP on Duke with 2 bonuses, 35:12 minutes)

MCA 088 112 516-2 (Barcode 008811251628)

4. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - JOHN LEE HOOKER

(October 1966 and September 1991 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 79:44 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 821-2 (Barcode 008811282127)

5. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - HOWLIN' WOLF

(January 1966 on Chess and January 1967 on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 66:45 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 820-2 (Barcode 008811282028)

6. Tell Mama: The Complete Muscle Shoals Sessions - ETTA JAMES

(January 1968 US 12-Track LP on Cadet - 13-22 being bonuses, 57:11 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 518-2 (Barcode 008811251826)

7. Live At San Quentin - B.B. KING

(1990 13-Track Compilation on MCA, no extras, 64:09 minutes)

MCA America 088 112 517-2 (Barcode 008811251727)

8. At Newport 1960 - MUDDY WATERS

(1960 US 9-Track LP on Chess with 10-13 being 4 Mono Studio Tracks from June 1960 as bonus tracks, 44:41 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 515-2 (Barcode 008811251529)

9. Fathers & Sons - MUDDY WATERS (with Paul Butterfield, Otis Spann, Mike Bloomfield, Donald 'Duck' Dunn and Buddy Miles)

(Tracks 1-10 and 15-20 is the August 1969 2LP set on Chess in Full with Tracks 11, 12, 13 being previously unreleased - and 14 previously unreleased in the USA). (77:38 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 648-2 (Barcode 008811264826)

10. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - MUDDY WATERS

MCA/Chess 088 112 822-2 (Barcode 008811282226)

11. The Real Folk Blues/More Real Folk Blues - SONNY BOY WILLIAMSON

(January 1966 and January 1967 LPs on Chess, 2LPs on 1CD, 65:28 minutes)

MCA/Chess 088 112 823-2 (Barcode 008811282325)

"Fathers And Sons" by MUDDY WATERS. A 1969 2LP Set On Chess Records Given A Stunning 2001 CD Remaster With Bonuses...

“She’s Been Gone Twenty-Four Hours…And That’s Twenty-Three Hours Too Long…”


If you were to pick one release that perfectly blended great blues with rock, then 1969’s “Fathers And Sons” would be that album. And now that 16-track sweet-as-a-nut double album is further supplemented on this 2001 reissue with 4 great bonuses. It’s like being handed a virtual master class in blues-rock – truly blistering stuff.

Here’s a detailed breakdown (77:38 minutes):
CD tracks 1 to 10 (studio recordings) and 15 to 20 (live recordings) make up the “Fathers And Sons” album issued August 1969 on Chess LPS-127 in the USA and issued October 1969 on Chess CRL 4556 in the UK (both 2LP vinyl sets).

CD tracks 11 to 14 are previously unreleased studio tracks (14 being unreleased in the USA on album, it’s Chess 7” single 2085).

The studio tracks (1 to 14) were recorded 21, 22 and 23 April 1969 in Chicago, Illinois, while the live tracks were recorded on 24 April 1969 (with the same band) at the “Super Cosmic Joy-Scout Jamboree” also in Chicago, Illinois.

The band for the sessions were:
MUDDY WATERS – Vocals and Guitar
OTIS SPANN – Piano
MIKE BLOOMFIELD – Guitar
PAUL BUTTERFIELD – Harmonica
DONALD “DUCK” DUNN – Bass
SAM LAY – Drums

Guests were:
PHIL UPCHURCH – Bass on “All Aboard” only
JEFF CARP – Chromatic Harmonica on “All Aboard” only
PAUL ASBELL – Rhythm Guitar on “Walking Thru The Park”, “Forty Days & Forty Nights” and “Sugar Sweet” only)
BUDDY MILES – Drums on “Got My Mojo Working, Part Two” only

Digitally remastered by ERICK LABSON of Universal, the sound quality is typically fantastic (he has over 800 mastering credits to his name), the 12-page booklet informative with the contributors pictured and the artwork faithful to the original. Highlights would include a mournful yet fun cover of Eddie Boyd’s “Twenty Four Hours” (lyrics above), the live version of Willie Dixon’s sex song “The Same Thing” and in-your-face rocking of “Blow Wind Blow”. Then there’s the accompaniment – Donald “Duck” Dunn of Booker T & The MG’s providing tight-as-a-nun’s-knickers bass playing, Mike Bloomfield blissed out and licking away on Guitar - while Paul Butterfield and his mean harmonica simply blast their way through the songs like a pair possessed!

This is a great Muddy Waters record – and this cool CD reissue does it proud. Highly recommended.


PS: this title is part of Universal’s “Blues Classics – Remastered & Revisited” Series – I've listed all 10 titles in another Blogger entry