Muddy Waters - The Anthology: 1947-1972

There have been countless collections of Muddy Waters' classic Chess material released over the years, but Chess began to whittle down the domestic catalog toward the late '90s. The triple-disc Chess box remained in print, but they added two single-disc collections that each covered a specific period in Waters' career at Chess. Then, in 2001, MCA/Chess released The Anthology, a double-disc set that essentially contained much of those two single-disc collections, with several extra tracks, remastering and new liner notes. This still didn't correct the lack of a concise, single-disc overview with all the hits -- something that Muddy, Chuck Berry, and Howlin' Wolf all desperately need -- but if you're going to be buying two discs to get the full Muddy Waters story, you should get this instead of two separate discs, since it's simply easier. Besides this, even if it does contain a bunch of familiar material, it also contains some of the greatest music of the 20th century, and if you're not going to get the box but still want a comprehensive Muddy set, this is it. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits A.C. Reed Sax (Tenor) Andrew Stephenson Bass Andy McKaie Producer, Reissue Compilation Beth Stempel Production Coordination Buddy Guy Guitar Clifton James Drums Earl Hooker Guitar Elgin Evans Drums Francis Clay Drums Fred Below Drums Fred Robinson Guitar James Cotton Harmonica Jeffrey M. Carp Harmonica Jimmy Rogers Guitar Junior Wells Harmonica Lafayette Leake Piano Leonard Chess Drums (Bass), Producer Leroy Foster Guitar Little Walter Harmonica Luther Tucker Guitar Mary Katherine Aldin Liner Notes Mike Fink Design Muddy Waters Vocals, Guitar Norman Dayron Producer Otis Spann Piano Pat Hare Guitar Phil Upchurch Bass Sam Lay Drums Sunnyland Slim Piano Vartan Art Direction Willie Dixon Producer