Hard Again

I had the privilege of seeing Muddy Waters open for Johnny Winter When waters was touring his comeback record Hard Again; considered one of the best blues albums of all time. James Cotton on harmonica, Pinetop Perkins on piano, Willie 'Big Eyes' Smith on drums and Winter on guitar. Johnny Winter repays his dues by revitalizing the greatest blues artist in history with an extraordinary LP. I bought it after the show, and I still listen to it. Perfection.

I don't know how you can listen to this and not love it. Every second of this album is gold.

Absolute beast of an album. Quintessential, essential, cornerstone work from one of the most important artists in American music. The man is a legend and this album is legendary.

Listening to this album is like eating 6 day old leftover food for the 4th time in the same week. The first night, it was delicious, but in the end, we eat it out of principle so as not to waste.

I'm glad that Mr. Waters is able to get it up again. He must be pumped full of viagra.

Loved this. Listened to it twice more over the weekend.

A fantastically bluesy and soulful album with some of the greatest guitar playing of all time.

Empezó bailando pero luego se durmió.

Great album, all the playing is on point and muddys being muddy. Mannish boy might be the greatest opening track of all time

I'm not usually a blues guy, but this album brings such incredible energy. It's undeniable. The production is also great, every instrument feels like it's at just the right level. You can hear each part without any of them standing out too much 4/5

Damn that slide guitar

So good. The Blues are my happy place. As good and as relevant today as it was in 1977.

Real blues untouched by pop music done by a master with Johnny Winter allowing Waters to do what he does best, no restrictions. What more can I say?

as much of a cunt as it makes me sound, i prefer his earlier stuff. this is all a bit polished and formulaic - yes i know the blues by its very nature is formulaic - but this is that type of blues that i slag off clapton for where its lost its soul.

I know this album. I mean, I really know this album. Every single track. Because they are all amazing. This is a great start to the morning thank you @1001_albums_gen I think I'll be walking to work to prolong my journey today 😍 Muddy Waters, Pinetop Perkins, James Cotton, Johnny Winter (with 'miscellaneous screams'). Pure pure joy

It's hard to come up with a better example of Chicago Blues or of a band just jamming and having fun. This album was produced by Johnny Winter who also gets credited for miscellaneous screams as an instrument. The energy is high with most songs sounding like they were recorded live. A lot of high points throughout but James Cotton's harmonica, OMG. I admit to not being a harmonica historian but this is the best and most devastating use of that instrument that I've heard. I'd say he pretty much steals the show but there are so many great moments. This is Muddy's first album for Blue Sky Records after dropping Chess Records. "Mannish Boy" starts the show and is one of the most famous and best blues song that I know of with memorable uses in "Risky Business" and The Band's " The Last Waltz". Winter's screams and Cotton's harmonica make this 1955 re-recording a highlight of any album and an absolute stunner of a song. There are two other Muddy re-recordings "I Want to be Loved" and " I Can't Be Satisfied." Not to be outdone, the guitars absolutely sing on "Bus Driver", an absolute jam with Cotton's harmonica. The bus driver stole his woman; as if that alone is not a great subject for a blues song. The only song which I've heard elsewhere more than once is "The Blues Had a Baby and They Named it Rock and Roll, Part 2" which features great guitars from Muddy, Bob Margolin and probably Johnny Winters. Every song is great here, pretty much a highlight. If I didn't know blues and had to pick one album to get, this album might be it.

Amazing blues album.

Great to see the name Muddy Waters not referring to the hedge fund. I was wondering why they edited out the crowd noise and was surprised to find it wasn’t live. Crosseyed Cat is my fave on this LP. As the penultimate track it clearly shows there is no filler. “Can’t be Satisfied” is insane. After a steel guitar solo, the broken coke bottle typically gives way to the guitar pick to take the rhythm. Not here though; the steel keeps rolling . Q: What song on this LP did the Stones played at the El Mocambo w Maggie T watching? A: Track1

More like shitty waters.

An actual goddamn delight, open with the quintessential blues song "Mannish Boy" and the smile will never leave your face. The hoochie-coochie Chicago blues bars, Johnny Winter hollering in the background like a maniac, the tight band, the fact it was recorded as is in, like, a couple of days, its just so raw... This is that sauce. This is the shit.

Thumping blues record full of grit and dirt. Waters has bucketloads of charisma and the band are just the finest musicians assembled (the harmonica here becomes a stunning solo instrument). A cold stone classic.

Great artist, great album. Must hear if you're a blues lover. But really one everyone should listen. Starts off with THE definitive blues track and goes on from there.

Hard nosed Chicago Blues, from a master of the form, with a great band that swings!

Super Stuff from Muddy... "Mannish Boy" a classic blues call here but what is not to like on this. I will be adding it to my collection for sure.

Chicago Blues at its rockin' and stompin' finest. I know the blues is a vast and deep ocean from which nearly all Western tonal music comes, and I totally get how easily music in the boundless "blues" genre can disappear into that unfathomably huge ocean, but when it's done like this, it's all good. I often caught myself tapping my foot and bobbing my head as the tracks grooved on. The whole album moves, and all the players are superb -- and whoa, man, Pinetop Perkins on the piano, holy smokes! Reminds us that the blues didn't emerge as a musical style so very long ago as a means to bring others down, but as a process to sing and play it out to feel better.

Wow. Amazing.

Class album

Loved it. Nice find

awesome

What a powerhouse of a record. One of my favorites from this project so far. Best track: All of them? Let's go with Crosseyed Cat

A muscular outing from Muddy Waters. Johnny Winter records Muddy's touring band a rough immediacy that captures the power and authority of the music. The inclusion of re-recordings of some of Muddy's greatest songs (Mannish Boy especially) make this a terrific capstone of Muddy's career. White boy blues lawyers wish they could play like this.

Viagra blues

I had to hang on, To push on through. I learned one thing The hard way, sir… Blues ain’t my thang, Oh, no no.

THE SAME FUCKING SONG FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES

i couldn't tell you why, but i enjoyed this one more than the other muddy waters album on this list. in case this escapes anyone's notice...damn, he's good.

that album was awesome, it had a lot of different blues elements I really loved. 9/10

Love these authentic blues guitar licks and harmonicas. Muddy may also have the best voice for the blues. Was interesting to learn that Johnny Winter produced.

I love blues classics and this is top tier! Muddy Waters was one of the best there was, the opening track still kills.

Sounds like where the blues were born. I like the whole of it. The riffs are classic - Mannish Boy and Bus Driver riffs have become synonymous with what the blues sound like. And there's a dive bar sensibility to this album with the "crowd" chiming in here and there. The lyrics are minimal, but convey the mood perfectly in between the numerous blues breakdowns, which are the focal point of the record. I Want to Be Loved Again - Simple, real, and another classic bluesy feeling. Jealous Hearted Man - I've now heard a lot of records about women leaving men, men not being good and begging for women to come back, etc., and it has almost never worked better than it does in this album. I Can't Be Satisfied - Just when I was about to say how the one complaint I could make about this album is that the rhythm and style at this point is starting to run together, here comes I Can't Be Satisfied. This song is a perfect placement in the album. A different style, cleaner, smaller, more technical, and awesome. What if the Blues Got Pregnant and they named the baby rock and roll - A return to the classic blues riff, but this time with more observational substance. Another classic. What a talent! Deep Down in Florida - I love how this album moves. No song overstays. I am always ready for what's next. Crosseyed Cat - A new take on the "lost by baby song, and I loved it." I mean - where does he come up with this stuff? Little Girl - Sounds like Bus Driver, but a variation. Easy to groove to, and again - simple but genuine blues. And those breakdown sections are sweet. Could have been the last track, easy. Walking Thru the Park - Interesting choice to make this the closer. It works too though! Great album!

The King of the Blues and the most important Blues album of all time. I can't quantify that and the Blues had been around for decades at this point, but to breathe a heavy gust back into the genre in 1977 can not be understated.

Muddy waters. Not much to say here. Classic, pure blues.

One of the most influential blues musicians. Interesting instrumentals, soulful vocal performance. Sounds exactly what I'd expect blues to sound like. Does get a bit repetetive, but that's just blues I guess. I don't listen to blues a lot, so taking that into account this album is a nice 5/5.

Amazing solos, smooth production Muddy Waters' iconic voice combine for a great blues album. (huehue hard again)

If there is one quintessential blues album, this might be it.

I could listen to this all day long. I think I will buy it. Hopefully mofi did a version. So very, very good

Gran energía, pesadón, una vibrita badass. Me gustó, sí. Desde mi mínimo conocimiento para apreciar el blues, me pareció deleitable todo el disco. Además de la famosísima canción inicial, mis favoritas fueron I want to be loved #2 y I can't be satisfied que tiene una ondita bastante diferente al resto de los tracks. Mood: I want to be loved #3

I’ve never listened to Muddy and I really enjoyed this album. It reminded me of my ship days, chillin in a booth at the BB King Blues Club with a cocktail. Just sitting back and listening to the jam.

Excelente servicio. De los géneros que no escucho mucho, pero que me emocionan genuinamente. Disfrutable de inicio a fin. Mis favoritas: "Mannish Boy", claaaro, "I Want To Be Loved #2" y una con un gran título "The Blues Had A Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll". 10/10

Nothing like the sound of someone else's suffering to cheer you up. This was a really good time.

He’s hard, I’m hard, are there any more hard people I should know about???

A solid collection of blues songs from one of the best blues singers of all time. Blues isn't my favorite genre, and it's tough for me to listen to a whole album without being reminded of how repetitive it can get. Still, Muddy Waters is a legend. 3.7/4

really felt it when he said "I'm a hoochie-coochie man"

This is pretty good, classic blues stuff, not a ton that really stands out in any big way, but it's good straight forward blues guitar playing. Good stuff, great background jams.

3 star. It seems like the first song was the original inspiration for “Bad to the Bone.” I really liked this version though, so it’s really interesting that the other version seems to be more famous. I liked the album in general too! Couple really good songs with an ok rest of the album - that makes it a 3!

Some damn good playing on this one! Kinda feel like most of it sounds pretty similar though

Very traditional Blues album, down to its roots. As much as I can appreciate how influential Muddy Waters was and, I'm sure, this album was too, there's a lot of similarity throughout this album. Some people like that and would call it a "theme", but I do like a bit of diversity. So again, while I can appreciate the album, I don't think it's for me, and that's okay.

Very hard hitting blues/ soul. The real predecessor of so much rock and roll (the father you might say) and the Gainesville shout out in Deep Down in Florida! Great track

Incredibly talented musician. Not sure I'd choose to listen to this again.

No. 72/1001 Mannish Boy 4/5 Bus Driver 3/5 I Want To Be Loved #2 3/5 Jealous Hearted Man 3/5 I Can't Be Satisfied 3/5 The Blues Had A Baby 3/5 Deep Down In Florida 3/5 Crosseyed Cat 3/5 Little Girl 2/5 Walkin' Thru The Park 2/5 Average: 2,9 Was an ok listen, Blues just isn't something I find super exciting.

who put all these white boys in my blues album

Blues always feels a bit like jazz to me where, if for example, you don't know that the only time Hooty McBoob played with Jim "Daddy" Sausage was in Chicago in Nov 1927, then you're an idiot. I'm sure it's massively significant and influential, but......... *shrug*

Despite being one of the building blocks of rock & roll, blues is forever tarnished by middle-aged men telling me 'if you can play blues, you can play anything'. I can play blues, Bill; doesn't mean I can play Animals as Leaders. I can feel the joy in the room, but it doesn't result in a affecting record for me. I know this is a me thing.

Du bon blues, mais très "blues blues". Ça n'aide pas que je ne suis pas le plus grand fan de ce style, mais justement c'est tellement "meat & potatoes" comme blues que ça me laisse un peu indifférent. 4.5/10

Mannish Boy is the quintessential track that sets the tone for the rest of the album: standard blues that, whilst no doubt composed and played by skilled musicians, becomes rather repetitive and does not draw me back for repeat listens. More of my issue with the genre being too formulaic (a walking bass line, noodling guitar solo and far too much harmonica on what feels like every song) than a reflection of the album itself!

Nothing like Blues to drive the blues away. You can't listen to this music and have a bad time

Sometimes I think the blues is a rudimentary, almost primitive art form, among the least nuanced modes of expression we have. Then I hear something like this and all of a sudden realize how fucking awesome something that fits that description can be.

Blues is very hit or miss for me. It’s one of the first things everyone learns on guitar, it follows such simple patterns, and it’s kind of easy for anyone to make it sound halfway decent. It’s easy for me to underestimate the greats. I’ll admit I find BB a little boring. This is totally different. I’ve never gotten into the Mud. So much to love here: - Songs are upbeat and kind of raw and chaotic like NOLA jazz - Mix of harmonica and piano - Muddy’s voice is just perfect for this. I love that lower register. - I love jazz and blues on Teles (plug for Julian Lage there), gives it kind of a country feel and just cuts through so nicely - his phrasing is just great too. - Production impressive especially for this year. Had no idea a song Muddy was the origin of the Stones name. Makes sense! Have been playing this a lot this weekend and will definitely be back.

One of the greatest blues men of all time. This is the second Muddy Waters album I got this week, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

Proper blues done properly.

Top

incredible

No tricks, no gimmicks. Just incredibly well executed blues

Great classic

Vahva levy. Uskomaton tunnelma.

I really like the blues harmonica combo. Would need to listen to the live album again to decide which I like more

All of the music you like is because albums like Hard Again by Blues artists like Muddy Waters and early Country music commingled and each generation's evolution became a twist. Muddy Waters is your favorite artist's grand-pappy. 5/5

Must listen Muddy Waters

Not a blues fan . . . but this is as good as it gets.

I love me some blues. I am immediately digging this album. Mannish Boy was an amazing intro to what’s to come. Everything feels so familiar as if I’ve probably heard it in film or in passing but never actually realized who the artist was. Probably one of my favourite albums on this journey so far. As I read more on Muddy Waters I learn that this is post-war American blues. I absolutely dig it.

Historically have not listened to this genre or era, but I absolutely loved this album! I especially loved I Want To Be Loved #2. I think it’s especially good as a beginning-to-end, no-skip album, rather than spinning a single over and over again. 10/10 will listen again!

From the opener Mannish Boy through the album the playing is just sublime. I just love the blues

Muddy knows how to put on a clinic. Like, this is the Blues stuff you study, then immediately realize you're never gonna play it this cool. It grinds and grooves like a goddamn train, shoveling heat from the first note. It's pure vibe. The kind of record you throw on when the room needs soul and sweat. I spun it all day. Spins: ??? Playlist Additions: The Whole Album

There was zero chance I was ever giving this less than 5 stars

LOVED this! Great vibes

The gravelly voice. The honkytonky keys. The SHREDDING guitar. Even the harmonica has a wail of a good time here. LAWD HAVE MERCY. My new favourite colours are blue and black.

Johnny Winters, Muddy, and his road band, stripped down to the essentials. Phenomenal.

Blues perfection. They just sounded like they were having a great time recording it.

Man, I’m not even a blues guy, but I guess when it’s literally Muddy Waters, that doesn’t matter. This just hit me good yesterday. It’s perfect! A true master of his craft. Sounded like a party I wanted to be at!

Elemental.

Terrific, my favourite so far.

Probably one of the best albums ever written

If you want a great Blues album, this is a good place to start. 5 stars or A+.

Cool album, bluesy without leaning too much into the uncle jesse type blues. Always dig the stutters he adds into some of the lyrics. His guitar tone is great, his voice sounds solid throughout. Some of the background screams make it sound like they're having a blast recording this. I'd say Muddy or whoever his lead guitar player is, really shreds.

It’s as Chicago blues as you can get. Nobody does it as good as Muddy Waters and the ones who try can’t pull it off.

What is there to say about Muddy Waters that hasn't been said already? The version of 'Mannish Boy' rocks and the rest of the album follows suit. Great listen.

Classic. They way the harmonica sits with the guitar and bass, and then Muddy Water’s vocals that are smooth and growling at the same time. A masterpiece

Absolute fire of an album, energy from start to finish. Love it. Mid 5.

The Blues. From the ORIGINAL Himself. He was a great influence.

An essential listen for all who are curious about the Blues. This album really captures the blues, and perhaps more importantly Muddy Water and Johnny Winter's essence.

Really loved this, the production, the guitars, the piano, it was all brilliant blues.