Hard Again

Classic blues, folky and kind of repetitive. His voice is amazing and powerful, raspy but clear.

Good songs but something about the production feels off, the 70s vibe of it. For some reason I feel like blues is better the older and uglier it sounds, this is a little too Nashville Broadway street for me idk, maybe I’m a clown

Good

There is undeniable energy on that opening track that I have definitely heard before, but maybe not this original recording. An overall 3 for me I think. This reminds me of when I stayed up late listening to "Blues Before Sunrise" on my local radio station with my walkman as a kid, I probably fell asleep to that show every Saturday night for a few years. liked, distorted harmonica sound! i want to be loved blues had a baby and they called it rock and roll cross-eyed cat

The Blues. Very well put together album from an artist from a generation in which singles were the only things that really mattered. You can't have a Muddy album without Mannish Boy

The sound is plain cool- from the voice to the instruments. After a while, I tired a bit but it’s a solid 3.5

Me staring at the last piece of garlic bread:

Al escuchar este disco es difícil determinar si Muddy Waters influyó a los grandes actos de Blues Rock, más que dichas bandas influenciaran el sonido de este disco. Siendo del 77, y no conociendo la discografía previa de Waters, uno asumiría que la importancia de este disco radica en "la vuelta completa" que se da en esta situación (de influencia, a influenciado a influyente de nuevo). A mi, personalmente, me aburrió; pero creo que es un problema que tengo con el "blues puro".

Probably the best straight blues album I've ever heard. Still not really what I'm into.

Not my style but good

Started fun, got boring

Best Song: Mannish Boy/I can't be satisfied Worst Song: Little Girl

Classic blues

This is good ol fashioned Grandpa Blues and there's nothing wrong with it. It's not quite as edgy or rough as some older dudes are but I can listen to this for hours on end. 3 stars

Great blues record, great performances but left something to be desired. 5.7/10

Jó kis viszkizős fless, kozisztensen jók a számok, de eléggé ugyanazokra a klisékre épülnek a dalok és kissé monotonná válik. 3.5/5

Kedvenc: I Can’t Be Satisfied a slide-olós gitár miatt.

While not introduced to Muddy Waters this way, I would have to count myself among the hordes of people whose affection for Muddy began with his performance in 'The Last Waltz.' A static shot with no edits or movement but all the same engaging as Muddy really lets it loose (with his cocaine badge and all. Not sure what I mean? Take note of those yellow pins, folks!) The story around his inclusion is my favourite tidbit about the concert. Apparently, Robbie Robertson was thinking of axing Muddy from the lineup, which prompted Levon Helm (the most perfect man of all time, if you ask me) to threaten to shoot Neil Diamond, whose latest album at that time was produced by none other than Robbie. Thank God Robbie listened. I can't pretend I know anything about The Blues or even about Muddy Waters. Like everybody else in the world, however, I don't tire of hearing Muddy do "Mannish Boy" again. It's certainly fun to hear all versions and try to come up with your favourite rendition. While the '68 version is certainly a vibe, and the '55 version has a haunted quality to it, I love that this cut goes on for longer. Sometimes, you gotta give the people what they want. As for the rest of the album, it's certainly delightful enough but doesn't quite meet the energy of "Mannish Boy." Make sure to pay close enough attention to catch the piano work of Pinetop Perkins. I'll credit Robert Christgau who says that this is one of the very best Chicago blues album, right up there with B.B. King's 'Live at the Regal.' 'Hard Again' is a magnificent album title, especially for a comeback record. It's also true. Muddy Waters was 64 in 1977. And he was still fucking.

Real noisy for a blues record. Sounds like at any moment there’s 3 instruments wailing on top of each other. Unique, but gets repetitive

Whilst I'm not an avid listener to The Blues my musical tastes do include genres that have some commonalities with this style of music. The album itself was very 'listenable' but equally there were no standout or weak tracks, it just sort of blended into one 40 minute track with a few gaps. That being said, I could happily listen to it again - and who knows, maybe the tracks would become more distinct.

Added to list

Would I listen to it again: I don' think so. Is it a no-skip album: no. Do I like it: yes, I had fun listening to the album.

Surprisingly enjoyable

I’m not too into the blues but I’ll take it over jazz anyway. Take that, jazz!

I appreciate the blues representation! This was a quick, easy listen, but you could have given me any blues album and I wouldn’t know the difference.

Much like green onions, how would one adequately rate the album of something so iconic. I'm not huge into blues, the music kept me entertained and interested, but I'm not going to seek out more blues

Freaky ass title.

If he’s saying he’s hard (again!), I’ll take his word for it but he looks like a big softie to me :,)

Not my favorite. I liked a few songs but not enough to get into it. Bluesy. Don’t love his voice. Didnt really feel like I was listening to music, it was more talking. Liked the background rhythm section.

I liked it. It’s the beginnings. And if it wasn’t for my little brothers interest I probably would have ignored it.

Not really my thing, but he’s still pretty damn good

I don’t usually listen to music like this, but it’s a different kind of genre for me. My cat seemed to like it?

This album/Muddy Waters has a vibe! This album feels like NOLA to me (musically prolific, full of emotions, full of an energy).

Some muddy waters chill background music. Didn’t hate didn’t love

Mannish Boy is an iconic song, with that guitar rift.. been duplicated by many. Good album, lots of jamming. I dig it.

How was this in 1977? Spelled P-U-N-K-D-I-S-C-O-S-T-A-R-W-A-R-S

Hard Again is very enjoyable, it’s very raw, I imagine it’s just Waters and his band playing. That being said there are only so many guitar scales and therefore only so many blues licks. Did Waters and his band create the ones on the album?? I have no idea but I assume they are riffs that are as old as time. But I’ll give the benefit of the doubt here. Blues records have a ceiling, Hard Again may be it. 7.7/10

5/10

Yep, this is Blues. My only gripe is that's it's the same Blues he'd been playing for years.

A strong opening track lulled into nine more songs that sound exactly like it. Good for blues fans and for the use of background music, but the songs sound rather stale to those without a passion for this genre. One individual track pulled out from the others would sound slightly impressive, but each song featuring the same exact standard blues chord progression is nothing creative.

Interesting album. Has potential to grow on me but blues is not really my thing. I came in expecting it to be bad and was surprised when i found that i liked it

2.5

A vibe for sure but not really my thing 🤷‍♂️

First time listening. Top three tracks: 1. I Want to Be Loved #2 2. Mannish Boy 3. Walkin' Thru the Park

# 242 : Wow! Better experienced with some whisky. But Hell yeah, some nice blues. Favourite Track : Little Girl

A nice blues album that starts off great but becomes repetitive as you listen on, especially since several songs seem to go on forever. I really do like Muddy's vocals, though. 3.5 stars

Ein ganz wichtiges Fundament der Musik, die ich mag.

Yup this was some music. The guitar was pretty nice

i get it, just not something i would gravitate towards

Straightforward blues music that's hard to hate but starts to drag on quickly.

Surprisingly enjoyed this more than I thought I would, sounds more rock-y to me than most blues stuff than I heard :)

Some nice blues

How long does Mannish Boy go on??

It's good? Blues rock really all sounds alike to me. That being said I did like some of the extra emotion/yelling on Mannish Boy, so I'll give it a 2.8/5. -> 3/5.

A good album. Some seminal songs present. All sounded very similar though if not paying close attention

Better than every album of its kind. Still not my thing 3

Classic blues

mannish boy absoluto clásico del blues, no puede existir un riff más iconic

So the question is, how does one evaluate an idiom that one is not familiar with other than through the aggressively subjective? There are elements of this that I think are pretty cool, but the 12-Bar blues format has always left me cold (emphasis on ‘me’). So I’m not sure how I can insert this in the context of, say, Robert Johnson or Robert Cray. (Or either of them in his context.) So it seems both futile and unfair for me to say anything other that…dunno. Nothing, I guess. (Very cool album cover, though.)

3-. Good vibes, but got repetitive really fast

Not my style of music but it was good. I'd listen to more of his music

Very classic and straightforward American Blues music. Blues based music is not for me, but Muddy Waters is among the best. I can't hang with it long, but this is great to listen to every once in a while.

Blues is sometimes my thing, definitely felt like this was influential in the world of music, and a good listen, have to be in the right mood however

If this were the Muddy Waters bar in Methuen LA, it would get 5 stars for their onion rings and pepperoni pizza. Blues aren’t my thing.

What an album- this is blues at its peak. Shows what happens when loose of a record label. The leads were just as impactful as his voice especially on tracks like Jealous Hearted Man….. Can’t believe his was 71 ….

I want to like this more than I do. But he’s a legend for doing what he did when he did it. Some rando named Frank Brown could cut the same album today and I’d give it a 2.

Better than I expected, but too samey for an entire album. Favorite song: I can't be satisfied

I like the enthousiasm of the band. It gets repetitive at times though.

A solid blues album that showcases the power of Waters’ voice and his inspired guitar playing. Excellent production all around and a fantastic group of players. The thing that I found lacking was the songs themselves, outside of Mannish Boy this is not the most interesting set. I’m at a 3.5, but can’t get to a 4.

All blues sounds the same to me idk

Gutes Blues Album, ohne erkennbare nervende Titel. “Mannish boy” ist allgemein bekannt und gut und optimistisch interpretiert. Andere Titel sind hatten keinen Wiedererkennungswert. Trotzdem transferiert das Album den Hörer nach New Oerleans mit den Wunsch einen würzigen Vanille Rum zu genießen.

Great music

I like blues and I like Muddy Waters, but this album was just ok for me. I could imagine people who don't like blues might hate this. It's very much unvaried in sound and tone. You hear one song and you've heard them all. Mannish Boy is one of the best songs of his career, but the album as a whole does not do much for me. I was disappointed.

# Playlist Track - Mannish Boy # Notes - Tracks are a bit too similar one to the other, so the album feels a little repetitive. There's nothing wrong with the album, but it's not stronger than the sum of all songs. - Great blues, tho!

Muddy Waters consistently evokes the true, raw spirit of the blues, but by the end of the record, the sound begins to get a little monotonous, even though there are some genuinely fantastic songs within this brief collection.

Quality blues.

Solid blues album. Really enjoyed it, even though this style often gets a bit repetitive on a studio album.

Solid Blues album. Really dropped off after that openeing track, but i enjoyed it thoroughly.

Recognize the influence. Know it’s important. Love something different from this website. But still can’t get over how “stereotypical” it sounds even when it’s not.

Great outdoor background music to listen too

I'm not much for jazz or blues or what ever category this is, but I kind of liked it. It was fast and fun!

Probably only 3 as it was directly after the previous album

Hard respect to Mr. Waters but that blues/motown sound is not really for me. At this at this time....

very good but some songs were boring

Most of the time I don’t find electric blues tooooo compelling, but this one has a lot going on. Cool ambient noise, Waters himself being kinda old and kinda fired up. Lots of fun.

It’s like a cool song that’s just really long

yeah good

weww from the jump u can tell how influential he was. overall it is not the sort of thing i would often return to but it goes p hard & i did mostly enjoy it :) faves: mannish boy i want to be loved #2 i can't be satisfied

Mannish Boy is a five star song 100%. But the rest of the album starts to feel all the same. A legend for sure, but it got a little boring for me.

Consistent style of blues with a lot of what might be called trilling on the harmonica. Some songs have some pretty good bluesy guitar solos. Some are laid back (mannish boy, little girl) while others are more upbeat (Blues had a baby...). Favorite track: The Blues had a Baby and They Named it Rock and Roll.

- is this where that guitar riff comes from????? - this is like the most classic blues music i've ever listened to

Enjoyed this,

Think the 19 year old mistress may of had a big part to play in that one Muddy...

sus album name

Honestly, while i appreciate its importance, i find the repetitive rhythms of this album didnt do a lot for me personally

I know this is really good music. I just don't have an emotional connection to it.

Hard not to love this blues guitarist. The recording is so raw and packed full of the feels. Loved it!

I enjoyed this one - I haven’t listened to a lot of blues, this had nice vibes

Takes me right back to Beale Street in Memphis. Mannish Boy is great.

A few good tracks here and there, such as Mannish Boy, I Want To Be Loved #2, Jealous Hearted Man, and Crosseyed Cat.

Nice way to start Monday off

1977! Mom's graduation year bum bum ba da bum! Nothing more classic than that sound progression

The harmonics annoys me after a while, love his voice tho!

This is a late-career Muddy Waters blues album, recorded when he was in his early 60s. At this point he was already a legend, but it seems like he was in a bit of a lull in his career before this. Then he recorded this (plus three other albums in the next few years) that all were highly acclaimed and got him a bit of a resurgence. It seems like a lot of critics consider this to be a big comeback album for him. It's a bit of a tough place to start for someone that's this famous in a genre that I don't know super well. It's generally really enjoyable, and he sounds really good for his age when this was recorded. "Mannish Boy" is definitely famous enough that I knew it already, but he also first recorded it in the '50s and rerecorded it a bunch of times during his career, including as the opener on this. The album is perfectly good, probably a 3.5 really, and I know with this genre I'm missing a whole textbook's worth of historical context, but I don't think much is going to stick with me. I'm curious to hear a bit more of his earlier work, I'm sure I'll get the chance to here at some point. Favorite song: Mannish Boy Other: I Want to Be Loved #2, I Can't Be Satisfied, The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll, Crosseyed Cat 2/25/24

The blues live on. Could do without the misogyny.

Nice enough blues stuff.

3/5

nice album, sehr bluesig aber nicht mein neues lieblingsalbum. am weg in der früh mim hund gehört und nochmal beim abendgassi. heurigen heute, fleischlaberl

Some iconic songs

Blues waterssi ei oo se meikän lemppari.. enemmin se putin apologisti lip synkkaaja waters...

One of the best blues players, great album Top tracks: Mannish Boy, Crosseyed Cat

It seems like he kinda has creative control as one of the figureheads of this bluesy sound

A classic for blues fans.

It's BHM, I cant give this album anything lower than a 3

Ok

Bon son, bon harmonica. Un peu répétitif.

This was classic blues wasn't it. Totally fine

Just really nice blues. A little harmonica heavy, and repetitive, but good overall.

Meh

Good music, very samey though.

Favorites: Mannish Boy, Bus Driver, I Can't Be Satisfied, The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll, Crosseyed Cat. A master of blues.

Pretty good, just not a huge blues guy

I love the depth and character to this album !

J'ai trop aimé !

I’ll preface my thoughts by saying: 1.) I have a hard time not getting bored at some point in an entire album of blues. 2.) Muddy Waters in on the Mt. Rushmore of blues. I liked this album because it kept the energy up throughout. I didn’t look down to see where we were in the album until the second-to-last track. That’s pretty good! Nice, clean production so I can hear every last bit of his tremolo! Every tremble in his voice. And if you’re wondering how I can like this album but not like Jeff Beck’s Truth, well, the difference is in the authenticity. I can hear it, and feel it. In his guitar playing, in his voice, I can feel it coming from his gut, and it resonates. Will I ever listen to this? No, but it was good to hear it and experience it.

Love listening to blues when I'm drinking beer. And Muddy is one of the best. But I can't really seem to get past listening to a blues album because you just can't get the sound, lights, ambiance correct.

This one was enjoyable. Really don't listen to Blues, but maybe I'll have to start mixing some into my rotation.

Great jazzy soul. Appreciated this a bunch.

Historia de la música. He de reconocer que me cuesta conectar, pero hay algunas canciones que hace que el cuerpo se mueva aunque no quiera.

soulful blues for a nice afternoon/evening drinking some whiskey

You really have to justify liking this or maybe this is just not for me. It’s not bad, just “man screaming” the album.

i liked it, yeah

Classic blues. Just needed some whiskey to go with that.

Needs multiple relistens to give any immediate feedback. Mannish boy being the first song made me think the whole album would be as good, but didn't turn out, atleast on the first listen.

Thought it was okay. Will probably try to give it another chance in the future. Favorite: Mannish Boy

closer to a 4 than a 2. love the sound and the performances are absolutely wild, but I think maybe the inherent problem in having an entire genre based on one chord progression is that when you sit down to put together a full album of it, it's one chord progression for 40 minutes. maybe i'm just being stupid and reductive but it's an aspect of blues albums i've never really gelled with. will definitely return to some key tracks though!

I can appreciate the artistry. I didn’t love it. I’m not a real blues fan.

The blues isn't really my thing but this was fun and pretty enjoyable if samey (but isn't that just the blues?)

i can appreciate the musicianship but sadly blues isn't really my taste

Not as good as Newport 1960, but still a solid listen.

super divertente, ritmo incalzante da inizio a fine (e grazie al cazzo...) anche senza capirne nulla di blues si capisce di star ascoltando una delle punte del genere

There’s an energy here.

Love

Guter groove, bisschen nervig aber gut. Für das ungeübte Ohr klingt alles ähnlich. 3 stars

Very solid. Good backup band - the drums sounds great. Appreciate the modern production. 3.7

OK.

It's the blues.

Quintessential blues rock record and artist. Gritty and soulful sounds layered throughout.

Highlights: Mannish Boy, I Want To Be Loved #2, Deep Down In Florida, Crosseyed Cat. The thing I’ve learned about blues from this project is that songs of this genre follow a template but it’s rarely boring. You can appreciate the solos and the musicians jamming. Some tracks on this album didn’t need to be over 4 minutes - a common complaint of mine is song length- but I’m guessing that it’s a live studio album, so you roll with it (perhaps the band is in one room and does it all in one take? I don’t have a good enough ear to make a distinction). Overall: 6/10

Its integral to music history... the vocals and vibes are great! I just dont love blues.

Great voice!

Definitely a step up from the Live at 1960 record earlier in The Proj. You could hear the growl and emotion of his voice much more, and you can definitely see how much of an influence yer man had on the Stones or Clapton. Ultimately a lot of the songs are too long and descend into fairly basic blues riffs, but not unenjoyable at all

Pretty standard blues album. Maybe blues is just better live? Also, seems a bit out of fashion for 1977.

気合い入ってる。

What a voice, and what a band ... But ... It suffers for the overproduction

Classic blues 👌

Fine blues.

What an opener; really excellent rhythms and grooves, with strong vocal work; love the heavy harmonica and electric guitar; enjoyed the variations on genre, playing with the blues fundamentals that would form rock and country, and colorfully taking those forms to a new place; the album has a solid pace; a richly warm and healing sound for a dark and rainy day. Standouts: Mannish Boy, I Want to Be Loved #2, The Blues Had a Baby and They Named it Rock and Roll, Crosseyed Cat

Bass line + vocals, I didn’t connect to it

Fun album but everything sounds the same to me. I recognised Mannish Boy - I'm sure it's on one of our car CDs. Stand-out: The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll

(Chicago) Blues in Reinform.

pretty repetitive but not bad, I get the relevance

I have a difficult time listening to blues albums. Blues songs are so formulaic that they quickly get too repetitive and start sounding the same from song to song. I start getting bored and it just gets too plodding and heavy. I liked almost every song on this album but listening to them back to back is too much of a good thing. (That trilling harmonica wears out its welcome pretty quickly after one song). I like the blues but I prefer them mixed in with other music to shake up the pace.

Blind album and artist. Thought it was good, not spectacular.

2.6

Prototypisches Blues-Album würde ich sagen. Geht klar.

This album cover is great! He looks so pleased with himself. Classic blues. Favorite tracks are "I Can't Be Satisfied" and "Crosseyed Cat."

Good album but prefer some of older less polished stuff.

Hard Again is a blues album by American blues singer Muddy Waters. Critically acclaimed at release, this is considered Muddy Waters' comeback album since he took some time off from recording while he was switching record labels. This album won the 1977 Grammy for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording. This is an epic blues album. It has great musicians and Muddy Waters' voice is loud and proud. The band had fun creating this blues masterpiece, and it shows.

Good

Good, but kinda have to be in the right mood for this album. I didn't dislike this album, but just found it a bit boring.

Groovy and soulful Good voice Black man coded

Yeah, nice. This was pretty cool. A bit samesy for me sometimes but it's growing on me.

i liked it, but it seemed a bit repetitive. the songs all sounded the same to me

Really enjoyed this one, have never listened to Muddy Waters, and it was such a good vibe while I drove around a forested area with pretty fall leaves!

Good ol' fashion blues from the 70's? Fave track: Mannish Boy

The OG 🙌

6/10 first 2 tracks banging but after that the tracks start to run together a bit

Good for like a Howling Wolf style bar but too samey to sit and listen to

Pretty good.

Good backyard chores album

Quite enjoyable

That first track is a classic ! I'm surprised it was from 1977... It seems like it would have been earlier. This wasn't great to listen to in the car with the windows down—the vocals seemed to be mixed a little low. I'll give it another listen—for sure—in better listening conditions, but I don't think the lyrics will really change my opinion that much. Oh! My opinion? I'm so glad you asked. This music is ar'ite. It's probably great when I'm in a bluesey mood, but I reserve that for special occasions.

Listen pal, I am the aggressively depressed person here, that's my schtick. Sure, he electrified blues, accidentally created rock and roll and can be pinpointed as a genesis shift that makes me who I am. But tone it down bud. I was washing some dishes during a play through and some of the weird dance movements I made gave me an understanding of why parents might have thought that the blues and rock and roll was a literal demonic possession. I was bopping like a zombie with a live powerline zipped into my pants. Oh, and ixnay on the ittlele irlgay, it is super creepy. 5 stars for the cultural importance, -1 star because of how fucking creepy it got. -1 star because it was so damn aggressive that I felt like I needed a time out after listening.

That standard blues riff in track 1 just reminds me of what feels like several movies where some idiot gets stuck on stage and makes up a blues song to impress the locals. The rest was pretty okay, I don't want to listen to it again but I didn't want to skip any.

Blues is not really my thing, but I can appreciate the album. Instrumentals are catchy even if the vocals aren’t really my cup of tea.

This one was actually pretty good, introduction to blues! Love it! The rhythm of (sax and keyboard?) was super alluring.

Was not in the right frame of mind for the blues so it’s on me that I give it this score. One day I’ll try it again.

Mannish boy: I think i have heard this one before, at least the riff in the background of the song

First song is an absolute beauty. When you hear that riff, isn't that what everyone hums out when trying to imitate a blues song? In my opinion, the best song off the album, not just for the riff but the lyrics too. Now, I've never considered myself a blues guy, but I generally walk away with a good feeling with what I just heard and this album no exception. Spent the rest of the day just listening to whatever Spotify threw out there and I have no complaints. Can't say I'll start my own Blues category on Spotify, but I'm rarely disappointed with what I hear. Sometimes a little repetitive, but again, not a big complaint from me. I really enjoyed. Probably closer to a 4 than a 3, but I'm going to score a 3.5. Scoreboard will show a 3.

3 Our second foray with Muddy, but our first with one of his studio albums - though that wasn’t immediately clear with the first track, Mannish Boy, which felt like it was purposefully trying to sound live with its production (which was awesome btw - I loved the addition of the crowd yelling in the background). Between that and its catchy, distinctive blues hook, Mannish Boy was far and away the best song on this album - I even liked the lyrical reference to one of his older songs, Hoochie Coochie Man. The rest of the album consists of far less remarkable blues numbers that mostly run together, but fortunately, they never cease to be enjoyable, and the album never outstays its welcome in its 45-minute runtime. Probably not an album I’ll be consistently revisiting, but I had fun in my time with it here. I was surprised to see the 1977 release date because this really feels like a man at his musical peak, but in actuality, it came out in the late stages of his career, 17 years after At Newport and just six before his death. Anecdotally, the track The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll reminded me of AC/DC’s Let There Be Rock, in that both chronicle the creation of rock music from blues from the perspective of each of their own respective genres (like a parallel in some ways), so it’s crazy to think that both of those songs came out in the same year - especially being that I would have considered blues to have fallen out of the mainstream years beforehand. Anyway, to wrap up, I didn’t love this, but I did enjoy it, and I have a tremendous amount of respect for both Muddy as an artist and for his influence on all kinds of music in the world today. Rock on, wherever you are now.

Quintessential blues, which means lots of feeling, but repetitive songs. Water’s voice is powerful. Mannish Boy is one of the few songs I don’t mind repeating one riff for 5 minutes.

Some solid, classic blues. Gets a little repetitive for my taste at times, but it’s clearly the work of a talented man.

Mannish boy is the best track. Deep Down in Florida and cross eyed cat are good too. Whole album feels a bit samey tho

Some solid blues numbers on here, but ultimately it ended up sounding a bit 'samey' by the end.

"Hard Again" by Muddy Waters is a gritty and spirited return to his blues roots. Released in 1977, it marked a revival in his career, driven by the collaborative effort of Waters and producer/guitarist Johnny Winter. The album features tracks like "Mannish Boy" and "I Can't Be Satisfied," where Waters' iconic vocals and slide guitar take center stage. The raw, unpolished production captures the essence of Chicago blues. While "Hard Again" is a commendable effort and a testament to Waters' enduring talent, it doesn't quite reach the heights of his earlier work. Some listeners might find it lacking the depth and complexity found in his earlier, more influential recordings. Nevertheless, it's a solid blues album that pays homage to the genre's roots and showcases Waters' enduring influence. A 3/5 rating reflects its significance in the context of his extensive discography.

Absolutely rock solid, if sleepy blues; nothing that I haven't ever really heard before. Is the album title a dick joke? Would go 3.5

Classic blues, very good

Fine!

I liked this more than the 1960 Muddy Waters we got earlier. Some nice guitar playing (especially in "I cant be satisfied", and Muddy Waters voice sounds better with age. But it still isn't very varied, and I get my fill after a few songs.

Jazzy, slow. Evening alone at the bar

Not really my thing

Pretty standard blues album. It's good, but doesn't really stand out. That is the biggest obstacle with the blue genre it that its been done so many times that it can sound pretty generic even for medduy waters in 1977. I guess it has its own distinct sound with element of hard blues, but that's really it. I would probably only listen to this once

I quite liked it

Very samey.. but I guess that’s the blues. A decent solid offering

*riff* best tracks: mannish boy, bus driver, the blues had a baby and they named it rock n roll

Heard it before?: No Enjoy it?: Yeah, it’s decent and very strong vocally Favourite song: Track 5 - I can’t be satisfied

Favourites: • Mannish Boy

3.5

Mannish Boys- A vibrant, resonating intro to a supposed blues album (8) Bus Driver- The start of the blues, Waters now focuses on a bus driver who stole his woman (6.5) I Wanna Be Loved #2- Real vibey song, classic song about courting a woman (8.5) Jealous Hearted Man- Hes back to thinking about his woman, who is gone from him, but this time in a more uppity environment (6) I Can’t Be Satisfied- From the sadness sprouts anger, as Waters debates leaving town because of a woman who just doesn’t satisfy him (7) The Blues Had A Baby And Named It Rock And Roll- A vibed out song about the conversion of the Blues to Rock n Roll (7.5) Deep Down In Florida- As the previous tracks topic, Waters switches to a more rocky type of drums, with a looping guitar riff as he talks about life in Florida (6.5) Crosseyed Cat- Waters tells a fictions story about how a woman he liked had to be left alone because of a strange cat she had (6) Little Girl- A questionable song where Waters sings about a girl not as mature as him, and how she is sweeter than sugar (5.5) Walkin’ Thru The Park- A jazzy uppity song about just being carefree and spending time in a park (7) Summary: Waters compiled a very interesting set of blues tracks, with some misses and some hits. All in all a decent album; OVERALL:6.9/10

It's fine. Pretty standard fare. Problem with the blues is it doesn't really have much place to go. So it becomes mood music to some extent. Also, it's a tad creepy to hear how horny Muddy Waters is even though he is a legend.

Correcto.

For some reason I thought Muddy Waters was from a much earlier era - not just the 60s and 70s but I thought he’d started off way before that and had no idea he was still issuing blues albums when the rest of the world had gone Punk and New Wave. These are great songs but it does tend to feel like an extended theme - not too much differentiation. Mannish Boy is a classic though. It should be a 3.5 really!

I don't relate to the blues as a musician or just a regular guy... guess I've lived a blessed life after all and need a little more variety in my music. So, loud bar, coupla beers, this would be awesome. Coming out of my Sonos in my kitchen... I tire of the I-IV-V repetition. So while Waters' guitar tone is killer, and the band is as blues as it gets, my emotional radar is stuck in the middle.

The Blues is another genre I liked a whole lot more when I was younger. Or did I? There are some songs that simply do not have a threshold on which I OD but Mannish Boy is not one of them. That riff on the song makes me a little crazy and set me off that I wouldn't like this album. And it's that riff that is basically the foundation of the Blues. But then I feel like an ass because you know, this is Muddy Waters. I guess I just have so much space for the Blues in my heart and it got filled up in my early 20s.

Mannish Boy is a classic, the rest is good ole blues.

Good blues album

Smooooooooothhh

The musicianship was great and Waters sounded fantastic for the whole thing, it just got a little bit samey for me to fully enjoy though

Very distinctive and consistent album. To be honest it gets a little repetitive (starting with Mannish Boy, which I wish was about half the length), but he has a great sound and his influence echoes through time.

Pleasant enough and I respect it, but got a bit old after a couple tracks. The dude yelling after “man” on the first track got old after the 50th time too.

Solid album, it really cooks in some spots, but the album is longer than it probably needed to be, the tracks kinda fade together. Still, liked it more than I thought I would, almost a 4. BT - Manish Boy - Bus Driver

It's not really my jam, but it's got a good energy to it in general. The guitar and keys are nice. Too many of the songs just sound the same to me though, it's so formulaic. Also, if there's one thing this 1001 process has taught me, I find the harmonica really, really irritating.

Between a 3 and a 4.

It's blues. The production is great, everyone sounds like they are having fun and jamming out. I think the nicest compliment I can give it is that it's extremely pleasant background music. But what exactly are you doing with that little girl at her daddy's farm hm? Name a more iconic duo than pedophiles and playing rock music. Why do you feel the need to make a song like that bro. I would love to hear actual interesting music on this website. Thanks. Score: 60 Art: 50

Super soulful - what a great recording!

Cat: first of all, best stage name ever! Iconic sound vocals and guitar. I like the more playful tracks, like I want to be Loved #2 and I Can’t be Satisfied. AJ: legend.

It was okay. It’s the blues, ya know?

This wasn´t bad album, it was actually pretty good musically, but definitely not for me. I´ve never been really into blues, and this doesn´t really helped me to get into it. I guess it just not my style.

Quintessential blues, great voice. Would be great live I think and I enjoy it as background music, listen too closely and it's very repetitive. Can't help but find the album title and cover hilarious, what is meant to be 'hard again' exactly?

"Hard Again" is right: at 64 years old, Muddy Waters strides back into the game with a set of mean and muscular blues. This is raw, rough and ready rock… there might not be too much depth to it, but it's a lively lesson from the master. 1977 was an interesting musical landscape for Muddy Waters to burst back into the major leagues. It seems the explosion of punk, with its return to raw, spontaneous, do-it-yourself music, must have proved a fertile environment for Waters' blues to return to the fold. And so we arrive at 10 tracks coming to 50 minutes, as the band cycle through age-old forms like well-fired pistols. "Mannish Boy", an old standard Waters had performed many times throughout his life, gets a searing full-bodied treatment, with joyful cries and shouts from the backing musicians to heighten the spontaneous feel. The shuffling strut of "Crosseyed Cat", with its wailing harmonica refrain, is a lot of fun, and I also really enjoyed the slide-driven, rootsy acoustic shuffle of "I Can't Be Satisfied"- a really nice diversion which I could have done with more of. The production is tight and choppy: the bass drum is given a huge amount of space, and the guitars sound titanic without being overpowering. It all sounds present, live, large. My main issue is that there's only so much twelve-bar-blues a guy like me can tolerate: it's fun, but it's not going to change my life like it's changed so many others. Ultimately, I find the likes of "Bus Driver", "Jealous Hearted Man", "Deep Down In Florida" and "Little Girl" are lolloping behemoths which end up collapsing under their own weight. As much as I would have killed to experience this live - and I tip my hat to Mr. Waters for getting hard again at 64 - as an album experience I'd argue this is one to file under "semi".

16 ára ég hefði gefið þessari plötu mun hærri einkunn, en 46 ára ég er bara ekki svo mikill blúskall. Muddy er fínn, og þetta er gott fyrir það sem það er, en ég er búinn með þetta.

kickass blues

Pretty good

I liked the first song, the rest were cool but a bit messy

A bit repetitive for my liking and this brand of blues feels tired because probably it has been overplayed and done to death - but I can’t fault it for it being a good genre album - and when the stars align - adds a nice good mood to whenever it’s played. But it’s pretty one dimensional from where I stand. Might say more about me than the record but it’s my review damn it! Also lol at title.

I have never really listened to much blues, and it isn't really my thing, but I'd be lying if I said I didn't jive to it. It may not be my choice of music, but I respect it.

Solid enough blues album but won’t be listening again

I like the blues but it’s all a bit repeat. Maybe it’s his earlier stuff that I should listen to.

not bad, can get into it, truck month ass album

i like the instruments but its really really repetitive

Zoned out but unique voice

Viele Blues-Licks, Mundharmonika, Klavier. Das reinste Blues-Destillat. Ich höre zwar lieber riff-lastige Musik, aber das hier ist auch nicht verkehrt: 3/5

Not exactly my go to music genre but was still enjoyable. Probably wouldn't actively listen to most of it but it was cool having it on in the background. Songs I Already Knew: None Songs I Really Liked: Mannish Boy, I Want To Be Loved, I Can't Be Satisfied, Crosseyed Cat

Nothing against this album. It's well made and if you said "this is my favorite album", I could certainly see it. It's just not something I'd get excited about reading about.

At 64 years young, Muddy Waters is clearly still loving life, chasing pussy, getting into trouble. Really paints a stark contrast to the other senior citizen offerings listed here from the likes of Leonard Cohen, Johnny Cash and Bowie. All I know is, when my time comes, I'd rather go out like Mr. Waters, than all sad and depressed like the former 3. 3 fountains of youth out of 5 ⛲⛲⛲

Some classic Muddy on here, but nothing really stands out to me.

Still got it.

Een klassieker als eerste nummer, maar verder klinkt het iets te repetitief en amerikaans/country/blues/whatever om echt een topalbum te zijn. 3*

3.5/5

it was alright.

Pretty great standard blues album. I just find the blues repetitive (like that first song...wow great riff but it just repeats the entire song). Muddy Waters is a pretty great soloist and I enjoyed most tunes but I don't see myself returning to this one.

Solid 7. Enjoyable listen.

I’m sure for those who truly love Blue’s, they will love and rate this album 4 or 5 stars. Everyone else will rate it 3 or below. Since I am everyone else; 3 stars.

First song had the same beat as “Bad to the Bone” but also wasn’t the original, but it was still cool. Rest of the album had a similar vibe to it, kind of blues/kind of rock and roll. An album i would’ve never listened to without this for sure. “I Want To Be Loved #2” was my favorite song on here.

Bloooz bizniz

Not really into blues but it was a fun listening

Fuld blues, mundharmonika og sprød guitar, det kan et eller andet

This is good music. I found it enjoyable and easy to listen to. Would I rush back? Probably not, but I expect to hear Mannish Boy when I burst through the saloon doors in South Dakota’s hottest club, Shooting Star.

Hard again? I barely even got a half chub. In terms of level of arousal, I will quote the most common phrase said by women leaving my bedroom. “That was very disappointing”. In terms of musical stylings, it had some razzle dazzle, so I’ll be generous as I often am in bed. 3 stars.

I liked it a lot, honestly, a 3.5 is deserved i think, but I'll rest well having rated this a 3. I won't come back to the album, but a few songs have been added to the study and workout playlists.

Goes hard A little ambling - can appreciate the uniformity in sound

Blues, blues blues.

This is probably the first blues album I've ever listened to. Makes me think of hot, arid, desert-like climates... probably because I've heard blues songs often used in soundtracks for wild-west (or Western-inspired) TV and film. I know blues is one of the predecessors to rock (or as Muddy says, "The Blues Had a Baby and They Named it Rock and Roll"), so it was cool to see the beginning threads of rock in this genre.

Formulaic

I just kind of don't get the blues! Fair warning, Jacob's and my reviews might be similar here for a while because we're in the same place listening at the same time lol. But we both largely agreed: for us the blues are more fun to play than to listen to. Don't get me wrong, this album was really pleasant to have on in the background while prepping coffee and cooking and cleaning. But my enjoyment just kind of hovered on a superficial level for the whole duration. My eyes kind of glaze over and my head bobs gradually grow less emphatic the more I sit down and try to really listen to what's going on. "I Can't Be Satisfied" and "Crosseyed Cat" were exceptions, super weird funky shuffle-y grooves!! Everything else seemed to be straight blues, better consumed live at a block party, outdoor festival, or someone's backyard than on studio speakers. One really obviously great thing about this album is all of the players. It's so tight in a subtle way: when the pianist doubles the bass-line, the harmonica player plays a more comp-y pattern; when the harmonica player plays trills and more solo-y lines, the piano steps up to fill in the chords; the bass and drum battery are so tightly locked that you almost feel them more than hear them. And of course Muddy Waters' vocals are incredible, expressive, raw, emotive without ever sounding forced. My 3 star review here is more a reflection of my own inability to approach and enjoy the blues than a reflection of the album itself. I think part of it might be because I played the sh*t out of the blues every day when I was playing trombone in jazz bands growing up. But I definitely didn't mind the album! Just wish I could get in there and enjoy it more.

Ah! I was hoping this would be the one for me. I’ve been hoping that a blues record would come along someday and convert me. I love playing the blues, and I think I’d really dig seeing a blues band play. So maybe an hour record of Muddy Waters, laying it all on the line, could get me there. Sadly, not this record for me. I still had a good time, and the first track is iconic. Past the first two tracks, things got more monotonous. I always feel like I don’t know what I should be listening for! What am I missing? What’s the part of the blues that I need to “get” to unlock it? A fine listen! Just not a conversion experience, which upon reflection is a lot of pressure to put on any one record. 3/5.

Not my kind of music

I don't know. It all sounded like pretty straightforward blues music, like down to the chord progressions. Given how late this album came out and how late it was in Waters' career, I doubt this was novel at this point. It was a fine listen, but nothing really stuck out to me. Standouts: Mannish Boy, Bus Driver, I Can't Be Satisfied

Not bad. Very repetitive. Few really powerful songs and others all sound the same. 6.7/10

Correcto.

Really good, not quite my style tho.

por mais que eu ache o blues foda, ele puro fica enjoativo rapido pra mim. mesmo assim eu consigo apreciar a tecnica desse cara que moldou a musica e a tecnica de guitarra de varios guitarristas que vieram depois dele.

Buen blues, buena guitarra pero no me atrapó.

I’m sure if I saw this performed in an old timey club it would have more impact than listening at 5am in rural Britain.

Good

Il s'agit là de l'album de la délivrance pour Muddy Waters. Depuis le début de sa carrière, celui-ci articulait chacun de ses projets autour de ses envahissants problèmes d'érection : « ♫ Mon sexe est un camembert ♫ » chantait-il déjà dans son tout premier projet, nous donnant un premier indice sur ces tracas psychologiques. « ♫ Vous ne vous blesserez jamais en vous cognant contre ma verge… ♫ » confirmait-il dans une magnifique ballade extraite de son album suivant. « ♫ Elle était molle, elle l'est encore, et molle, elle restera, a priori ♫ » se désespérait-il dans son dernier projet. Seulement voilà, une matinée de printemps, Muddy se réveille et, en ouvrant les yeux, aperçoit ses draps de lit dressés en chapiteau. Il ne peut pas y croire, mais c'est pourtant la vérité : il est "hard again". Il explose alors de joie et se presse vers le studio. Cet événement inattendu lui confère un torrent d'inspiration et il bouclera l'album en une seule journée (les percussions seront enregistrées au moyen d'impacts entre son membre et différentes cymbales). N'ayant pas la moindre minute à perdre, il organisera un shooting photo pour la couverture de son projet. Son sexe, toujours aussi rigide et vigoureux, tentera de s'extirper de sa braguette à maintes reprises devant un photographe dépassé par la situation mais d'un professionnalisme exemplaire.

Cet album nous présente un Muddy Waters aux anges. En effet, après de nombreuses années très difficiles au sein de son couple la faute à des prestations dans le lit conjugal très insuffisantes, Muddy Waters est parvenu à redresser la barre dans tous les sens du terme. Muddy se présente ainsi sur la couverture de l'album "Hard Again" souriant, nous montrant avec fierté de ses mains que oui, il a de nouveau la gaule.

Got my Mojo Working, Hoochie Coochie Man - gim

Solid blues album

Bluesy, obviously, but it's a lot more chill and "cool" than I expected. Backround yelling, jokey lyrics, a "don't care just make music" attitude. Maybe it's punk instead..? Quality sounds older than '77, but it could've been produced less professionally than the stuff I'm familiar with from the era. Kept my interest longer than I expected, but not long enough for an entire listen. Maybe I'll have to put on the full album in the car. Overall, even though I don't particularly enjoy blues, it is a good album. It's something I could see myself listening to on vinyl with a fresh black coffee, lol.

I keep thinking this album is older than it is. So many staples and the recordings are interesting, but kind of boring in a way, and I guess I expected more. Cool guitar sound, though.

6/10. Eh

I don't listen to much blues music, so I was happy to take the time to listen to this album. The songs didn't resonate with me very strongly, but the music was good.

Incredible guitar work and very layered in the musical sense. The album starts off incredibly strong but I felt it got very repetitive towards the end of the record. The last couple of songs were very hard to get through as they all sounded very identical to each other. Favorite Track: Bus Driver Least Favorite Track: Little Girl

Not bad if you're in the mood for blues. Favorite song was I Can't be Satisfied.

very bluesy, glad I listened

Mannish boy. I want to be loved. If it’s blues, like rock n roll blues, it came from this sound.

Muddy Waters is one of those names you hear a ton when talking about blues but I can't immediately think of his songs specifically. Should be a good first listen! Definitely pure blues through and through. I like blues but I do feel that it can be a bit "samey" at times where all songs just don't have that thing that makes me distinguish one from another. Clearly talented but not something I would add to my personal collection.

Mjög klassískur blús, vel hægt að raula með þó man þekki ekki lögin. Það er eitthvað róandi við að hlusta á svona.

Hyvin lähtee perkele! Nää on näitä maakareita jotka soittaa maailman yksinkertaisimpii juttuja keihäällä, mut samalla jokainen kuuntelija tietää että siel on taitoa aivan helvetisti. Tosin eipä tää bluesin saralla mitään uutta oikeestaan tarjoa. Ehkei tarvi 3/5

Toimiihan tää. Oikein kiva.

Täältä ne klassiset blues-renkutukset. Varsin kiva kyl!

Kdkfkfk

Not my genre

Wasn’t the biggest fan of the screaming harmonica but enjoyed it none the less

didn't even finish it. blues is cool but not my vibe right meow!

goes hard

Не очень понравилось, но я понимаю, что он оказал огроменное влияние на всю последующую роковую и блюзовую музыку.

Not exactly in my wheelhouse but this was cool to listen to. Muddy waters voice is very good and is just meant for the blues. Instrumentation is pretty good and jam-y and has a real homespun and improvisational feel to it. I want to be loved and mannish boy slap.