Muddy Waters - Fathers and Sons

A Supreme Moment In Blues Time

There are seminal moments in the arts when circumstances bring giants together in perfect alignment, and this album is one of them. The cast could never be better than the one contained herein, with the huge blues voice of Muddy Waters leading the way, half-brother Otis Spann pounding out some of his most brilliant piano ever, Paul Butterfield blowing his harp as if nations rise or fall by his effort, Mike Bloomfield (not long for this world after this 1969 recording) spinning out black blues guitar licks in a faithful but trailblazing fashion, plus a killer rhythm section of Stax/Volt's Donald "Duck" Dunn and Muddy's own Sam Lay on drums.

The songs are Muddy classics, from the thundering "40 Days And 40 Nights" to the braggadocio of "I'm Ready" to the oddly zen "Can't Lose What You Ain't Got" to the weary-but-wise "Standing Round Cryin." Great tracks that never made the original LP include "Love The Life I Live" and a live version of "Same Thing" that sets a new standard for simmering control under extreme pressure.

Long-short, Muddy never sang better, Spann and Butterfield are at the very top of their form, and if you can only have one blues album in your collection, this is hands-down the collection you need to have. It has worn well for nearly forty years; it will serve as the standard for hundreds more. July 30, 2008

Great album, even better value!

If you like blues or Muddy Waters in general, you owe it to yourself to buy this. It is really a wonderful work of blues and there is quite a lot of music here. You get your money's worth and then some. June 19, 2008

a blues legacy

Released for the first time in 1969 as a double LP album, this record was digitally remastered and published on CD in 2001, with some bonus tracks. Tracks 1-14 are recorded in studio, while 15-20 are performed live at the Super Cosmic Joy-Scout Jamboree, Chicago.
The project was conceived around the idea of a "passing of the torch" from fathers (Otis Spann, Muddy Waters) to sons (Michael Bloomfield, Paul Butterfield and more) of blues music. It turns around a classic review of Muddy's warhorses (Long Distance Call, Baby Please Don't Go, Honey Bee...) in addiction with other milestones of blues history (I'm Ready, by Willie Dixon, Got My Mojo Working, by Preston Foster and more), giving rise to a tight electric blues recording, in a perfect Chicago style.
The highlights are Muddy's deep black voice and Butterfield's brilliant harmonica lines, while Bloomfield's guitar seems to be a little obscured by such duets.
This record brings back to the listener the genuine atmosphere of the mature age of electric blues, with "vintage" sounds captured in the late 60's.

Riccardo Frau
Italy April 20, 2008

Incredible Memories Brought Back to Life!

While a college student back in the winter of 1972 I attended an Urban Studies semester program in Chicago. One night I went with some of the other students to see Muddy Waters at a club called (if my memory is correct) Alice's Revisted. I did not know anything about Muddy Waters and little about the Blues. Muddy put on an incredible show that was one of the musical highlights of my life. I still get shivers down my spine thinking about the night. I particularly remember when he sang "Got my Mojo Working," and I was up on my feet chanting and dancing with the rest of the audience. At one point, a small fire started in some curtains on the stage and the Muddy the rest of the band calmly kept performing as it was quickly extinguished, perhaps preventing a panic situation. Later in the semester someone bought "Fathers and Sons," and after hearing the album I went out an bought it myself. For years I would periodically listen to that album and be transported back to that magical Chicago evening. With the switch from vinyl (and my turntable being broken by my two year old son in 1989), Fathers and Sons and the rest of my LP's went into retirement, but I never forgot Muddy Waters and the rest of the incredible musicians on the album. Recently something inspired me to search for it on Amazon and I purchased the CD. I am delighted to discover that everything on Fathers and Sons is as wonderful as I remembered. If you like the Blues, I strongly urge you to buy this CD now. It will make you life at least a little bit richer! December 23, 2007

I was there...

It was in a beautiful theatre in downtown Chicago in 1969. I flew there from Phoenix to see some old friends and to witness what I felt would be a show that could never be repeated. Boy was I right!

I've listened to this record countless times, gone through LPs, cassettes and CDs, and as good as it is, the recorded sound does not approach the beautiful noise those cats made on those two nights.

It's funny. Butterfield checked out early, so did Bloomfield. White boys knew nothing about pacing themselves I guess. The old guys hung on for quite a while.

It was years later that I met Muddy a couple of times when he came through Phoenix. He was always performing, even in his dressing room. He entertained visitors with his little star act, demanding and getting two bottles of the best champagne in the house, just for himself. Refused to share, even with his band.

There was a man!! That's all that needs to be said about Muddy. December 5, 2007

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