Waters, Muddy
Hard Again/i'm Ready/king Bee (3cd)
3CD McKinley Morganfield, known professionally as Muddy Waters, was born in April 1913. He was an American blues singer-songwriter and musician who is often cited as the "father of modern Chicago blues", and an important figure on the post-war blues scene. The three albums on this compilation were some of his last recordings before he passed away in April 1983. The first of the three - Hard Again (1977) - is widely regarded as one of Waters' finest. Recorded in all of three days, and produced by Johnny Winter on guitar and backing vocals, it featured Waters' touring band, namely Pinetop Perkins (piano), 'Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin (guitar), Charles Calmese (bass), and Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith (drums), with the harmonica great James Cotton also weighing in with mighty contributions. The other two albums - I'm Ready (1978) and King Bee (1981) - used the same line-up and are equally well regarded.