| features in: Album Chart of 1957 ● Album Chart of the Decade: 1950s |
It’s not uncommon for the debut albums of the 1950s to serve as round-ups of preceding single sides, and such is the case for the first Muddy Waters LP. I have used my discretion to afford the release an “A-list” status, although it’s really pushing the boundaries by virtue of the fact that “I Can’t Be Satisified” was recorded way back in April 1948! This is an isolated case however, and the rest of the recording dates are a little more timeous: 1950 (2); 1951 (4); 1952 (1); 1953 (1) and 1954 (3). If it was any other decade I’d be much less inclined to be so lenient, but, hey-ho, it’s the 50s and, after all, these are the first tentative steps into the LP market by Chess. As if the aforementioned wasn’t bad enough, the year of release is the next dilemma! “The Best of Muddy Waters” was released in 1957 according to bsnpubs.com, Discogs and RYM (who have it as the #1 compile LP of that year). There's a fair degree of support for an April 1958 release date due to the fact that the LP was reviewed in Billboard at that time (along with Chuck Berry's “One Dozen Berrys” which was several catalogue numbers later). It's possible that Billboard were simply late with “getting on” or, as is more likely, received a promotion batch non-timeously from the Chess label. I also note that the preceding catalogue number (Chess LP-1427, the debut Chuck Berry) has a confirmed release date of May 1957. You’d have to think LP-1428 wouldn’t be too far behind that. Anyway, all of these technical points aside, the set is very fine indeed, and would have served as a wonderful introduction to Muddy’s sound – relaxed, but full of conviction, sexy bluesy rather than mournful bluesy. Muddy plays the part of an Alpha male with a preacher’s magnetism, comin’ from deep in the Delta, but now firmly framed by an urban, street-wise grime. Muddy leads his charges various well, notably Little Walter who’s a virtual ever-present on his harmonica. A young Mick Jagger was certainly impressed when he got his copy by mail order. The inclusion here of Muddy’s 1950 single, “Rollin’ Stone”, proved to somewhat monumental…
The Jukebox Rebel
15–Feb–2016
| Tracklist |
| A1 | [02:49]  Muddy Waters and his guitar - Just Make Love To Me (Willie Dixon) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
| A2 | [02:38]  Muddy Waters and his guitar - Long Distance Call (McKinley Morganfield) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
| A3 | [02:49]  Muddy Waters - Louisiana Blues (McKinley Morganfield) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
| A4 | [03:20]  Muddy Waters and his guitar - Honey Bee (McKinley Morganfield) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
| A5 | [03:05]  Muddy Waters - Rollin’ Stone (McKinley Morganfield) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
| A6 | [03:01]  Muddy Waters and his guitar - I’m Ready (Willie Dixon) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
| B1 | [02:49]  Muddy Waters and his guitar - I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man (Willie Dixon) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
| B2 | [02:54] Muddy Waters and his guitar - She Moves Me (McKinley Morganfield) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
| B3 | [03:01]  Muddy Waters and his guitar - Mad Love (McKinley Morganfield) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
| B4 | [03:19] Muddy Waters and his guitar - Standing Around Crying (McKinley Morganfield) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
| B5 | [03:14] Muddy Waters and his guitar - Still A Fool (McKinley Morganfield) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
| B6 | [02:41]  Muddy Waters with rhythm accompaniment - I Can’t Be Satisfied (McKinley Morganfield) Blues / Rhythm n Blues |
