Hard Again

Pre thoughts: don’t like blues, it’s the same couple of riffs over and over in every song. Hank’s song in the Office ruins blues like Dewey Cox ruins biopics. Half way thoughts: I really don’t like blues. No structure like jazz or jam bands. Just not for me. Final thoughts: Before this exercise, I definitely wouldn’t have guessed that I like Romanian Death Metal more than blues. Hated it more than I expected to.

C'était très sympa on ne s'ennuie pas

Pas trop mon style mais c'est sympa

This is what I think of when I think of the blues. Classic.

I am rounding up - I wouldn't listen again out of choice as it was very samey, but oh wow that is a really great album in terms of musicianship and feeling! :)

Thank's Mud', I'm HARD again!

The blues is all about how much swagger you have, and these guys have a TON. Such a fun listen.

Best Chicago Blues record of all time

Tää on kova blueslevy

Two songs in and you feel like you’re front row at a club with Muddy just hammering you with the blues. The mix is so in your face, you can’t help but pay attention. The band is on point but loose; it’s not intricate or putting on airs, just full out, no holds barred. Really really good stuff.

this restored my faith in the harmonica

Love the Blues!

A sound that became the template for oh many 60s/70s band. But he was the ORIGINAL!

Blues from a master.

Brilliant stuff. The opening track is superb. It has a raw power that is unsurpassable. Micellenaeous screams included!

Certified classic. Guys a legend.

A genre I dont listen to nearly enough, heavy vibes in the best way

Not necessarily my cup of tea but hey it’s something new

Känner samma som för Aretha Franklins album, bara rent otroligt svängig musik som är omöjlig att inte stampa takten till!

The best version of Mannish boy.

Any of these songs sound like they could be the theme to Roseanne.

It’s blues well past its prime, felt a bit stale but ok I guess

Good album. Hilarious name and cover. The only things that I think hurt this album is just sort of the way classic blues music has aged. If you are like me and you grew up with classic rock and stuff like that, than you are intimately familiar with the classic blues chord progressions. Which is iconic, but also hearing that same riff over and over again my whole life has made it lose some luster. I really enjoyed all of the album, like I never felt that skip urge. However I didn’t save a lot of songs cause they were so homogeneous and similar only like 3-4 songs ended up getting my attention. If I knew someone liked classic blues/rock I’d definitely recommend this album….AFTER I recommended my favorite blues rock band, Geese.

A fun album that sounds like a southern swanky club. All of the songs do sound the same though. Favorite track was crosseyed cat

Do I like the blues? Yes. Do I see its influence on rock? Also yes. Am I having a hard time distinguishing songs? Absolutely yes. Is it a vibe? Still yes

I'm not typically a fan of blues, but this list is slightly changing my opinion. There's not a ton of variety, but Muddy Waters' electric blues is a cut above the rest, and makes for an entertaining listen.

>>>>> the Beatles

Something about this album sounds very annoying.

First 5 star album of this project. Muddy doesn’t play blues, he IS the blues and you feel it in this record. The fact that they recorded this album in 3 days and captured what they do live in a studio is baffling. Jonny Winters producing helps and you can see his love of blues and admiration of Muddy come though this recording.

Me when listening to Muddy Waters

Funky

Old school blues. The production feels raw and unpolished, the way it should be.

Don't think I could have asked for a better Monday pull. Always knew the name Muddy Waters but never listened to him until now. This album was fantastic! So much groove, so much soul, its infectious!

Pff i had never heard this one, makes me want to give a 4 to the previous one by comparison. Bus Driver was 🔥🔥🔥

Literally first thing I did was pick up a guitar.

Some souuuuul right here

Album 35/1001 Listening to Muddy's vocals, combined with some fine slide guitar and blues harp playing, is like eating a warm delicious bowl of soul food in musical form. Favourite lyrics: THE BLUES HAD A BABY AND THEY NAMED IT ROCK AND ROLL "Otis Redding said it, you know the blues got a soul Queen Victoria said it, you know the blues got a soul Well the blues had a baby and they named the baby Rock & Roll" BUS DRIVER "My baby run off with a bus driver And you know that don't seem right He used to give her rides in the daytime Now she gives him rides at night" Favourite song: Mannish Boy 💪🧒 Honourable mention: Bus Driver 🚌👨‍✈️ Deep Down in Florida ⬇️🐊 The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll 🪕🎺👶🎸🥁 3½ / 5

обожаю блюз

This was good. Mannish Boy is such a quality song, and the rest of the album held up a similarly gritty blues feeling. I would absolutely listen again.

Mój problem z bluesem jest taki, że pierwsze trzy piosenki mega mi się podobają, zastanawiam się czemu nie słucham więcej bluesa, po czym wszystkie kolejne brzmią prawie tak samo i mam odpowiedź xdd ale pierwsza nutka bardzo dobra!

pierwsze tracki BDE energy na pełnej - 5/5 ale potem troche monotonnie

Każda pojedyncza piosenka nawet nieźle buja ale puszczone jedna po drugiej dają uczucie podobne do choroby lokomocyjnej

Blues need to be heard live, I've found often blues albums just don't catch the energy but wow, does this one catch it!

Certainly a classic! Before listening to this album, I didn't realize how sad and horny Muddy Waters was.

Good listen. I liked the first song a lot which was clearly sampled by George Thorougood!

Wicked album! I had heard a small amount off his music before. But I’ll definitely be playing this one again. Muddy Waters inspired a lot of the Rolling Stones music and sound. Kenny Rogers specifically wrote in his book about how Muddy Waters inspired his music. He also wrote a lot about how he would obsess over details of the sound by recording in cellars, etc. I’m not too sure about Muddy Waters specifically. But heroin use grew quite heavily in the US around the blues music origins. It’s was speculated that the Mafia used blues musicians to make the drug popular. Which then addicted much of the black community. The drugs and music have always had a lot of crossover.

This is as classic of a blues album as you can get. Blue and simple

This is what plays in my head when I picture the blues. The guitar absolutely rips on this album. Even though a lot of the songs sound similar due to the style of music, I still really enjoyed my listen through. I have always wanted to listen to some Muddy Waters but have never given him the time of day until now, was not disappointed. Random side note, there used to be this rib place at the Forks called Muddy Waters, I have a distinct memory as a kid getting nachos there, and I remember them being soooo good, when in reality they were probably just regular nachos with cheese. Anyways, that restaurant was named after this guy, when I thought it was because the rivers in Winnipeg looked muddy. I also say 'was' as it closed down years ago... I will never be able to confirm if the nachos were actually as good as I remember...

One of the greats

I like blues, but sometimes gets a little repetitive. Good album!

Wow, du bon blues comme dans le temps ! Un peu plus rock, quand même, mais c’est un agréablement changement de tout ces albums de southern rock que j’ai du écouter depuis le début de ce projet. À réécouter.

This is the best harmonica I’ve ever heard. Soulful singing, great guitar and piano

Goed genoeg om het gras bij te maaien. Beetje veel van hetzelfde wel.

Geen flauw idee. Na het luisteren: veel Ohja die ken ik. Een heel album is teveel maar mooie toevoeging aan mijn "sitting on the dock of the bay playlist" welke voor het uitgebreide ontbijt in het weekend wordt gebruikt

שומעים את הבלוז הוא מאוד מורגש אלבום נחמד כניראה מי שאוהב בלוז או ג׳אז יהנה יותר

Oh yeah, this is the blues. I love how he basically has two voices on this record- his actual voice, and the way he makes the guitar talk. Even if it were only one or the other on the recording, you would be able to feel the music and message he's telling you. The other instruments compliment those voices incredibly well, especially the way the harmonica adds to the whole feel. And feel is what the blues is all about. My only real negative is that it does get repetitive. There wasn't much diversity in the tone or instrumentation for the album's run. It wasn't that bad listening to it, but the style causes a number of songs to blend together rather than feel distinct. That's more of a quibble than a real criticism, since the simplicity is part of the beauty of it. Other than that, it's more just personal preference, since I generally like a little more "rock" mixed in over straight blues. Still, this had a decent amount of rock feel. Really, really good record. Overall: 4/5

Decent proper blues

I did not like this album. Perhaps it is the recording technology of the time, but the timing for all the instruments seems off. It felt like a bunch of different instruments were competing for attention with the vocalist, and it just sounded like a dumpster fire. I didn't hate anything individually, it just didn't work for what it is. Maybe a remastered version with modern tech would be more enjoyable.

The songs get repetitive. I like hos voice and the instruments are exquisite. Not much to dislike here honestly. I can jam out to this, but it's not my first choice.

[6/10] Blues is not my thing but you can’t deny the stank on this one

no nonsense

Hoochie coochie blues

Blues with lyrics that live up to the album title. Throughout the record Waters is letting you know he's cooler than you and his accompanying musicians also shred.

Really good jamming music. Could listen to this all night playing in the street. Never a dull moment

Raucous bluegrass. Is it guitar or harmonica? You may question it. Answer: it's usually guitar. Doesn't matter the bpm of the song, they all have wicked rhythm and make you want to move. The lyrics seem as though he has a bad time with women though.

Swampy

Cheating paranoia never sounded so smooth. (See also: Jimi Hendrix/Hey Joe.)

A classic and major influence on all of my faves.

What a fantastic album. The musicians were masters on their own but also came together perfectly as a band. The harmonica was insane and the piano player was killing it (two of my favorite instruments). Most of all, it sounded like they were having a great time, like they were playing a live performance at the best dive bar in town. One of the best albums we’ve heard so far.

Fire. Straight fire. Blues all up in your face from the first note of Mannish Boy. Muddy’s slow southern drawl works perfectly with the electric energy of the guitar and the bouncing harmonica on every track. This was a great return to some solid music, despite being almost 50 years old. Would listen to this again and definitely will soon.

This is an amazing album. You can hear every instrument perfectly and you feel like you are in the room for every moment of every song. Yes, it gets repetitive, but it’s the blues and that’s the style. Sit back and let it fill your soul. Muddy Waters is a master and this album is a must listen.

Funny how the Blues can provide so much joy. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this album. Muddy's soaring vocals and soulful guitar of course lead the way, but the band behind him absolutely shreds and rounds out the sound. I listened to this album 3 times today, a new favorite.

Don't let the motherfuckin vampires in

Classic blues album by influential and legendary guitar player. Pitchfork: n/a Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs Mannish Boy Bus Driver Jealous Hearted Man The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll Little Girl

Muddy Waters kicked down the studio door and reminded everyone who invented the Chicago blues. 🔥

noisy. better than expected

Some great stuff here with a lot of heart and soul.

A pleasure to listen to. I love how Waters' is so easily able to transition between the original blues styles and the electric style. Nothing seems to be lost. A master of his craft. The album starts with a bang with that quintessential Chicago Blues sound. Tracks like "I Want to Be Loved" showcase Waters' playful side and mastery of guitar. "I Can't Be Satisfied" shows us that even stripping it down back to a more acoustic sound, Waters is a virtuoso. Overall, a fabulous album and representation of the style. Though it's called the blues, I feel as though you'd have a hard time being blue listening.

Absolutely fantastic blues

If i think of blues this is exactly what I hear in my head. I dont know alot about the blues but I know this. Though ive never heard the opening track before if I close my ears and hear the blues play its this song. Kind of amazing right? The record here is so damn sick. The vocals the riffs, just the little banter from the musicians at the end of some tracks. Its honestly incredible. I thought oh thos is a solid solid 4, but now I dont think it is. I have to go higher. It deserves it. I'll be coming back again for this over and over again

I grt why people love this. I peaked at mere enjoyment

Yeah I mean…. Come on

NICE

This kind of blues is just not my thing.

Please don't cancel me, but a little of this goes a long way for me. An entire album of it was grueling TBH.

holy shit This was definitely from an era when white rock musicians and sketch comedians were taking their turn at getting what they could out of proximity to legendary untouchable black musicians that had been toiling in near obscurity outside mainstream pop music for decades. See also: John Belushi BUT the music is legit as hell; this is Waters and his touring band just throwing their shit down in a studio, and producer Johnny Winters is smart enough to just get out of their fucking way. Pinetop Perkins on piano! Unreal

This is such fundamental, foundational stuff, and I mean that in the most complimentary way possible. It sounds like what I think stereotypical blues music sounds like, and I'm pretty sure that's because of this man. The only song that connected for me was I Want to Be Loved #2. But I can definitely see the merit of this album and feel grateful to have heard it.

Mannish boy!

Something that has its place within music but just isn’t for me

Bluesy.

Not quite.

Bloody good stuff that.

Beast!

Cool, energetic, even intense. So good. It’s a minor quibble, but maybe the vocals/lyrics could be a little more prominent (vs. all that harmonica) on some of the songs. I’d give this 4.5 stars if I could.

Every performer on this album is an absolute master. Often with collections of talent like this, there is a "too many cooks in the kitchen" sort of feeling. Muddy's band work together perfectly to showcase their talents and perform a tight, cohesive sound. Expertly recorded as well. This is a near-perfect album for me. A perfect opening song, great guitars, vocals, insane harmonica, rocking piano, and the perfect amount of drums. I can't ask for much more

High quality blues

Late Muddy. He sounds great, as does the band. The best songs on here are re-recordings of a few from the 1950s. Recorded in three days.…the way it should be.

Great to drop some blues in the middle of Appetite for Destruction and Costello brit pop. I wanted to jump in the car and drive to Memphis.

Great old school blues

If you don’t think this guy is cool as fuck there’s something wrong with you.

Ugh, Muddy Waters! This guy knew blues like nobody else, and him on the guitar is something else. The way he played the guitar had to be unique, partly for the electronic guitar, but the way his sound can be smooth yet increasing in tempo while remaining the blues. It's no wonder that he was such an inspiration for so many rock artists to come after him. One criticism is that the album comes across as one note since differentiating between songs can be difficult.

I am not super knowledgable on the discography of Muddy Waters, but I have to say, judging by "Hard Again" alone, I feel like the name "Muddy Waters" is SO appropriate. If you think of the blues genre as the "waters" (blue = water, right?), then this is blues that is a bit dirty, gritty, and funky...hence, muddy. Thanks for coming to my Ted Talk on musical metaphors. Anyway, blues is rarely my preferred genre, but Muddy Waters just knocks it out of the park. His riffs on this album are absolutely raw and biting in the best way possible.

Tom and I “80 out of 5, too much history, I mean I might be wrong”

this is like blues perfection to me. is that controversial? i just love everything about this album. i love how sporadic and improvisational the songs are, i love how dirty the guitars sound, I love the mix, his voice is crazy. it just so excellent, title wasn't lying this is HARD.

4.1 incredible vocals, range & instrumentals. I'm a hoochie-coochie man

Enjoyable, and has opens strong. Drags on a little too long, but not anything unbearable. 3/5.

Holy cow this album hits hard from the get go. If the rest is as good as the opener this is going to be amazing. Track two, bus driver. This is already great. On the third track now. What I love is the raw live feel. This sounds like you’re in a club with good sound seeing these guys live. The energy comes through the speakers. 4th song. The harmonica. Wow. The sound of this album is just amazing. Like a ball of energy through my speakers. And that’s through a streaming service. This sounds so good I want to find it on vinyl. This album is five stars. Just an amazing record.

Det va bra, va nare ikkje blå nok

Good mix of soul, blues, (early) reggae, etc. The guy has got a soulful voice. Not exactly my cup of tea but difficult to criticise.

Proper blues. Lovely stuff.

Haven't listened to a Muddy Waters album in full, but very much enjoyed this. I am a blues fan so this album was great for me. First song was probably the favourite. I also really liked Walking Through the Park however noticed that I played the reissued version and it had an extra song.

A consistently solid album. My criticism is exactly that though - if the same song played twice in the album I probably wouldn't notice

I get it but the riffs are repetitive (which I think is the point?). Anyways, I get it but not for me.

What a great classic blues artist!

Pretty good. Has a good vibe.

rhythm and blues, absolute aura, music you can feel 5

Never should've gone electric (jk [kinda]).

I know this may be an unpopular opinion but hear me out, I really didn't enjoy Hard Again which is a shame since i enjoy bluesy stuff from time to time but this is just not something i enjoy. Everything about this album feels so self-indulgent from the annoying slide guitar that is used so frequently to the point where it gets even more annoying to the messy composition. But this album not only managed to be annoying but incredibly boring too. All the songs here sounded the same and the album felt like it was going on for far longer than it actually was. I'm sure that you all see something in this album that i don't but as for me, This album is hot garbage. Best song: I Want To Be Loved #2 Worst Song: Little Girl

Blues massa

Great blues album full of horn and moida.

Wow! Johnny Winter brought out the absolute best in Muddy and the band here. It's blues at its finest, and the inclusion of a revamped 'Mannish Boy' makes it an instant classic.

Wow, these songs sound amazing. So good. Muddy Waters sound incredible and his backing musicians are on-point.

Nice

Really really good but somebody needs to tell old boy to take a breath and put the harmonica down once in a while.

Really fun album. Nothing groundbreaking, but sometimes you just got to have fun and that's all that matters. Isn't something I'd usually listen to, so I'm glad I did.

What a listen. Great stuff.

I don’t know why, but I’ve always felt familiar with blues music. Maybe it’s the seamless way the musicians lock together - riffing, improvising, and still sounding like a cohesive unit. Some people in my group discussion found this album to be a drag, but for me it’s the opposite. Hard Again is a jam. It’s musically incredible, and it’s the kind of record I could throw on anytime. This was Muddy Waters’ big comeback in 1977, produced by Johnny Winter, and it brought him roaring back into the spotlight after a quieter stretch in his career. You can feel that energy here. It’s raw, powerful, and deeply rooted in the blues tradition while still sounding alive and immediate.

Some blues staples in here, but it just doesn't resonate well with me.

På den ene side bliver den her genre meget monoton - man skal kunne lide det der "dudu-du-dudu-du-dudu-du-du...du-du-duuuuu" blues riff for at kunne lide det her album. På den anden side bliver numrene aldrig for lange, bandet lyder sygt godt, og det lyder som om alle nød at indspille det (hele albummet blev åbenbart indspillet på 3 dage??) Jeg smilede i hvert fald hele vejen igennem, så det trækker jo op

Tror de havde det pisse sjovt da de optog den her og det smitter af!

Fun album! Great blues - Makes me want to by a harmonica

The kind of blues where every sing sounds identical in a bad way

Pretty badass. Opening the album with Mannish Boy was perfect. It let you know what you were in for. This kind of music is great, but without some variation, it could get pretty boring. Which is why I was pleased to hear livelier, different songs like I Want to Be Loved and “swampy” tunes like Down in Florida. This reminds me a lot of of my childhood and where I was born. And also the Blues Brothers, which is never a bad thing.

Johnny Winter (who also produced it) was credited on this album for "miscellaneous screams." This version of "Mannish Boy" may be the definitive one (thanks to Johnny's miscellaneous screams, of course.)

the only song i really enjoyed was “the blues had a baby and they named it rock and roll”. it had very nice guitar solos. instrumental skills are off the charts from everyone ofc. i just don’t love this. 3/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Kingdra used Muddy Water! It’s super effective!

Flottur blús en allt voðalega svipað

Heví næs blús.

“Heavy ass blues” - David Can’t be said any better

this was mid

Hard and classic Chicago blues, hard to argue with.

Muddy waters slaps.

Great musicianship and a fun time but I don't think any blues song needs to be more than five minutes long.

Amazing blues!

Absolutely loved this. Really really enjoyed every song

I wanna be the hype man screaming in the background.

It’s not a go-to genre for me but I don’t mind a bit of Blues music and I know of Muddy Waters reputation so I was quite looking forward to this one. I bloody hated it. More than happy to be in the minority on this one. I get he’s a legend and all but, for me, it dragged on for what felt like a fecking eternity. At one point I figured I must be near the end so checked how long was left and I was only halfway. Gutted.

The 12 bar element has its limitations - but nobody does 12 bar blues better than this. Low 4/5

Gets a little boring hearing lots of 12 bar blues with no real distinguishing features

Mannish Boy hits so hard, it set me up nicely for a record that I would have otherwise not been overly excited for. Muddy Waters’ sexually charged and dramatic take on soul is quite arresting initially, but I did find that the experience lulled into a bit of a pattern by the end.

Lowest 3, a bit repetitive but damn it’s that sound

Although I’m not a huge Blues fan this was still a very enjoyable album. I don’t know a lot about blues or blues history but if I had to imagine what a highly regarded blues album sounded like, it would sound like this. I added the entire album to my library. A lot of the songs sound similar (I think that’s just the nature of Blues?) but they were all very good.

Tasty blues. But blues is like chocolate to me, just can't eat too much of it.

Big fan of this. Should listen more

Solid blues album

This was one of the better blues albums I’ve listened too, but I think blues can get a tad repetitive after like 30mins

I like Chicago/Delta blues in moderation.l, so maybe not an entire album in one go. I really liked that part about the cat licking his balls.

Classic 12 bar blues. Which after 40 straight minutes does get a bit repetitive. Any one of these songs in isolation is great. But one after the other lessens the experience.

album is great. sounds like the blues but also kinda like rock. or electric? some of the instrumentals just hit the right spots in my brain! great listen and fun throughout it.

Really fun

Some enjoyable tow tapping tunes but it's more repetitive than cohesive

Solid old school blues. Worth a second listen

Not a great deal of variety on this album. Great for historical value.

Just good solid blues.

I had mannish boy as a ringtone for my old flip phone

It's a good listen. Same ol' blues sound as always but not in a bad way, just really nothing surprising on here. Performances are passionate and mostly stay interesting throughout. 6/10

If you like your blues electrified and from Chicago, this is your album. The sound quality and performances are wildly good. My only gripe is the harmonica is a bit much at times. A few of these tracks sound like they were recorded live, and the recording is so clear that with the volume up you feel like you're in the room. So between the vitality of the performances and the remarkable clarity of the recording, this record just feels good to listen to. Even if you don't have the blues. FOUR STARS

Genre: Chicago Blues I like the blues as much as the next guy, but I feel like this album is sort of an odd selection. I feel like picking one of Muddy Waters early, more influential releases makes sense here, and not his “return-to-form” record. This book kind of has a weird obsession with those. “Woah, this artist came back when they were older and made a hit album” is not necessarily deserving of the “essential” title. This is a fine record, with some songs that go on far too long for what they’re doing, but it’s fine. It’s the blues. You’ve heard it all before. 3/5

Some really solid blues track with Muddy Waters putting on his A-game

The Blues!!!!!! 3.5

One of those albums filled with songs that I have heard before but never knew the names of the artist of the songs.

Heavy ass blues

I liked this, but not sure it would be aometbing I’d actively like to listen to for pleasure. U enjoy the raucous nature of the music, it’s wild and feels loose, like anything can happen. Not sure if it was recorded live but had that vibe. Lots of background hollering and interjections that give it a “performing with an engaged crowd.” Clearly performed by people who are the top of their game. Blues music for me feels like stuff I’ve heard again and again, though, similar structure and patterns repeated across artists and songs. And the predictability is comforting in some ways, but can get repetitive and boring to my ears.

4/5 - SOLID ALBUM!!! IT WAS SO GOOD!!! I LOVED IT!!!

I loved this. I don't listen to the blues often, but it was soo good. Loved the guitar licks and his voice

I'll preface this review by saying I've never been a "blues guy" - I know many people in my life that love this music (and rightly so, there's a lot to love) - I've just never really gotten it. Muddy is a legend, undoubtedly, and helped to translate where Robert Johnson started to a whole new audience with his electrified Chicago sound. His talent and influence are clearly on display here and this for me went from 3 to 4 stars just based on who this man was. I do love the raw Delta blues influence here rather than maybe a more polished BB King sound - my hot take is that there is only so much you can do with a 12-bar blues pattern, and there often just isn't enough variety for me to hold my interest across a whole album. My favorite song here might actually be the acoustic "I Can't Be Satisfied" just because it was so different from the relentless shred surrounding it. One other musical critique - the overdriven harmonica originally started out being awesome, but became way too much by the end, I felt it made the music too busy and cluttered a lot of the verses, could have used more space to breathe. All in all this is really good, I just have to acknowledge my own personal limitations when it comes to interacting with this style of music.

I was in from the opening kick.

Really enjoyed - not a big blues fan as a rule, but great album

"Mannish Boy" - 4 "Bus Driver"- 5 "I Want to Be Loved"- 5 "Jealous Hearted Man"- 5 "I Can't Be Satisfied"-4 "The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll, Pt. 2"-4 "Deep Down in Florida"-4 "Crosseyed Cat"-5 "Little Girl"-4 "Walking Through The Park"-4 Solid 4/5

"Mannish Boy" - 4.5 a classic, but little too repetitive/long for modern tastes "Bus Driver"- 4.5 see above "I Want to Be Loved"- 4 "Jealous Hearted Man"- 3.5 "I Can't Be Satisfied"- 3.5 "The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll, Pt. 2"- 4 "Deep Down in Florida"- 4 "Crosseyed Cat"- 4 "Little Girl"- 3.5 "Walking Through The Park"- 3.5

Loved it

Some good ol' fashioned blues and killer harmonica work, but it tends to grow a bit stale after listening to it a while.

Blues for people who like noodlin. And I was fresh out of musical noodles.

This kind of blues can get a bit repetitive to me, but I liked it for the most part.

Chicago blues og electric blues revival. Det var jo lavet i en tid hvor punk osv disco var dominerende, men viste at blues stadig var very real. Jeg elsker lyden af mundharmonika og guitar osv så det er et kæmpe plus for mig. Jeg synes hele albummet er godt men har svært ved sådan at adskille sangene. Men den overordnede følelse og vibe af albummet kan jeg rigtig godt lide. Handler om stolthed, overlevelse, seksualitet og rå livskraft

“62-year-old Muddy (...) kicked ass, hard, again.” What more do you really need to say past this excerpt from the reissue liner notes? Waters was undoubtedly a master of the blues, and on the first of his last three acclaimed albums, he comes out swinging, and doesn’t stop until the last ‘plink’ is played on the piano. The first track, Mannish Boy, is the most recognisable and probably the best track on here, but that shouldn’t let you be deterred from experiencing the remaining 40-or-so minutes of blues excellence. There’s never a dull moment, quite literally, the instruments continue pounding and Waters’ iconic voice continues soaring throughout. An essential blues record, despite being released far past the genre’s heyday. It just gave Muddy time to master his craft even more.

Very bluesy Great mixing, very clear instruments A nice relaxed vibe but no absolute stand out songs, it's more of a background vibe. But still very enjoyable

качественная музыка, но мне было категорически неинтересно это слушать.

This guy. Royalty. His voice is the richest, most amazing thing, he sounds like the actual heart and soul of music. Doesn't matter what he sings, Muddy was the Man!

If you don’t like the blues this is not for you. I loved the energy and intensity. It sounds like a live album. Muddy is an authentic America original. Only criticism after listening to the entire album is it all starts to sound the same.

This one gets into your bones.

“College girls can smell ignorance, like dog shit." A line from a formative movie of my (generation's) youth. When Joel goes full pimp mode on Risky Business - driven by the necessity of having wrecked his dad's Porsche - he goes about town selling and pitching to his fellow classmates. But instead of fear there is swagger. And that Chicago suburban teen swagger is provided by the singular beat of Mannish Boy. Both a simplistic yet wholly representative expression of the blues. A remake of a cover - Mannish Boy was not my formal introduction to the blues - that would be another generational film - the Blues Brothers. Where BB cracked the door open - Mannish Boy knocks it off the hinges. This Johnny Winter produced version explodes form the speakers - Johnny's exasperation in the background and MWs commanding voice - your don't doubt a word. It's not just what is sung but how it is sung. Just like Joel - you believe it because he believes it - because he has to. This is who MW is. You feel it in every note. And that spirit runs through the whole album - these songs have never sounded better.

As much as I wanted to like this album, it was also fairly unforgettable for me. I found it to be such a drag and I was bored. I made it through, but I had to set a timer just so I’d be able to say I accomplished listening to the song. It’s just not my cup of tea.

The og

Seriously GOAT. Muddy Waters is the man!

Enjoyed this very much. Old fashioned rock n roll and blues

Muddy Waters is the best - this is a good blues album, but I think his Chess Records blues style was more unique and impactful, whereas this record is more like polished bar-blues

Muddy Fucking Waters!

Fun album I have heard Muddy Waters but never really listened I enjoyed it

Eighty-nine albums in, and "Hard Again" by Muddy Waters is my first blues review. The album hits the ground running with the one-two-three punch of "Mannish Boy," "Bus Driver," and "I Want to Be Loved," and the quality is pretty much maintained throughout. Produced by a dedicated Johnny Winter, this comeback album is pure, blues—gritty, powerful, and thoroughly enjoyable from start to finish. A solid four stars. Would I listen to this album again? Yes. Would I buy this album? Possibly! 1- "Mannish Boy" - An iconic, famous tune. First recorded in 1955 on the Chess label.- 5 2- "Bus Driver" - Just wonderful. - 5 3- "I Want to Be Loved" - Classic Willie Dixon song. - 5 4- "Jealous Hearted Man" - 4 5 "I Can't Be Satisfied" - 3 Side two 1- "The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll, Pt. 2" - Great guitar solos. - 5 2- "Deep Down in Florida" - 4 3- "Crosseyed Cat" - This is sublime. Boogie, swing and the Blues. 5 4- "Little Girl" - 4 Total - 40 Average - 4.44 89/1001

I like blues sometimes, but this one is very repetitive... it's fine background music, but it's just not very engaging.

I really enjoyed this album. Is it a bit repetitive at times? Sure. But the energy, feeling, and passion are excellent throughout. Mannish Boy was an excellent way to start. This reminded me a lot of Bad to the Bone by George Thorogood, which undoubtedly borrowed from Muddy’s song. I Want To Be Loved #2 was another highlight for me. A couple of great songs that have been added to my library. Nothing else truly stood out to me, but that doesn’t mean they were bad songs. It was all just very solid with these two significant highlights and really no low lights. All in all, a very fun listen.

This is 50 minutes of 12-bar blues music. But it's 50 minutes of some BANGING 12-bar blues, with one of the best blues songs of all time kicking it off.

Volvemos al reto después de una pausita por estar escuchando otras músicas con Muddy Waters y con el comienzo de septiembre. Una bestia del blues y uno de los músicos que sentó las bases del rock. Como de otros tantos artistas de esas épocas, sólo he escuchado temas sueltos, así que ahora me sumerjo por primera vez en un álbum completo. El álbum arranca con "Mannish boy", un standard del blues, acá regrabado y hasta más sexi. El disco continúa en ése mood, con canciones más largas o más cortas. El blues en cierto momento se vuelve hipnosis y deja el espíritu en un estado de bienestar. No lo había pensado pero es así. Gracias por la sugerencia musical y hasta mañana.

Not memorable to me, but not bad. Felt pretty repetitive, but that's probably just blues, baby.

Good

Meh not really blues

Do love it, but 45 mins starts to feel repetitive.

5,8/10 Mannish Boy est absolument génial mais le reste de l'album est vite répétitif.

An enjoyable listen.

Another artist I've heard absolutely zilch about. Guess I have nothing else to do but get into this one. I’m teetering between a soul or jazz album with my prediction. He has the jazz getup in the album cover, but Waters’ poise is giving me more of a soul energy. Ah, blues. I should have known. I’m far from a fan of this genre, and this album doesn’t do much to assuage my prejudice. The dreaded harmonica from hell is on full display, and the songs generally sound pretty messy and thrown together. Muddy Waters’ vocals are well-suited to this genre of music, but they don’t resonate with me. There’s nothing about this which really sticks out, admittedly. There’s no room to breathe with how aggressive that blown-out harmonica is, though there’s some alright bits. I especially enjoyed the acoustic guitar sound on “I Can’t Be Satisfied”. It’s a good breather I’m gonna check the book. A late-career album. I think those generally make for interesting picks, so I’m already favourable to this one. Warmly received by critics and won a Grammy. The instrumentals on this seemed like they were different from the status quo of blues, so I guess I can cosign this one. It seems like a solid pick. I spent most of this album picking at some food which was properly lodged inbetween my teeth, and only during the last handful of songs did it finally come out. Best feeling of my life. I think I might love this album, come to think of it.

Don't know shit about blues. It's not bad per se, just sounds very samey to me. A lot of the songs seem to go on far too long. Vocals are really good, fit the vibe perfectly. Fav songs - none. They all just blend together.

3,4/5

The sound of musicians really enjoying themselves. Muddy Waters has never been at the top of my blues list but his influence is undeniable, as are the good times given off by this album. 5/ 5

3.5

3.5

This is definitely one of those albums where if I was exposed to it earlier in life I probably would have loved it a lot more. But my many years in Memphis and seeing a lot of bar bands do this kind of Blues ad nauseam, has really softened my appreciation for electric blues. That being said this is a fine example of it and much early on then the kind of rote blues I was exposed to in the 90s. Still I don't think he was Reinventing the wheel as much as carving another notch in his legacy on this album. It's a good album, actually a really good album, but I think his Chess material over shadows this album by a good margin. (8.4) ★★★★

Good, but quite traditional sounding, electric blues. 3.5 stars

I love the version of "Mannish Boy" here, but the rest is a little less successful for me. There's some other good tunes like "I Can't Be Satisfied" and "Crosseyed Cat", but a lot of it just veers into generic Chicago Blues territory. Still good though. 3.5 stars.

Not rock hard but maybe a medium 3.5 and a semi-classic late career Chicago Blues effort. Mannish Boy makes for a fine, firm start and there are fits and bursts of engorged blues greatness and vigour later on amongst the floppiness.

Vital, driven, pure, rollicking, and irresistible. Hits the dopamine receptors like a John Henry sledgehammer.

I mean it’s Muddy Waters 🤷🏼‍♂️ This is great

Don't like blues

Epic songs. Also, very many blues tunes. Fantastic record.

No a big fan of blues

Great opener, pretty forgettable afterwards.

5/9

Listening to the album made me instantly hungry for BBQ because I feel like every BBQ joint has this album on repeat

I really have to be in the right mood to listen to blues, and even then, I can only tolerate short bursts. This is a comparatively late-era Muddy Waters record and the sound hasn’t evolved at all. The early blues records can be interesting in a historical sense, but this is just re-treading a formula . I can’t see what makes it stand out. I confess I didn’t actually make it through the whole album but I don’t think I really need to in order to know it sounds largely the same as every other blues record.

Off the cuff remark: well some blues I enjoy some I don't, this is the former. Though it never blows me away, I think I get why it does some people. Catching me at the right time is important and this time around it didn't, nt sure I have ever listened to a whole Muddy Waters album before and I may enjoy it more in short doeses? Standout track: the sheer bravado of The Blues Had A Baby and Named it Rock And Roll has to be worth something right? Revisit?: Love to listen to odd songs but not a whole album, I don't think.

I really wish I could see this live Best Song: Mannish Boy Rating: 8.5/10 Stars: 4/5

i've wanted to listen to more blues albums so i thought this was a good one, needs the right vibe though

This is so incredibly chill

Fabulous album. Filled with energy, it’s the blues but good detail a true craftsman. A keeper.

Great album

A lot of harmonica

Johnny Winter produced

Feels like you're right there. Doesn't get more real than this.

The "yeahs" screamed throughout by his backing musicians are maybe a precursor to early hip hop hypemen grunting "uh huh" and "yo! yo! check it!" and whatever else? Anyway, they're fucking amazing. This album rules.

Ricardo y ojo: éstos tipos inventaron la mitad del rock argentino Nota: 3.2

I've yet to find Blues that I like. This isn't it. To me all the songs sound quite similar.

Just like comparing a limerick io a novel , every blues song is the same old repetitive structure with different words and an ever-so-slightly different tune. It really had to evolve because it had nowhere else to go. Hats off to Muddy Waters, the Edward Lear of popular music, for keeping old blues alive for people with simple tastes. But thank God other people came along and developed it into something better.

If anyone wants to hear quintessential blues, this is it. Energizing and masterful.

This album kind of cooks. Also my musical knowledge is enhanced by finally hearing Mannish Boy vis a vis Bad to the Bone.

Not for me

Nicely produced but not my thing. Does not touch me.

Good soul / rock n roll album. Pleasant listen all throughout. However, includes some bloated songs without significant change of pace, melody or style. +Mannish boy

Muddy Waters is a pioneer of Blues, this was a great record and I always enjoy his sound.

Obviously a legend but this is whatever for 1976

Great blues album, it really defines the genre well.

Weird title, some odd song names, but man this album be jamming. 'Deep Down in Florida' was my fave, with a hint of bias.

Hadn't listened ti him before, it's a good guitar record and his work was astounding in this one. The blues and true sound of it makes it a special one.

Can't argue with that! (Great album title) 5

Blues is new for me! So while the songs blended a bit for me. I was head dancing - it was great.

Classic album. Would listen to this again no problem.

Really great instrumentals, though they got somewhat repetitive. I love how the pace picked up at the end of "Walkin' Thru the Park". Muddy's voice is pretty good!

Absolutely prime example of Chicago Blues, by the father of it all.

Legendary

88/100. fiery instrumentation and commanding vocals. A lively, endlessly enjoyable blues experience.

Blues blues blues

This album goes hard. The title is earned, and I would happily return to it.

++: Mannish Boy, Bus Driver, I Want to Be Loved, Jealous Hearted Man, The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll, Pt. 2, Deep Down in Florida, Crosseyed Cat, Little Girl +: I Can't Be Satisfied 9,7/10

cabilla

If you don't like Muddy Waters you don't like blues. If you don't like blues, and like rock, then your are confused. IDK, In high at 8000', so in at least two contexts. Enough said.

Muddy Waters, the big black voice of the blues

As good as the blues gets. Proving after many white bands had stolen his sound, he was the original.

Love the power of Mannish Boy.

I didn't think I liked the blues, but I would for sure give this another spin. 3.5

Classic blues, love it, feels like the brink of rock and roll

It’s about as good as the blues get. Very raw and energetic, and the production is pretty crisp and sounds like it was recorded live. Weirdly albini like. But it’s the blues and it’s hard to get excited about that at this point, to be honest

Flawless Blues album - 5/5

a good album, but blues are definitely not what im into musically

i didnt hear the end or the start of any songs

Excellent blues from a master

Maybe just not the biggest blues person? It's fun but I won't be going back to it.

Mannish Boy 4.5 Bus Driver 4 I Want to Be Loved 4 Jealous Hearted Man 3.9 I Can't Be Satisfied 4 The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll, Pt. 2 3.8 Deep Down in Florida 3.8 Crosseyed Cat 3.7 Little Girl 3.5 Score: 3.911111111

Fand, die Songs sind etwas zu einem zusammengeflossen, hat mich weder umgehauen, noch genervt oder gelangweilt. Ganz gut gemacht.

My one and only regret in life was that I had tickets to see Muddy Waters on my birthday at Alexandra Palace but there was a fire, the concert was cancelled, and he died not longer after, so I never got to see him live. This album opens with possibly one of the best Chicago Blues tracks ever written: "Mannish Boy". I love Chicago Blues and I love this album.

3.0 Got tiring towards the end, songs just started to blend into one. Blues standards, good in small doses, but think I need a lie down now.

I loved this album. It does not get better blues than this

blues rehashed but still legendary

Great, familiar music. Was it groundbreaking? No idea, but it sounds good.

Mr Muddy speaks to my soul

Some classics

I take back what I said about this kind of blues. This was very fun.

This was a great choice for today, I loved the party atmosphere that it evokes. The backing vocals shouting, the wild harmonica parts. Brilliant.

A staple of blues, something very different from most of this list. However, it felt a bit long.

Straightforward blues with good performances throughout. The opening track "Mannish Boy" stood out to me the most. It has an great energy on the lead vocals and background vocals. The rest of the album blurred together for me.

Muddy Waters is one of the best delta blues musicians ever. This record is great and influenced one of my favorite bands, Clutch. Great listen front to back, high energy and tight band.

Great great blues singing and playing

Probably one track I liked on this album. Which was Little Girl.

Pretty good overall, really swingy and catchy. You just want to scream and dance

This album is killer but Mannish Boy, goddamn

Very energetic, emotional and lovely album. Could be his best? 9/10

This is some good ol' blues, but not the kind that makes you want to wallow in the corner and cry into your beer. This album flows so well and every song has such a bouncy upbeat vibe to it, that you can help but bop your head along. Favorite tracks: Mannish Boy, I Want to Be Loved #2, Crosseyed Cat

4.5

Solid album for a Blues record I'd say, though not a ton of songs I'd hold on to.

So good! Love a bit of trad blues

It was ok. I liked it overall but nothing really hooked me, it like never got going.

Mannish Boy - 5/5 Bus Driver - 4/5 I Want to Be Loved - 3/5 Jealous Hearted Man - 4/5 I Can't Be Satisfied - 3/5 The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll (#2) - 5/5 Deep Down in Florida - 3/5 Crosseyed Cat - 3/5 Little Girl - 4/5 Average score: 3.8/5 (rounding up) not really a big fan of blues. i know it's an important and influential genre but it gets old real quick for me (hence the decline in song ratings toward the end). i can't justify this getting fewer than 4 stars tho