In September 1963, Chess Records sought a piece of the growing acoustic recording market with this folk-blues album. McKinley Morganfield, better known as Muddy Waters, had already been playing in the Chicago blues and jazz scene for decades. He actually preferred the electric guitar and modern interpretations of the blues, having had several hits in the 1950s, but things had been looking rather bleak since 1958. The 1964 release became a hit and continues to define the acoustic blues genre, remaining highly sought after by audiophiles.
The blues quartet consisted of Muddy Waters on vocals and guitar, Buddy Guy on second guitar, Willie Dixon on double bass, and Clifton Jones on drums. The recording has been remastered by Kevin Gray of Cohearent Audio and is presented here with bonus tracks not included in the original release.
Sonically, it’s a gem; although the musicians don’t come into the listening room, you yourself are clearly transported to the recording studio in Chicago.
