Muddy Waters - Folk Singer [Remaster]

Artist:

Waters, Muddy

UPC:

008811202729

See Also:

Muddy Waters Tribute Band Howlin` Wolf - The Super Super Blues Band Muddy Waters - Muddy & the Wolf John Lee Hooker - Winning Combinations: John Lee Hooker & Muddy Waters

Description:

Personnel: Muddy Waters (vocals, guitar); Buddy Guy, James "Pee Wee" Madison, Sam Lawhorn (guitar); James Cotton (harmonica); J.T. Brown (tenor saxophone, clarinet); Otis Spann (piano); Willie Dixon, Milton Rector (bass); Clifton James, S.P. Leary (drums).
Recorded at Tel Mar Recording Studios, Chicago, Illinois in September 1963. Originally released on Chess (1483). Includes liner notes by Ralph Bass and Mary Katherine Aldin.
Personnel: Muddy Waters (vocals, guitar); James "Pee Wee" Madison, Sammy Lawhorn, Buddy Guy (guitar); James Cotton (harmonica); J.T. Brown (clarinet, tenor saxophone); Otis Spann (piano); Clifton James, Francis Clay, S.P. Leary (drums).
Audio Remixer: Erick Labson.
Liner Note Authors: Bob Schnieders; Mary Katherine Aldin; Ralph Bass.
Recording information: Chicago, IL (09/1963-10/1964); Tel Mar Recording Studios, Chicago, IL (09/1963-10/1964).
Photographers: Jim Marshall ; Don Bronstein.
The title and cover photo of this 1963 recording were an attempt to cash in on the burgeoning American folk revival, but this is pure acoustic blues. Muddy began his career as a Robert Johnson-style solo acoustic performer, and the tunes on FOLK SINGER hark back to those days. He`s accompanied sparsely by Willie Dixon, drummer Clifton James and a young Buddy Guy, who provide a stark, deliberate backdrop for Muddy`s rich vocal and expressive bottleneck guitar work. The richness of Muddy`s baritone is showcased effectively here, with more room than usual for his voice to resonate.
The low-key setting allows Muddy to explore a fuller dynamic range as well. From the romantic yearning of "Long Distance Call" to the fatalism of the chain gang song "My Captain," Muddy`s voice expresses entire worlds of emotion with only subtle dynamic changes. On FOLK SINGER`s more downhearted cuts, there`s a doomy, ominous quality that rivals the deepest emotional journeys of John Lee Hooker. By scaling down, Muddy managed to make his songs, guitar and voice seem exponentially magnified. Though it`s one of his quietest albums, FOLK SINGER screams with naked emotion.

Track Listing:

DISC 1

1. My Home Is in the Delta
2. Long Distance Call
3. My Captain
4. Good Morning Little Schoolgirl
5. You`re Gonna Need My Help
6. Cold Weather Blues
7. Big Leg Woman
8. Country Boy
9. Feel Like Going Home
10. Same Thing, The - (bonus track)
11. You Can`t Lose What You Never Had - (bonus track)
12. My John the Conqueror Root - (bonus track)
13. Short Dress Woman - (bonus track)
14. Put Me in Your Lay Away - (bonus track)

Album Information

Release Date:

04/24/2000

Type:

Performer

Genre:

Blues

Subgenre:

Chicago Blues

Label:

Chess (USA)

Producer:

Ralph Bass; Willie Dixon; Beth Stempel (Reissue); Andy McKaie (Reissue)

Catalog Number:

1120272

Original Release Year:

1964

# of Discs:

1

Studio/Live:

Studio

Mono/Stereo:

Stereo

Runtime:

40 : 5

Guest Artist:

Buddy Guy; Willie Dixon; James Cotton; Clifton James; Otis Spann

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