Lots of great music. Flawed compilation
Docendo Discimus | Vita scholae | 12/24/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"The British Spectrum label has issued a number of compilations featuring the big blues stars of the 50s and 60s, including Buddy Guy, Howlin' Wolf, and Muddy Waters, and while they completely lack the excellent liner notes of the various MCA/Chess compilations, the quality is otherwise quite high.
But the lack of decent liner notes and recording information is a shame...there is nothing here but a short (and flawed) essay, which teams up with a not-quite-perfect track selection to make sure that this collection doesn't reach the level of the MCA discs.
The sound is superb, however. The latest and best quality mastering has been utilized, and most of Muddy Waters' best songs are indeed here, as well as a few odd but (sometimes) quite interesting choices.
Unfortunately the compilers have also chosen the midguided psychedelic ersion of "Hoochie Coochie Man" recorded for the hideous "Electric Mud" album, and the "Mud" version of "Mannish Boy" is here as well. Fortunately almost all the rest of Muddy Waters' classic singles are present in their original versions: "I'm Ready", "Got My Mojo Working", the swinging "Baby Please Don't Go", the wonderful harp-driven "Forty Days And Forty Nights", the tough swagger of "I Want To Be Loved" and "I Just Wanna Make Love To You", and the superbly melodic "I Love The Life I Live, I Live The Life I Love".
But it is a shame that none of Waters' late-40s singles are here. The closest we get it 1950's "Rollin' Stone", and songs like "I Can't Be Satisfied", "Rollin' And Tumblin'" and "Gypsy Woman" really belongs on a disc which has the audacity to call itself "Essential".
MCA's "Chess Box" remains the definitive overview of Muddy's Chess career, and the superb double-disc "The Anthology 1947-1972" is right behind it. And maybe someday the MCA label will combine the best from "His Best 1947-1955" and "His Best 1956-1964" on one disc to create the ultimate single-disc Muddy compilation. Because this one doesn't quite cut it, and while the music is generally very good, there are just too many misses.
3 1/2 stars."
Not really essential...
In Vino Veritas | Israel | 03/12/2008
(1 out of 5 stars)
"During the course of Muddy Water's career he created several different versions for each of his hits. The versions that appear in this collection are the ones that did not become famous, with good reason.
Most of the recordings are old and of poor quality and may be useful only to people who are seeking to learn how the artist evolved over the years. However I would then suggest buying his classic albums and not a collection. If you're just looking for a hits compilation then this CD will cause you grievous disappointment."
Track Listings (20) - Disc #1