Hard Again
Muddy Waters
1977
Album Summary
Hard Again is a studio album by American blues singer Muddy Waters. Released on January 10, 1977, it was the first of his albums produced by Johnny Winter. Hard Again was Waters's first album on Blue Sky Records after leaving Chess Records and was well received by critics.
WikipediaI 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.
A fantastically bluesy and soulful album with some of the greatest guitar playing of all time.
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.
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
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?
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
I'm glad that Mr. Waters is able to get it up again. He must be pumped full of viagra.
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.
Great album, all the playing is on point and muddys being muddy. Mannish boy might be the greatest opening track of all time
Nothing like the sound of someone else's suffering to cheer you up. This was a really good time.
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
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.
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 could listen to this all day long. I think I will buy it. Hopefully mofi did a version. So very, very good
bomba! al primo oh yeah di mannish boy capisci quanto ce l'ha hard il vecchio Muddy. l'armonica zozza di James Cotton quanto è groovy?
Amazing solos, smooth production Muddy Waters' iconic voice combine for a great blues album. (huehue hard again)
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.
Can't believe how much I love this for a country album. Amazing lyricism, great voice, solid understated guitar work. I'm going to need to pick this up on wax.
Such good stuff. There is such passion and honesty in the blues and this just drives from the opening note. Unapologetic and timeless greatness.
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.
4th August 2021 Listened in my first trip to the FT offices! Perfection.
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!
I love blues classics and this is top tier! Muddy Waters was one of the best there was, the opening track still kills.
Favoriete nummers: - Mannish Boy - The Blues Had a Baby and They Named it Rock and Roll
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.
that album was awesome, it had a lot of different blues elements I really loved. 9/10
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.
So good. The Blues are my happy place. As good and as relevant today as it was in 1977.
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
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.
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.
Hard nosed Chicago Blues, from a master of the form, with a great band that swings!
Now this is some good quality listening. My ears have recovered from yesterday and they are smiling at some of the smoothest blues. Would listen again!
Just recently (and this project helped) I've been really getting into guitar-driven blues and Muddy Waters is right up my alley (and on some of the playlists I've been listening to). Great album, I really enjoyed it. It wasn't exactly good for my productivity at work though.
They don‘t make them like that anymore. Music from a different time, place, planet. 🎸👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
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.
So much feeling and soul in this album. I loved it. Made me really appreciate Muddy Waters as an artist and songwriter.
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.
Amazing energy top to bottom. Mannish boy is a great opening track. That is a charismatic album.
Blues of the highest quality, there's is not much else to say. Favorite tracks: * Mannish Boy * The Blues Had An Baby And They Named It Rock And Roll * Crosseyed Cat
Holy cow this album is heavy. That harmonica rips. If I'm in a metal mood I would quicker throw this on than Metallica or sabbath. Favorite tracks: cross-eyed cat, down in Florida, walk-in thru the park
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.
Fantastic blues album. I don't listen to a lot of blues, so this is a great intro to the genre!
This is straight blues the way it should be. The songs are riffs here are iconic. The recording is impeccable, and the energy is fantastic. Absolute classic. Fav tracks: Mannish Boy, I Can't Be Satisfied, Deep Down In Florida
Oh Yeah. Fave tracks: Mannish Boy, Bus Driver, I Can't Be Satisfied, The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll
Good Blues is something you get lost in, and this album was no exception. Dogged driving riffs combined with Muddy's performance make for a fantastic 45 minutes.
It can be hard to take blues and make it sound fun, engaging, and interesting through the whole album without the standards getting a bit tiring. Muddy Waters just gets behind the mic and says "Try me."
An amazing achievement for someone in their 60s. This album is polished and full of catchy riffs. The guitar solos are purposeful and hold interest.
If someone asked me what is blues music, I'd give them this album. I could listen to this all day, and all night.
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
TIL that Muddy Waters' given name is McKinley Morganfield. Huh! Difficult to put aside my deeply ingrained feelings for this music enough to give it an objective listen. I was shocked to discover that it was recorded in 1977 and not 1950. I don't know how to critique this. Every track puts my entire nervous system in sympathetic resonance (this is a good thing). I'm going to put it on again.