Gypsy Woman Told My Mother

Unbelievable though it may seem, there is a danger of Muddy Waters' pivotal contribution to blues ( and by extension rock 'n' roll )being overlooked these days. This magnificent double cd The Anthology contains fifty tracks that should be required listening. Muddy wasn't a virtuoso guitar hero, although he could play spine tingling economic slide, which may account for any under estimation of his importance. It used to be a given what a major figure he was but in the years since his death his name crops up less frequently. He was the link between the delta and Chicago. The early recordings are just him with upright bass backing and are very powerful. Later of course he developed the electric blues band sound with support on guitar from Jimmy Rogers, piano from his faithful cousin Otis Spann and most notably a succession of star harmonica players ( variously Little Walter, Junior Wells, James Cotton or Walter Horton ) Willie Dixon produced a string of songs out of the old tradition but the most important thing remained Muddy's imposing presence and dignity and the power and strength of that voice.