#483 Muddy Waters, 'The Anthology' (2001)

Previously #38

Another major drop. This collection of songs spanned 50 and in total runs for 2 hours and 25 minutes. That’s a lot of listening. Considering this was the highest placed Muddy Waters album last time, I wonder if we’ll see him again. 

Muddy Waters was an absolute genius and the epitome of Chicago music. Signed to the great Chess Records for a large chunk of his career and flanked by Willie Dixon on bass for most, if not all of his recordings (did I ever tell you about the time Willie Dixon’s grandson gave me a private tour of the Chess Records recording studio and let me play his grandfather’s double bass?).

This collection starts off slow, often stark with just vocals, guitar and bass. We start to hear a hint of drums around track 12 on ‘Louisiana Blues,’ but it really starts to kick off towards the end of the first disc and when that happens, there’s no stopping him.

Best enjoyed in a dim-lit bar with a good whiskey, this album really is the best gateway drug to Muddy Waters (and Chicago Blues). Featuring ‘Mannish Boy,’ ‘I Just Want To Make Love To You,’ ‘(I’m Your) Hoochie Coochie Man,’ ‘You Shook Me,’ ‘Good Morning Little School Girl,’ and of course, the song that both inspired both the name of a magazine and a band, ‘Rollin’ Stone.’

The collection is long and like I said, a lot of listening, but I do love the songs. Muddy Waters inspired so many artists that I love, music owes a massive debt to the songs on this collection.

#rs500albums