Muddy Waters

Listen to the slashing slide and Delta-driven vocal attack of the man most responsible for changing the course of Chicago blues. Muddy's ensemble was peerless, a well-oiled machine that swung effortlessly and packed a Joe Louis punch.

The Hoochie Coochie Man packed up his slide guitar in the studio for much of the '50s and '60s, preferring to showcase his combo while concentrating on his lusty vocals. Even on his Chess sides that weren't hits, Waters' intensity scarcely let up for an instant.

During the twilight of Muddy's life, Johnny Winter produced a series of albums that restored Waters to his previous musical setting, complementing his earlier work beautifully. These tracks are included among these lesser-known cuts.

Muddy revolutionized postwar Windy City blues by electrifying it and by having an uncanny knack for hiring the right sidemen: giants like harp genius Little Walter, pianist Otis Spann, and guitarist Jimmy Rogers. The Hoochie Coochie Man's Delta-brewed voodoo makes these 75 essential tracks glow with earthy power and lusty charm.