Muddy Waters

The quintessential Chicago bluesman live.

There can be no more appropriate manifesto for Muddy Waters than Nobody Knows Chicago Like I Do. The opening track of this collection of three live performances at the Montreux Jazz Festival between 1972-77, it announces his reign as the Windy City blues monarch. Muddy holds the centre as if by centrifugal force while allowing sidemen such as harpist Junior Wells, guitarists Buddy Guy and Bob Margolin and bassist Bill Wyman to soar. It also serves as a best-of, featuring classics such as Mannish Boy, Rollin’ And Tumblin’, I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man and the show-stopper – from whence this magazine got its name – Got My Mojo Working. Despite being recorded in his twilight years, Muddy’s vocal remains powerful, his signature slide guitar slices razor sharp, and his ability to turn a music born in blue into celebratory joy undiminished.