Weigh in on Muddy Waters

[idgiehkt]

I heard some going to work this morning...was he the real thing, or as some have said, just an imitator?

I love his stuff but I'm a blues luddite, so I'd like to hear what the more knowledgeable have to say.

[Aiptasia]

1. Definitely the real deal

Muddy waters practically invented the blues rock and roll combo (bass, drums, guitars, keyboards).

He had his faults. He was a womanizer and had vice issues with pot and alcohol, but that's all fuel for the music.

[UTUSN]

2. Oh. Thought it said WADE in on Muddy Waters

Sorry about the smartass post. Couldn't resist it. Actually read it WADE.

[crispini]

3. A great blues original.

Also check out: Blind Lemon Jefferson, Leadbelly, and Ma Rainey for the old-style classic blues.

[xchrom]

4. for the modern era -- he's one of the bedrock

blues artists.

especially he and lightnin hopkins.

those two form an amazing encyclopedia for the electric blues movement that came roaring out of england.

[Orsino]

5. Muddy discovered electricity.

Fuck Ben Franklin.

[Zomby Woof]

6. VERY real

Was born in a sharecroppers's shack in rural Mississippi. Headed up to Chicago after WW2 and plugged in, melding electricity with the Delta Blues of his roots.

A great slide player too, an innovator, a fantastic vocalist, and most of all, a GREAT band leader. He may very well have had the best band of anyone on Chess Records or in the Chicago blues scene.

[Lefty48197]

7. Oh my. He's one of the all time great blues artists.

Me and my buddies started getting into the blues during our formative years (the 1970's and 80's). We were huge fans of the British invasion stars: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton's Yardbirds and The Cream, etc.
When we listened to interviews of our heroes, they always gave their props to the American blues artists who influenced them. Muddy was always near the top of their lists. The Rolling Stones even took their name from the title of a Muddy Waters song.
Howlin' Wolf is probably my favorite. Muddy right behind him with John Lee Hooker, Willie Dixon, Bo Diddley. I also like the older blues guitarists: Elmore James, Robert Johnson...

It's funny how it took a bunch of White British guys to bring this wonderful music to our ears when it had been played in Detroit and Chicago for decades by these Black blues artists.

http://www.muddywaters.com/bio.html

http://fleetwoodmac.net/penguin/muddy.htm

"Many musical artists have credited Waters as a major influence on their careers, including Chuck Berry, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jeff Beck, Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Cray, Peter Green, and the Rolling Stones. In his From the Cradle album, Eric Clapton paid tribute to Muddy Waters, "His music was the first that got to me and it remains some of the most important music in my life today. I love this man so much that I want to do it absolutely perfectly, and, of course, that's not possible."

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/database/waters_m.html

[Metta]

8. One of the five books of the Bible for western pop music.

Not only being a transitional figure from country to city blues ( he was one of the first to record country blues on an amplified guitar), a great songwriter and a sometimes stunning performer, he was an inspiration for many of the Brits who came here musically during the '60s and who brought blues back home to America. In addition, one of his early bands featured Little Walter who single handedly changed the face of harmonica playing forever from being unamplified in front of a microphone to sounding like a saxophone by playing it while holding the microphone and the harmonica together. His band was the epitome of ensemble playing. He also had Jimmy Rogers in that band, a man who was the base line, the touchstone for everyone who followed who wanted to play single string guitar lines Chicago style.

Their importance cannot be over estimated, as far as I'm concerned. My favorite sides, Down on Stovall's Plantation, his discovery sides; Best of Muddy Waters, all the great early city sides, remastered with extra cuts; Sings Big Bill (Broonzy, one of his main idols). A lot of people like Live at Newport and Folk Singer. I think these are second tier sides for him.

[idgiehkt]

9. thanks so much for all these great replies

I heard 'can't be satisfied' this morning on the way to work on a retro show and WOW did that bring back memories...I can't remember who told me he was imitative but it didn't feel imitative to me. Thanks for all the knowledge and suggestions...I'm gonna go download some of his stuff now.

[leftofthedial]

10. the real deal

he synthesized some of the true roots of the blues from older players and "urbanized" and modernized it, creating a whole new genre. He was the blues and he was proto rock n roll.

[no name no slogan]

11. Still dead, IIRC

[Callalily]

12. I'm listening to

Muddy right now, great work!

[WCGreen]

13. I got the chance to see him play at Baldwin Wallace back in

1974 or 75...

He had this guy with him, who played harmonica, had one of them ammo belts wrapped around him....

Had 'bout twenty twenty five different mouth organs in there....

HE pull one out and just let fly...

Muddy was gettin' pretty old so I think this dude was takin' some of the pressure off him as far as lead instrument is concerned...

He was a young fella....

[Kat45]

14. I saw him play twice, around '75 and '78

He was great. First was an outdoor show with Freddie King and Roomful of Blues. Second time, he was opening for Eric Clapton.