The Vinyl Brew: Muddy Waters - Folk Singer

He was raised by his grandmother (who gave him the nickname Muddy) when his mother died shortly after his birth. Muddy’s exact date of birth is questionable with reports of his birth either being 1913 or 1915. Either way, it would be 1946 before he recorded his first album. Having discovered music as so many great artists do, in his local church in his early teens, he learned how to play harmonica and when he was seventeen he sold the family’s last horse to buy himself a guitar. With that, he started to play regularly in local joints, at which point he garnered his full moniker of Muddy Waters.

In 1964, Muddy Waters would record his only all-acoustic, released under the Chess Records label. ‘Folk Singer’ would bring together a legendary group of musicians with Waters on lead guitar, Willie Dixon on string bass, Clifton James on drums and Buddy Guy on acoustic guitar. All Waters’ previous albums had featured an electric blues sound, with Chess Records leaping on the popularity of the folk movement and recording an all-acoustic album. It was Chess themselves who chose the album title ‘Folk Singer’, to appeal to the masses. Although not charting anywhere, it was a critically acclaimed album with most praising it’s instrumentation.

The influence of Muddy Waters is far reaching with artists including Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Cream and ZZ Top citing him. In Fact, his influence is so great, that The Rolling Stones named themselves after his track “Rollin’ Stone”. Influence is all well and good, but you might be asking yourself why he was so influential? The answer is simple - just place your needle down at the start of ‘Folk Singer’ and let it play. This man poured everything into his music. He brings all the pain in the world as well as all the joy and moves between them so flawlessly that you won’t know if you are coming or going. You will weep and laugh and scream all while singing along to lyrics that you understand but because of Muddy’s voice you know you’ll probably never feel.

So, I guess the question is who should add ‘Folk Singer’ to their collection? Well it’s tough to say, because the answer is everyone and that just sounds like a cop-out. The man is singing the blues and there is no doubt that he has felt enough love and pain, that every word rings true. If you want to be truly moved by music, then it’s time you listen to this album. We’d love to hear your opinion so head on over to Twitter @vinyl8records and let us know.

Till next time Brewers,
T

Next Sunday's brew is A Tribe Called Quest's People’s Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm. Why not add this gem to your collection so we can listen together next week!