My introduction to The Blues began for me around the age of 10. In the 1970s, my father used his tape recorder to make recordings of the Belgian radio program “Boom Boom”. These recordings were played throughout the week and when I came home from school, the penetrating sounds echoed through the room at the Brocken house. Especially the song “Mad Man Blues” by John Lee Hooker touched me directly in my soul. What kind of mysterious music was this, what did the man mean, why did it sound so direct, intense and at times dangerous? That stomping on the floor, the raw guitar, that dark voice….
Much later, this early musical experience would shape me as a person, as a musician and as a Blues enthusiast. I gradually began to immerse myself more and more in this style of music and made one wonderful discovery after another. Music of sometimes more than 75 years old. I searched second hand markets and record stores for rare finds.
Muddy Waters – Folk Singer was such a find. During my search (I must have been about 21 years old) I came across this LP in an old and dilapidated record shop somewhere in the neighborhood of the Amsterdam Jordaan. One look at the cover and I immediately knew I had to buy this LP. I didn’t even have to listen to it. I paid 12 Guilders and hurried home.
When you play the first song, “My Home Is In The Delta”, it immediately sets the tone for the entire album. Nine tracks, pure Delta Blues and early Chicago style. Stripped of fuss, played completely acoustically and brought back to the essence of The Blues. Nothing more, nothing less. On most tracks Muddy is assisted by drummer Clifton James and of course bassist Willie Dixon. On a number of tracks Buddy Guy also plays along on acoustic guitar. You could safely say that the greatest of the world were recorded here in a gem of an acoustic Blues production. Muddy Waters is in his very best form, his voice sounds like a bell and his guitar playing, both fingerstyle and slide is accurate and to-the-point fresh. The production, recorded in 1964, sounds warm, open and spacious.
Many songs we recognize from earlier electric recordings by Muddy Waters; such as the beautifully understated “Long Distance” played here, the fierce “You Gonna Need My Help” and the authentic “Feel Like Going Home” played by Muddy solo, derived from the song “Country Blues”; the very first song Muddy ever recorded while still living in the Delta on Stovall’s plantation near Clarksdale MS. Also special is the song “My Captain”, small and understated, with Buddy and Muddy together on acoustic guitar.
I could not stop listening and even if I am not exaggerating I think this LP must have been on my turntable for months. In addition to Robert Johnson’s recording sessions, this record has been a guiding light in my musical education.
Unfortunately, the five electrically played bonus tracks that were later added to the 1999 remastered, digital reissue on CD do not add any special value to the album. While these are obviously all wonderful, rare recordings of Muddy Waters, they don’t really match the original atmosphere and minimalist nature of the intimate acoustic LP. Despite that, I heartily recommend this album to every music lover: must-have!