© Bluestronomical Publishing Inc. 2007

Muddy Waters
Classic Concerts
Hip-O #B0005842

Any true blues performer, reviewer, fan, even the rockers will appreciate this DVD. Three classic concerts by the great Muddy Waters: The 1960 Newport Jazz Festival; the 1968 Copenhagen Jazz Festival in Denmark; and the 1977 Molde Jazz Festival in Norway. 23 songs and over two hours of Muddy on this DVD.

The bands are different at each festival. The Newport Fest had Muddy on guitar and vocals; Pat Hare on second axe; Otis Spann on piano; James Cotton on harp; Andrew Stephenson on bass and Francis Clay on drums.
The Copenhagen Fest had Muddy on axe and vox; Luther 'Snake' Johnson on guitar; Pee Wee Madison on guitar; Otis Spann on piano and vocals; Paul Ocher on harp; Sonny Wimberley on bass and S.P. Leary on drums. Five songs are found on the CD. The extraordinary "Rollin' Stone", the voracious "Mean Mistreater" and the anthem "Got My Mojo Working" are enhanced by the stereo sound. The DVD captures the live performance.

The 1977 Molde Jazz Festival was held in Norway August 1, 1977. The superband: Muddy on axe and vocals; Bob Margolin second guitar; Luther 'Guitar' Johnson third axe; Pinetop Perkins on piano; Jerry Portnoy on harp; Calvin Jones on bass and Willie Smith on his drum kit. The Molde fest captured the Muddy's complete set. The captured "Prison Bound Blues," the hymn "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Baby, Please Don't Go" are songs from this concert.

The DVD has a bonus ballad: "The Blues Had A Baby And They Named It Rock & Roll". The track was performed at the Victoria Theatre in London July 9, 1977. Two interviews with Muddy: (1) Old Grey Whistle Test on January 1, 1972, and (2) Molde Jazz Fest on August 1, 1977.

A 16 page booklet has beaucoup credits, pictures and a foreword by Bill Wyman (Rolling Stones). Bob 'Steady Rollin' Margolin did a story essay. "I did 174 gigs with Muddy in 1974, the first full year I was in the band". Margolin and Luther Johnson tore up the stage at that 1977 show; even on the intro.

Two interviews close the DVD: Muddy's casual talk at a January 1, 1972 interview, and the Molde appointment on August 1, 1977, seven years later. The humble Muddy Waters is the king of the blues!

- Mark Cole -


Southwest Blues DVD Review - May 2007

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