# of plays on my iTunes: 207
Released: 1997
All best-of albums tell a story, and considering the huge influence of Muddy Waters, it is not surprising that Chess Records chose to spread the entry of his story into the Chess 50th Anniversary Collection over two discs. However, while both albums are full of fantastic material, this first disc holds the most timeless and influential of Muddy’s work (with the exception of “Got My Mojo Working,” which appears on the second disc), documenting the transition from the rural sound of the Delta to the urban sound which would come to define Chicago Blues.
The liner notes give a good, concise picture of the start of this great career. Muddy Waters had learned to play guitar as a teenager in Mississippi, even studying under Son House. He played local juke joints, and a few Library of Congress field recordings of his music from the early ’40’s exist, but the main source of his meager income was from working the cotton fields. He joined the huge wave of African-Americans migrating from the Delta to Chicago in search of better jobs, taking a truck-driving job lined up for him by relatives, but bringing his guitar along as well. On Chicago’s South Side he worked to adapt his sound to urban tastes and quickly became connected with many of the other musicians. A particularly valuable friend was pianist Sunnyland Slim, who both introduced him to musicians including his future guitarist Jimmy Rogers and took him along to recording sessions at the local Aristocrat (soon renamed Chess) Records, a one of many labels to start up after the end of World War II, founded by immigrant brothers Leonard and Phil Chess.
The CD begins with the lively “I Can’t Be Satisfied” and its slower flip side “I Feel Like Going Home” which made up Muddy’s first hit release for Chess. These recordings feature just Muddy on vocals and guitar and Ernest “Big” Crawford on bass. The hauntingly spare sound clearly shows Muddy’s triple mastery of singing, guitar, and songwriting. Pleased with the success of this formula, the Chess brothers had Muddy and Crawford continue recording together, producing classic songs such as “Rollin’ and Tumblin’, Part 1,” and “Rollin’ Stone,” which inspired a certain group of English youths.
However, Muddy had formed a band, which was necessary for playing the local bar scene, and he wanted to bring these musicians into the studio with him. “Louisiana Blues,” his first success on the R&B charts, features Muddy with Little Walter, who was soon to redefine the blues harmonica with his aggressive, amplified approach. In fact, although Muddy was a guitarist, the harmonica came to be the driving force of his band’s sound for the rest of his years with Chess. Legendary guitarist Jimmy Rogers appears on “Standing Around Crying,” and the great pianist Otis Spann does so on “I Want You To Love Me.”
Up to this point, Muddy had written (or adapted) almost all of his own material, but he was soon to form an immensely productive partnership with bassist Willie Dixon, one of the great songwriters of the blues, and also a talented producer, who was already working at Chess. Dixon’s first major success for Waters was “I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man,” one of Muddy’s signature songs. It is a simple rhythmic groove, but extremely infectious, especially with Muddy’s vocal delivery.
The next number, “I Just Want to Make Love to You,” also a Dixon composition, shows the band really coming together and polishing the rough edges while maintaining a forceful sound. Walter, Spann, and Dixon work together perfectly on the opening groove, and Little Walter’s harmonica solo is one of the all-time best.
“Mannish Boy,” a reworking of Bo Diddley’s “I’m a Man” is another of Muddy’s signature songs. The band repeats a simple, but forceful harmonica-driven rhythm, while Muddy works a faux audience into a frenzy with his great voice and delivery. The way he stretches out the letters M-A-N makes it obvious why his version largely stole the spotlight from Bo Diddley’s.
As one would expect, “His Best 1947-1955” is full of stellar music, and every track is well worth a listen. Anything less would be a nasty surprise coming from the most energetic years of one of the great singers, guitarists, songwriters, and bandleaders of the blues. If you are a serious blues fan, I’m sure you already have this record or a similar Muddy Waters best-of like the single-disc The Definitive Collection or the two-disc The Anthology, and you are just reading now to see if I can give you any additional background. If you are a casual fan and want to build a well-rounded collection of blues albums, this is a perfect place to start.
Track Listing:
1. I Can’t Be Satisfied—2:44
2. I Feel Like Going Home—3:12
3. Train Fare Blues—2:48
4. Rollin’ and Tumblin’, Pt. 1—3:01
5. Rollin’ Stone—3:08
6. Louisiana Blues—2:55
7. Long Distance Call—2:42
8. Honey Bee—3:23
9. She Moves Me—2:59
10. Still a Fool—3:20
11. Standing Around Crying—3:23
12. Baby Please Don’t Go—3:18
13. I Want You to Love Me—3:03
14. I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man—2:50
15. I Just Want to Make Love to You—2:52
16. I’m Ready—3:05
17. Young Fashioned Ways—3:02
18. Mannish Boy—2:58
19. Sugar Sweet—2:32
20. Trouble No More—2:40
Amazon MP3 Clips
Amazon MP3 Clips
I plan to do an album review about once a month, starting with my favorites and some must-haves like this one.
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