The Best of Muddy Waters - Muddy Waters (1957)

ideated from: the weird world of pop music in 1957

Chess Records had been recording the electrified “Chicago blues” style of music for ten years by 1957, releasing mostly 45rpm singles. In the late 50s they, like a lot of other labels, got into the lucrative LP game, issuing several collections of their most popular artists’ singles. Chuck Berry and Bo Diddley just missed the 1957 cut-off, but Muddy didn’t.

The northern electric blues was built on the migration of blues musicians from the poor economic prospects of the Mississippi delta up into the northern industrial cities like Chicago and Detroit. Muddy had a foot in both worlds, having gotten his start from being recorded in the field by musicologist Alan Lomax. He moved to Chicago to become a recording star, and that’s exactly what he did.

I probably don’t have to go into detail about how the electric blues and so-called “rhythm & blues” morphed into rock n roll, or the blues’ influence in the British Invasion. It would take Muddy a long time to be properly recognized for what he created, but eventually he was.

Tracks I Liked

Rollin’ Stone - hmm. seems like maybe that title inspired something…

I’m Ready - We’ll pretend this song didn’t shill for Viagra for years. It’s a great tune even if it was a little on-the-nose to use for that purpose.