Latest Release
- MAY 24, 2023
- 9 Songs
- Hard Again · 1977
- King Bee · 1981
- Blues Legends · 1956
- The Best of Muddy Waters · 1948
- Voodoo Blues · 1960
- The Best of Muddy Waters · 1954
- The Chess Box · 1953
- The Chess Story 1947-1956 · 1957
- I'm Ready · 1978
- The Chess Story 1947-1956 · 1957
Essential Albums
- The magnificent acoustic Folk Singer is closer to what this disc's title promises, but The Real Folk Blues is an excellent introduction to Waters and his formation of the electric Chicago blues ensemble sound. It's a superb collection of singles that runs from his 1947 debut "Gypsy Woman" to 1964's "The Same Thing" and "You Can't Lose What You Never Had." At first his approach is spare, just guitar and bass and piano, as he transitions from the raw solo and duo approach of his native Mississippi Delta. "Walkin' Blues" is a stunning showcase for his early, deep-toned slide guitar technique. But by 1955's "Mannish Boy" Chess began letting Waters record with his full band, whose dynamic interplay defined the sound of electric blues as we know it today. Although the line-up of musicians varies in the seven full-band tunes, their quality, cleanly detailed arrangements, and rhythmic intensity are unwavering.
- An intriguing anomaly in Muddy Waters' catalog, this 1964 album is an all-acoustic full-band recording that was intended to appeal to fans of the era's folk revival. In fact, there's nary a folk song to be found here—most of the tunes are penned either by Waters or the album's producer/bassist, Willie Dixon. The unamplified setting and low-key arrangements let Muddy move into an unprecedentedly intimate mood, maximizing the bottom end of his range for a feel that's alternately ominous ("My Captain") and sensual ("Big Leg Woman"). It's a departure from his signature sound, but it stands up today as one of Muddy's most memorable outings.
- 1981
- 1978
- 1977
- 1974
Artist Playlists
- Searing stompers and mournful moans from the Chicago blues king.
- He‘s the key in the ignition of many rock and blues acts.
- His latter-day material packs a potent, bluesy punch.
Singles & EPs
- 2018
Appears On
About Muddy Waters
The father of the modern Chicago blues, Muddy Waters (born McKinley Morganfield) electrified the traditional sounds of the Delta as he cleared a path for rock ’n’ roll. ∙ At age 17, he sold a horse to buy his first guitar and rapidly earned a reputation as the best player in his region of the Mississippi Delta. ∙ Ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax recorded Waters for the first time in 1941 and 1942—sessions later released as The Complete Plantation Recordings, which went on to win a Grammy Award. ∙ “Louisiana Blues,” released in 1950, was the first of his 13 Top 10 Blues singles, which include such classics as “(I’m Your) Hoochie Coochie Man” and “Mannish Boy.” ∙ His Newport Jazz Festival concert, released as At Newport 1960, exposed Chicago blues to a new audience and is ranked among Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time. ∙ In 1964, The Rolling Stones, who had taken their name from a Waters track, went on a pilgrimage to Chess Records, his label, to meet their hero and record a few sides at Chess’ studio. ∙ Between 1972 and 1980, he won a record-setting six Grammy Awards for Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording. ∙ In the ’80s, Waters was inducted into both the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and (posthumously) the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. ∙ Rolling Stone ranked him No. 17 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
- HOMETOWN
- Rolling Fork, MS, United States
- BORN
- April 4, 1913
- GENRE
- Blues