Hard Again

The Blues Had a Baby and They Named it Rock and Roll.

This is one great sounding album Production is phenomenal Everything pops

8/10. Nice blues.

It's good to hear the blues again. This album is not at the level of his live album, but still worth a listen.

Love it

Chicago blues. Well produced. Good synopsis of some classic blues.

Just as good as any of his 60's work, with better production

So glad j listened to this one. This is what I think of when I think of the blues. I thought this record was from the 60s. Bad ass record.

Delta Blues!

Good fun!

Pretty good blues album.

Solid blues album

Hootenany! I was really enjoying this until the sound of Jools Holland's voice came into my head. Then all I could think about was as alternative universe where they wheel out a bemused 90 year old Muddy on to the Hootenany stage. Jools banging away at the ivories, Muddy just there mumbling about getting it Hard Again. It would probably slap, to be fair.

This sounds like a bunch of guys were in an old bar and were just having a jam sesh, then decided to record that shit fr. I like the spontaneity of it and of course the actual music is great.

4.2/5 listened 3x. great blues album

Great Chicago blues. Lovely instrumentals. I was deeply impressed with the harmonicist.

Not what I usually listen to but very musically impressive. The whole thing has just great sound to it. Mannish Boy is phenomenal

l'il too turgid

4.4 stars rounded down.

As a certified blues hater, this is by far the best blues album on the list so far.

I accept this as the very definition of Blues. -1 Star because I KNOW there is a joke to be made somewhere in "Hard Again" and "Muddy Waters", but I can't think of it.

This album defined the blues. It is really good but a little repetitive by the end.

Great soulful album!

I love me some good blues. This is hitting the spot this morning. 4 stars. Reminded me of the blues scene in Adventures in Babysitting

Manish boy, what an absolutely banging tune. Theres such energy in this album. The music is great. Very upbeat. Every instrument is sprinkled with gold. the quality if THAT good. I could imagine sitting in a bar, watching these guys in the corner, slamming back a few old fashioned. Crosseyed cat, that piano! Quality tune. The guitar solo. belter. I have to say i really enjoyed this on a first listen. Its an album ill come back to for sure. Has an almost live feel to the recording which i like. Bravo to the person with the harmonica. Quality. Rating a high 4/5. The blues shits all over jazz.

Damn good Chicago Blues from one of the genre's most renowned players. Having listened to some of Water's older stuff (talking early 60s), It's interesting to hear him adapt his playing style to more "contemporary" blues styles based more on rock'n'roll than country. Not to say the country and delta blues elements aren't there, because they certainly are with the harmonica and piano all over this album, but strictly with his playing, it's more electric and in your face. And "Electric" is the best word to describe this thing - there's an unstoppable energy here that's both rigid and unwaveringly commanding. I love the repetitive 'Mannish Boy' and the following instrumental segment on 'Bus Driver' - but most songs were a joy to listen to. I just really dig this instrumental mix and blend, but I understand if people find it repetitive - to me it just came off consistent. I don't know much about "Blues Style" playing on a theoretical level, but there's something so distinctly blues about how the chords and melodies are laid out here but it still manages to avoid feeling "boilerplate". This is the muddy, dirty, consistent sound I want from blues albums. It manages to be long while still bringing this relentless energy and grit without ever compromising its root sounds. Muddy Waters's minimal and spacious vocal licks here perfectly suit this playing style too. Great listening.

Legendary blues music!

Class actually

Previously rated: At Newport 1960 (3/5) *************************** Damn, does this start off hot and put you in the proper mood! All that hootin' and hollerin' in Manish Boy really does add something. In fact, all the chattering between songs shows that they had a good time making this album. It's straight up Blues and doesn't stray from that one bit, you would never know it was made in the late 70s. I'll put it on again when I'm in the mood. Funny thing, in the song Crosseyed Cat, I thought he sang "licked his balls." I looked it up later and found out it was "licked his paws." Works either way, really.

We can all agree blues is kinda silly right? The singer is always like, Yeah, I’m goin’ here or I’m gonna leave this lady alone or Florida or some dumb shit. 4 stars

Amazing music.

Es un disco buenísimo de Muddy. La viola y el piano son una locura. Esto es blues rock del bueno perro.

classic chicago blues and just about everything i want from the genre. harmonica soloing in particular was nuts and absolutely welcome

An hour of slide guitar is always appreciated.

No diga Blues, diga Muddy Waters. Álbum de regreso, del primero fuera de Chess records, Producido por Johnny Winter y grabado en apenas 3 días con una banda en plenitud. Muddy canta como nunca y deja que se luzcan las guitarras , armónica y batería de sus compinches. Desde Mannish Boy entiendes que es un disco eterno. No están Got My Mojo Working, ni Hoochie Coochie Man, ni You need love o You shook me, pero I can´t be satisfied o Jealous hearted man, sí. Con eso ya es suficiente para deleitarse con una banda que para sí quisieran otros artistas. Para muestra la fiesta de The blues had a baby and they named it Rock and roll. Antepenúltimo disco, 6 años antes de morir... pero en plena forma en plena explosión del 77 (Talking Heads, Ramones, Sex Pistols, The Clash, Television, Bowie, Bob Marley, Fleetwood Mac, Iggy Pop, The Jam, Suicide, Mink Deville, Kraftwerk, The Modern Lovers, Elvis costello, Bee Gees...). .

Good

I completely understand when people say, "I am not into the blues". In some ways, listening to the blues is like reading the alphabet. You like novels and poems and everything else made using letters, but you don't want to just sit and look at the alphabet. But it goes without saying that you don't get novels and poems, etc. without the alphabet. But you are not just going to stare at your ABC's and think, "man, so great". Couple that with every asshole in the world hearing great blues albums like this and thinking they can do this and going out and making the absolute shittiest sound ever heard by human ears (https://youtu.be/BiSTW3NSp6o?si=fRkOCXxu0G1vlSC1), and you have a recipe for turning people off the genre completely. But I think albums like this are the antidote to the belief that you aren't into the blues. This sounds so much more alive than most other music of any genre, not just blues albums. "Hard Again" crackles with electricity that positively jumps out and grabs you. This album makes you feel like you are in a Chicago club listening to a live performance by a band at the absolute top of its game. It’s really hard to sound fresh and original when 75% of popular music has been biting your shit for 20 years, but Muddy Waters managed to do it on this album.

great, blues loved the vibe and what a great soulful sound

This would be great to listen to live! Muddy Waters is one of the few blues singers I know by name and while I don’t have blues on my regular rotation, it’s fun to listen to when I’m in the mood. Great album!

This album was great for background listening. I enjoyed having this playing and I was also bopping my foot to it. The cool thing is that when the album ends (on Spotify), it continue playing similar music, which I enjoyed as well, but I think that you need to have Shuffle and Repeat off. Very nice.

Difficult to judge since on the surface it's absolutely tremendous. Behind it though it's re-recordings of previous albums and tracks. Still, that shouldn't muddy the waters.................. ;-)

Foot stompingly good Chicago blues. Winters et al. do a wonderful job bringing out the vivacity of Muddy's soulful vocals, even if the mixing is somewhat crackly and flat. Songs jam on and you only wish they jammed longer. "Mannish Boy" and "Crosseyed Cat" are standout tracks.

Smooth, enjoyable and super easy to listen to. I will definitely go back to this.

I cannot help but love the old time blues. This album has all the bluesy guitar riffs and stereotypical blues vocals (my baby left me but that’s alright mama, I’ve still got me guitar etc etc) you will ever need or dreamed of. Defy anyone not to be tapping their toes in time to every track. Love it! 4/5 10/5/24

When it comes to listening to the blues, I prefer the Chicago blues to other types of the genre. I'm a big Rolling Stones fan and so Muddy Waters is not a far hop for me when it comes to listening/enjoying the blues. I like Eric Clapton's music, but I do think his type of blues is very sterile. This album got my foot tapping and I enjoyed so much of it. How often would I put this album on in the background? That remains to be seen but it is classic and "Bus Driver" may have been my favorite track on the album. Supposedly he didn't play a lot of the guitar on this album but the backing band is so great I wouldn't even notice.

Fun blues tunes

Great blues album.

The blues

Really enjoyed this album! Exceeded my expectations 4 ⭐️

Nice

Omg the beats of mannish boy are so iconic... but I like how he thinks he is fab, I wonder what the women in his life had to say about the skills he brags about lol.. also calls himself man child, I don't know what to make of the lyrics but the music is spot on

Muddy is a legend. Mannish Boy is an all time banger!

muy iluminado, divertido, un blues potente

Classic

Rock n Roll and blues mash into one album. Each song is so different, and unique in its own way.

Very good listen, except the first track I hated for some reason. Piano solos were very good I liked the harmonica

Good listen Standout songs: Mannish Boy Jealous Hearted Man The Blues had a Baby and they Named it Rock and Roll

This was a pretty good album. Blues tropes and melodies definitely get formulaic, but the energy of these guys playing together and jamming keeps it fresh. The drums on Mannish Boy are great, as is the piano on Bus Driver. Throughout, the live vibe is cool (e.g., hearing them celebrate getting the track right at the end of I Want to Be Loved — “That’s it!”). My favorite song was probably Crosseyed Cat. My least favorite song was Little Girl — once again, why was it ever a thing to refer to one's love interest that way? Especially when he also refers to himself as man in the same song. Gross gross gross. Also, I have to point out that while Mannish Boy is a great protest song, and a banger, it's also kind of exactly what people mean when they talk about toxic masculinity — the idea that a Black man has to convince a white person to respect him and call him man instead of boy by playing into other stereotypes about how much sexual prowess he has is ... unfortunate. 4/5

Classic blues lo r this stuff

Absolutely classic blues from one of the legends of the genre. The album was more or less as expected, though some may be surprised to hear that the iconic Bad to the Bone riff was lifted from Waters' Mannish Boy. The songs do start to feel a bit repetitive by the end but I suppose that is to be expected on a blues album. Also, unrelated to the album but Muddy Waters is such a great name.

Pretty much a joy from start to finish. Great production. Classic blues guitar. Loved it.

Best song: mannish boy Vibes: a private jazz club full of prodigies Themes: traditional blues themes, leaving

Thumbs up

Den føles ALT for kort! Blues og rock'n roll på den helt fede måde.

Når blues er virkelig fedt så er det så svedigt at det driver ned af væggene. Det kræver at rytmesektionen holder et langsomt tempo, og det gør de på mange af numrene på dette album. Jeg fik lyst til at høre Jack Whites blues sange efter Muddy Waters. Men jeg tog lige en runde mere med Hard Again istedet. Og så lidt Jack White

Very good. If you like this album then I recommend you also check out his album Electric Mud which has a slightly bonkers psychedelic twist to it.

A great way to wrap up the week. Muddy Waters has, of course, incredible chops, and I’m also very impressed by the mix. It sounds clear (not Muddy) but not smoothed out. My only caveat is a little 12 bar blues goes a long way with me, and a couple of these songs went a little long for me. But overall a great one.

Muddy was a legend and a pioneer. One of a small group of folks that, if they never existed, music would sound COMPLETELY different today. That he got the right group of people around him and turned out this gem in the 70s is extraordinary. I think he’s always worth a listen and this is great, but does not reach the same level he did as a younger man.

Heavy, heavy blues. Ferocious in its way, plus deep and sludgy and genuine: one loves the patience in the playing and the let-it-all-hang-out fun the cats are clearly having. The soloing is strong but the group play provides the well-layered power. Talky vocals are great and man could Muddy holler. The background screams and shouts on "Mannish Boy" belong the RRHOF on their own. The harmonicanist steals the show on multiple cuts (esp “Crosseyed Cat”) with what equates to song-long solos. Track list has a typo; obvs, the correct title should be “I Wanst to Be Loved”). Give me muddy over JE Jones for the voice of god any day. Well worth the Grammy – a Kiwi would say "hard out" that Hard Again this got a Grammy.

Hearing this I just picture some producer walking by a bar and going "what's that sound!" and having his mind blown. I know this isn't that old in the scheme of things but it's got a great soul vibe. Great musicianship and vocals.

It's solid musicianship, but Muddy Waters has just never clicked for me the way Sonny Boy Williamson II, Robert Johnson, Sonny Terry or Big Mama Thornton did. Maybe he was just over hyped before I heard him or maybe everything I've heard is from the later years.

Great sound for an old album. 4*

This here….this here the blues.

Royalty…

Mmm yeah. Sing me the blues Muddy

Good old school blues.

Hard Again marks Muddy Waters' triumphant return to the studio after parting ways with Chess Records. Recorded in just three days, this album showcases Waters at the peak of his blues mastery, delivering a collection of raw, electrifying performances. From the moment the needle drops, there's an undeniable sense of urgency and energy that permeates each track, capturing the essence of Waters' live performances. Waters' vocals are as powerful and emotive as ever, cutting through the mix with a raw intensity that sends shivers down your spine. The band's tight musicianship provides the perfect backdrop for Waters' impassioned delivery, with each member contributing to the album's infectious groove. Tracks like Mannish Boy and I Can't Be Satisfied exemplify Waters' ability to captivate listeners with his soulful storytelling and dynamic performances. Hard Again is a testament to Waters' enduring influence on the blues genre and serves as a reminder of his unmatched talent and legacy. NUMBER OF BANGERS - 6 STAND OUT TRACK - Mannish Boy

What a talent and a legend!! This is just a great album!! I should definitely listen to more blues.

makes me want to smoke cigarettes and drink whiskey. all songs are great but as an album i start to lose interest after a bit

In university I took a popular music class that was early in the morning, and one day before class some version of Hoochie Coochie Man was playing. It sounded sparse and gigantic. I've never heard a version that sounded like that did, but maybe it was just from being played loud in a big auditorium. or maybe it was actually a version of Mannish Boy?? does my search begin anew?? no. it was Hoochie Coochie Man. ok. I have trouble figuring out where to place this for 1977. Is it an essential blues album? Is it even an essential Muddy Waters album? Was it a big deal in 1977 to get a nicely recorded traditional Muddy Waters album? I am not sure, but I will go up to 4 because there's too many mediocre British blues imitators on this list. Johnny Winter on 'miscellaneous screams' is a great credit. baffling choice for an album title. music: appreciated. (⌐■_■)

Great. excellent album although a bit repetitive

Blues is never something I intentionally seek out, but I do enjoy listening to the genre. Dare I say Muddy Waters is the GOAT? This album was a delight to listen to.

Very hard.

Muddy goes hard….

The voice is unmatched. The man makes you feel like you’re living the story he’s telling, and my god the harmonica solos are invigorating! Muddy had the freedom to create some magic here and that shines through with some passionate licks and yells. I know the BB has the best phrasing, but you can really hear that slide guitar talk on I Can’t Be Satisfied.

I can't be satisfied

Solid

Beaut

I should listen to more blues

fucking awesome stuff. my dad loves muddy waters, i have never really listened to much blues but if its all like this i should. i love the vocals and the grooves, and especially the drums. also wild hearing mannish boy, i've heard versions of that song so many times but i didn't realize it was actually a standard. 8/10, fav tracks: mannish boy, i want to be loved #2, i cant be satisfied

Solid, but not my jam.

The perfect salve after suffering through yesterday's Leonard Cohen drudgery. Muddy Waters' infectious charisma blows your ears back and you cannot help but tap your toes, shake your head, and smile at life's big and little troubles.

Diversión

Classic

4.3 - love this, more blues please

Blues blues blues

oh i love blues

This one is difficult, because it really is a good album, but I also know the blues well enough (and Muddy Waters well enough) that I can't give it 5 stars. Yes, I listened to it over and over, yes the final few tracks are great, yes Mannish Boy is insane every time he records it, but it's not quite as good as something like At Newport 1960. But man!!! He really was hard again on this one. James Cotton just wailing away on the harp as usual, Pinetop Perkins my good friend Pinetop Perkins, etc. And Johnny Winter! And Muddy Waters! A very very strong 4.

Monster blues album. The opening track is a classic, Mannish Boy. The guitar voice and harmonica are all standouts of that Chicago Blues Brothers sound. Recorded in 1976 just seven years before his death from heart failure but at the height of his power. The only downside is that the sound has become so duplicated that some of it becomes uninteresting.

Great soundtrack for cleaning the house.

че за секс

Дядя-шоумен. Украдёт вашу девушку, хоть ему и далеко за 50. Хотя по возрасту... скорее маму. Тот случай, когда гармошка ну прям в тему. Ну вот прям как надо, без лишних присвистов и приветов.

One of the best blues albums I’ve heard

Most of the songs sounded similar but an overall enjoyable listen

Mannish Boy -9/10 Bus Driver - 8/10 I Want To Be Loved - 7.5/10 Jealous Hearted Man - 8/10 I Can't Be Satisfied - 7.5/10 The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll - 8/10 Deep Down in Florida - 8/10 Crosseyed Cat - 8/10 Little Girl - 8/10 TOTAL - 72/90

Pretty raw! I wants ta be loved!

Second Muddy Water album in a week and I much preferred this to the other live album that was full of filler and repeats. None of that here, just solid magic.

Strong

Classic old school blues.

Really liked it. Need to check out some more blues I guess.

Electric Mud, though I like more the earlier albums :)

He strums the guitar better than i strum naoises mum

Pretty darn good, makes me feel like a 70 year old African American. 4 stars.

Excellent. Classic blues.

please no more blues. the drummer was good though

Listens to it while riding my bike to work this morning. Really enjoyed it. Adding it to the shuffle

The review that took me just over 8 months to finally write and submit haha wow! I love these bluuuues very fun, only criticism is that the album is a bit one-note in a way. Would be very fun to see live and dance to and then I wouldn't mind at all that it was one beautiful vibe throughout though!

Strong, classic blues album

4/5

One of the rawest and best blues albums I've ever heard. The only reason I don't rate it with 5 stars is because of the existence of "Electric Mud"

Whenever I want a stereotypical “Blues” album, I now know to just put this on. Completely kicks balls.

Great blues album

What you see is what you get

El Blues en su sentido más puro. Me encanta!

Chicago blues - ma poi io mi chiedo cosa cottradistingua il rocknroll classico da questa cosa, probabilmente molto poco

Good blues

The blues is a bit of a blind spot for me. I’ve definitely heard of Muddy Waters, but don’t think I know any of his music. It’s silly really, because when I used to play guitar more often I’d basically abuse the blues scale as much as possible. I literally didn’t learn any other scales, yet I don’t really know blues music. Songs I already knew: none Favourites: Mannish Boy Listen to the first few seconds on Mannish Boy and tell me if you recognise it. I’m not sure if I’ve heard that song before, but that riff defines the blues. No idea if Muddy Waters was the genesis of this, but he certainly does it well. I didn’t expect him to rock so hard either! This is straight up blues rock and very enjoyable.

With JohnnyWinter on guitar!

This is exactly what I would expect to hear going to a grassroot, deep southern blues club around the way of the tavern in the area. And it's exactly what I enjoy hearing from someone like Muddy Waters. My favorite thing about him is that he embeds a piece of himself within the music to where you will KNOW when a Muddy song is playing. Just listen to the instruments. Just listen to the voice. Hear every single sound that this man is creating. BLUES MUSIC AT ITS FINEST. 4 and a half out of 5 stars.

What a voice! So much soul, I Love this album

Overall - a staple of Chicago blues that deserves a spot in eternity. (biased cause I love this dude and Chicago jazz) -a man could absolutely rizz me the fuck up to this album -the Disney rollercoaster fire and ice but harmonic and guitar -the harmonica was mixed too high volume wise -crosseyed cat is prolly my favorite, honorable mention/second place to walkin thru the park -realistically a 3 but I’m a blues whore so it’s a 4 Mannish Boy -I love how understand the harmonica is Bus Driver -the harmonica is the star of the show -I must know what guitar was used -the guitar goes hard -ok piano !!! I Want to be Loved -no notes, a smooth ride Jealous Hearted Man -the harmonica is a paid actor -didn’t know one could shred on a harmonica I can’t be satisfied -A BANJO -what’s that percussion -oooo the tempo -I wonder what the banjo part would sound like on the guitar -the guitar compliments then banjo line with juxtaposition, and the banjo follows the vocal more The Blues Had a Baby -THE BLUES GOT PREGNANT AND THEY NAMED IT ROCK AND ROLL -OOOOOOO that guitar, turn it up -piano going hard too Deep Down in Florida -the slowness of the guitar -harmonica keeping the rhymthe -damn good guitar, bendy and twangy as fuck -it has got to be a Gibson Les Paul or ES Crosseyed Cat -the tempo is so interesting, it’s like right inbetween what your ears wanna hear and your heart wants to feel -every instrument shows off in this song -oh fuck, the guitars, my god Little Girl -the melody the guitar adds -this sounds more fender Stratocaster Walkin Thru the Park -intro is giving grease -oh hell yeah, this is the good ole blues meat -oh it ends how it starts

Feels like I'm listening to the man who made the genre. At first, I thought this was going to feel like a derivative Blues album, then I realized, oh wait, everyone else is derivative of him- he's the original. I'm utterly enchanted by this man's southern drawl. Everyone on this album is overflowing with musical talent. If everyone from Florida was like this, maybe it wouldn't be the hell hole capital of the US. Not my cup of tea but it is my shot of whiskey.

Excelente disco de jazz y blues. No tiene desperdicio.

LOVE Blues music and I always have! This was a very easy listen and I find blues music very calming. He has a deep voice which fits perfectly with the genre and I love the sound of the trumpets.

He wasn't wrong. The blues done best

good

Buena música.

Muddy Waters albums seem to surprise me with how much I enjoy them. They're not as bluesy as I expect. Songs are complex and jammy. I liked this one quite a bit.

What happens when you take one of the old blues masters from the 50s, and place him in the late 70s—the era of distortion and hard rock. You get a hard rock-blues album, steeped in tradition but beating you over the head with its sheer power. The collaboration with Johnny Winter clearly payed off. Big props to Johnny Winter for understanding that to update the Muddy Waters sound, he needed to simply crank up the Blues. Muddy Waters was 64 when this album was released and despite his, sounds as badass as ever. The distorted hoops and hollers on “Manish Boy” are invigorating.

Don’t go for the blues much, but this album slays

It almost feels like cliche blues. The sound and style of these tracks is seems almost dictionary perfect. However, I had to wait a bit for the mood to want to dig into it and by the time i got to Deep Down in Florida and Crosseyed Cat, i was really enjoying the energy. It's not for all the time, but really solid.

Hard to imagine a better blues album and artist.

jazz/motown ish so syempre enjoy pero parang unmemorable among all the ones w this sound

I loved listening to this album while I was driving. Fantastic blues album.

I really like this album I think it’s very well made and I love the vocals and it’s easy to listen to not to crowded but not to simple

Very nice, 8.5/10

Amazing blues

Great blues music

Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Mannish boy

A bit too jazzy for me.

XD

I don't know a single one of these songs, but damn this is good music!

distilled blues

Classic Muddy Waters

I don't usually have too much drive to listen to classic Blues, but I really liked what this album had to show. There's really an endless amount of character in each song. That being said, I felt the length a little too much and felt it start to drag in the early middle. Favorites are Mannish Boy, Jealous Hearted Man, Deep Down in Florida, and Crosseyed Cat

The bluest of blues. Highlights: "I want to be loved" (because it is short), "Jealous Hearted Man", "I Can't Be Satisfied" (great guitar), "Crosseyed Cat",

Good sounds. Amazing history. Didn't really know much about boys music but it sounds great

3.8/5

I enjoyed it! Bluesy, and seems like it had the original Bad to the Bone in it??

Great from start to finish.

Loved this

It’s muddy waters. What’s not to love.

this was nice to wake up with in the morning. i feel like i’ve heard these tunes somewhere before because they felt familiar and comforting

What an amazing blues album! Such an incredible display of guitar and harmonica mastery. This was such an appealing and excellent listen front to back. A few overlong songs away from being perfect. Fav tracks: Crosseyed Cat, I Can't Be Satisfied, The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll, I Want to Be Loved #2

It's rare for the list to have any true blues on here so I'll welcome Muddy Waters with open arms. This album opens with the bombastic Mannish Boy which is easily the best stop-time blues performance I've ever heard. There are many more fantastic performances on this album, but Mannish Boy takes the cake. Much of the appeal, aside from the artistic skill, is Muddy's personality that shines through each song. Listening along, I'm convinced that there are his songs. No one else could give such gravity to each song. Muddy Waters kept blues alive, and for that we ought to thank him.

Great classic blues album, and doesn't get better than Muddy Waters. More varied music than I expected, saving this one in the go-to blues rotation. 4 - will definitely listen again

3.5 Seems somehow sanitized compared to other stuff of his. Still enjoyable.

Classic blues. It's easy to see the inspiration he gave to so many artists.

Truly a classic

Can't deny how brilliant he was. I'm more of a southern blues fan then the Chicago style. But that doesn't take away from his talent.

i like the vocals & instrumentation was great. mannish boy, the blues had a baby, bus driver

This feels like a blues behemoth. Every second of this album is almost exactly what you'd expect from the blues. Hard vocals, moving backings, cutting lyrics, its got the works. That being said, there wasn't much here that surprised me in any way. Just good, old-fashioned blues. Highlight: Mannish Boy Lowlight: Deep Down In Florida Surprise Hit: I Want To Be Loved #2

Solid, foundational blues; would be awesome to experience live; pairs well with beer, smoke, and ribs

I like the bluesy music, I recognize the bad to the bone rift from here, it's a common blues lick used in the blues. The harmonica is really cool with its use throughout multiple songs which really adds to the feel of the songs. I also like the inclusion of the banjo in "I can't be satisfied". This was a good listen and I would recommend others to take a listen. Overall it was an enjoyable listen.

Not toocbad. Kinda liked it

A great blues album i just had heard a couple of songs on before. Will definy listen to this great record again.

This is a peak blues album. It's not a genre I listen to often, but when I do, I'll now reach for Muddy Waters. From start to finish, this album is great. It's impossible not to be affected by these sounds.

Driving Blues from start to finish. Probably won’t be on regular rotation, but I will come back for more listens.

Good, standard blues album. Great solos, good singing, remedial rhythms. Digging this, easy 4. Repeats: bus driver, jealous hearted man, crosseyed cat

Not long after I moved to NYC - so back when I still had a CD player - I went through a blues phase and I bought/wore out several CDs of blues from the 1920s. Never made the jump to electric guitar blues, and I think my preference remains for the early blues sound. I do love this album though, and in particular I Can’t Be Satisfied. Unsurprising, I guess, because that track is more like pre-amped blues than the other ones (and interesting side note, it’s also the least played album track on Amazon).

real cool and original sounding music, i would probably listen to a few again but not the whole album but i really did enjoy the whole vibe, it was just so soulful and cool.

4/5 - This should be mandatory listening for music lovers. The soul, the collaboration of talent, the gritty "ever had an ounce of luck" attitude. It's all too good. My only critique is it rides the same rhythm and tone for a too long at points. But when you have such great rhythm and tone, that'll happen.

Mannish boy hook - is this the origin? Badass blues album. Enjoyed Bus Driver.

Makes Zeppelin and early Stones sound like a bunch of white teenagers. I wonder why.

下酒，喝多了。

Lekker nummers, wel veel van hetzelfde

good, very human, very soulful, very southern, at times i found the quality of some songs dropped so much it was distracting, but that’s not directly reflective on the album, some songs felt too long

Pretty awesome. Muddy Waters. Gonna do a 3.5 I think.

A very casual and fun to listen to album. A ton of string in all the songs, very slow and melodic singing. Could listen to some of these songs on a road trip to switch things up. Enjoyable album.

Bluuuuuuuuuesy

Bluesy guitar noises... waaaaaaaaaa wah wa waaaaaaaaaaaaauuuuuuuuu It started hitting halfway through. 4

A great blues album. It’s not overly long but can feel repetitive at times. Overall 4/5

straight to the point

Muddy at his best. Love Johnny Winters slide and production contributions. Breathing new life into the blues in ‘77. Much respect. 4/5.

Didn’t know I liked blues this shit bangedddddddd

Rocks with the volume up to 11.

great guitar and voice

An oldie, but it seems I like blues?

Once again discovering just how influential and old track like 'Mannish Boy' is. There's a lot of passion in Muddy Waters, I'll definitely listen to more.

funky bluesy

I understand how this leads to a lot of the music I enjoy, but I don’t see myself choosing to listen to the blues very often. I hate harmonicas and the southern fried aesthetics aren’t my cup of tea.

This is a great listen. I did a little reading on "Mannish Boy" because that song is absolutely iconic - my british goblin-pale ass has only ever parsed it as being about a teenager wanting to be seen as a viable sexual partner - never occurred to me to consider that "boy" was used as a term of social control in the south, so there's a strong political element to it, as well as the sexual braggadocio... Fave track - as well as "Mannish Boy", "Crosseyed Cat" was a blast...

Blues is one of my favourite genres that I don’t actually listen to that often, so this album was a bit of a treat. 4/5

Sounds good and fun - although I was surprised it was from 1977, I would have dated it much earlier.

Listened Before? N Nice blues record. Very raw and intense. I'm a sucker for guitar-based blues and that's what we have here. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Mannish Boy, Deep Down In Florida

This album was a good blues album. Maybe i should get more into blues at some point.

This is blues music. If I wanted to teach my kids what blues music was I would play this album for them. It’s not my favorite genre but this is a wonderful distillation of what makes blues so emotionally resonant.

That was not bad, different than what I usually listen to so I enjoyed the variety.

Never realised how good he was on the guitar

Fun album, really energetic and super authentic! I liked it!

Great album, I could see how it was a big influence on rock music. Pretty cool hearing "mannish boy" which was sampled in bad to the bone

1973 , 2010 remaster 'mamunia mamuniaa' got a nice old melodic hook. Mrs. Vandebilt, loved. 'ho hai ho' 1885, like Let me roll it, great chorus Muddy waters, hard again, 1977

Classically good. You can hear how much fun they’re having in this music.

Very powerful, love the live audience.

Grew on me.

Classic blues album

This is exactly the type of blues that I'm nostalgic for. This reminded me of riding around with my Dad in his Jaguar when I was a kid. I liked almost all of this. The blues standards got a little old but the next song was almost always a banger. For now it seems that Muddy Waters is emerging as my favorite bluesman. 4

I don't like the really slow drum beats on many of these songs, but everything else is great. Muddy Waters deserves his blues legend status.

Exceptional, highly listenable, classic blues sound. Muddy Waters is in perfect voice here, sounding every bit as good as he ever did, and his backing band is top notch. Guitars are insanely good. Credit due as well to Johnny Winter, whose love for the blues is palpable and keeps the production lean. This easily could have become a bloated, late career dud for Waters, but instead it's a true classic of the genre. Fave Songs: Mannish Boy, Crosseyed Cat, Deep Down in Florida, Bus Driver, I Can't Be Satisfied, Jealous Hearted Man

Liked a bunch

Very fun album. I did find the harmonica or guitar distortion a little grating at first, but it really grew on me.

Damn good

More of the same from Muddy. Very nice

Not super knowledgeable on my blues but this is exactly how I would expect it to sound. I enjoyed it enough that I’ll listen to some more blues

The swag on this is off the charts. Great album title too. Not something I’d likely come back to much but a great listen.

A very good compilation of classic blues, but didn't he record all of these before?

I’m not sure why this needed to be made given how many of these songs already existed, but it sounds great. Muddy Waters is one of the artists who personify blues music and he sounds fantastic here. By the end it did start to sound redundant but that’s most blues albums. Johnny Winter did a great job here.

Incredible. Thought these songs were recorded long before this. Brilliant

Jams 4

Terrific album to throw up pumpkin bisque to. Was like he could feel my pain. It’s almost fall y’all. 4/5

Blues Dobar

Yep that's the blues. You ought to be able to shout about your music if you love it. Favorite: the slide on I Can't Be Satisfied

Great album to just sink into the pocket

Good blues album, really enjoyed this one.

Harmonica overload! It's great! It just suffers from starting to sound like one big song after a while because each track is pretty similar. Individually, every song was really easy to enjoy, though. 4/5

Backer blues hardt

Another good album. Lots of blues music ends up a bit too soft for me, but this keeps its hard edges throughout. There's attitude, energy, some fun lyrics, and a great vibe to it. Some of the songs, particularly towards the end, overstay their welcome a little, but it's still good enough for a 4.

Sharp, forceful production, exciting melodies that do a great job expanding throughout the songs. Exquisite performances from everyone involved.

quite good. A high 4 or a 5

I’d never heard much by Muddy Waters, but I can now better appreciate the artist who created the namesake for my all-time favorite band in his 1950 song “Rollin Stone.” “Mannish Boy” is a blues staple, and I’d recommend listening to Jimi Hendrix’s electric version too. The harmonica in “Jealous Hearted Man” and “Crosseyed Cat” may as well be the whistle of a Southern Pacific train rolling through Louisiana, and the piano in the latter is a nice touch. “The Blues Had A Baby” reminds us where rock and roll really came from, and that maybe we should pay homage to the Mississippi Delta more than we do. After a deeper listen to Muddy Waters, I can’t help but hear his influence in a slew of songs by the Stones. Specifically, “Midnight Rambler,” “Ventilator Blues,” and “Black Limousine” come to mind. While I’m not sure if he named this album Hard Again despite being in his sixth decade or because he was in his sixth decade, it’s a fine collection of blues that inspired legends for decades.

This was great. Crazy over the top blues. Lots going on at all times. I'm pretty sure I recognized some of the guitar lines from the book Nik brought when I first got my electric.

Solid as a rock blues

The musicianship is extremely good on this album, the guitar playing is one of the best ever. I admit, though that blues is often too repetitive to me and it was the case with this album as well. Nevertheless, I could get into the mood and I enjoyed it quite a lot!

I really enjoyed this album. Blues is a genre of music that I have little exposure to, but I’m growing the love. The riff in “Mannish Boy” is truly iconic, however I felt that it got a bit repetitive after awhile and the song didn’t feel like it went anywhere. Otherwise this was a solid album.

4.25

diirty ahh bluhhh... nasty ass shit... filthy fucking stuff... icky dicky esque music..... likasta paskaa. 3 gramman kuulosta shittiä per 100 gramma... hyi vitty hyi helveTTI! muddy on naseva nimi tälle LIKASELLE MUTASELLE PASKALLE!!!! en sitä tarkotannut... noh deep down in florida

I liked it!

Meer blues dan dit ga je het niet krijgen denk ik. Ik heb heb er eigenlijk wel van genoten. Mannish Boy kent natuurlijk iedereen, wat een plaat.

Great

I'm not a big blues fan. I find the genre a little too simple and cliche-ridden, and too cluttered with wanna-be's. But there are exceptions: mostly Howlin' Wolf and Muddy Waters. Their brand of the blues is down and dirty, witty, honest and tough. They're the real deal and their gritty performances more than makeup for the formulaic chord progressions. I'd heard this version of Mannish Boy before but never knew that it was from '77 or that it featured an all-star cast of blues legends on Waters' comeback record. Not every song rise above the genre's limitations, and by the time I was deep into side two I was getting a little tired of the whole thing. But damn, when it cooks it broils. That harmonica player is the best I've ever heard. His tone was immense, over-driven like a '60s garage band guitar. Johnny Winters is a beast of a guitarist, adding just the right touch to every song. (I especially loved that one acoustic number.) And that drummer so far in the pocket it's a wonder he wasn't covered in lint. Hot stuff, and I will be listening to about half of these tracks over and over again.

I saw this was noted as Muddy Waters' "comeback album". It may not be as good as his earlier work (wow that was such a hipster comment), but this was honestly really good. The production is great. They really captured a "live-in studio" sound which I appreciate. It's raw, which is what the blues should be. It's also refreshing to see an actual blues artist on this list, not any of that Eric Clapton blues poser crap. Sure Johnny Winter plays a big part in this record, but it honestly works for me.

These are well crafted, fun, enthusiastic, blues songs. I enjoyed every second of it. It isn’t the most innovative album, innovative for blues, but not really for the rest of the music industry. Everything is fantastic. Muddy and his band all play together so perfectly. Love this album. 4/5

This was some groovy shit. I was in on it from the start. It sounds great. It made me feel everything and I enjoyed the hell out of it.

I feel like this is an album of blues cliches that he just makes sound like they're not cliches

I enjoyed this!

I thought this would be kind of meh, but I actually really liked it. It had a lot going on even though it's pretty straightforward, old school R&B. Would definitely listen again.

That’s the good stuff, fine ass blues. I haven’t thought about it before, but Muddy might be my favorite blues artists. B+

4,5 nawet

Just a little repetitive

Solid rock album. 4 stars.

Muddy Waters reinvigorates his legendary career with a great blues album released near the end of his life. This is the definitive style you think of when you hear the word "blues". Love the gritty raw sound here.

If you don't love this album, I don't want to be your friend.

I really enjoyed this. I listened to it several times over the weekend and it makes me happy that this exists in the world.

Well strap me in a lifejacket, plug me with an IV drip full of dark rum & coke, tie me to a riverboat, and send me down a river cuz this record had me swangin

Great version of Mannish Boy, and the rest of the album flew by.

When the guitars and drums started in "Mannish Boy" I thought I was about to hear "Bad to the Bone" and I had started the wrong album. Anyway, thought this was a great Blues album, enjoyed almost every song. Will definitely listen to again. Highlights: Mannish Boy The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll Deep Down In Florida

Really easy to listen to. Hadn't noticed the album had finished and moved onto more blues..... Not sure if that's a compliment though? I enjoyed it, probably didn't give it the attention it deserves. Will listen again. But fantastic sounding guitars and harmonicas. Not sure I can pick out specific highlights, but it all sounded good

we owe blues so much love blues music

Very very very solid blues album. Waters brings in great blues melodies with the piano, guitar and even the harmonica. Mannish Boy is a great introduction to the sound of the album. Bus Driver is more laidback which consists of great slide guitar and there’s a lot more in this album. Just a great album.

4.5

Great blues album, loved the drum and bass, drumming patterns were slick and skilled. I'm not a big fan of harmonica, but the arrangements on this album were executed with great harmony between vocals.

A pretty definitive blues album. Some great songs on here. Personally I prefer blues with a more husky, smokey bar vibe but this album was a good listen.

Yeah it's nice. Blues aren't really my cup of tea. Love his voice

Ouuuuh, yeahh (LNB) Buenisisísimo, que gozada hoy(PSP)

Listens: 2 Enjoyed: yeah

VERY GOOD i love his voice it flows so well with the music

muddy

Really enjoyable, not really a genre I have listened to much but this album was fun

Are all blues albums like this?? Every song on this album hit harder than I ever expected, like it was bordering on full-on rock. I guess it's fitting that there's a song whose title is basically that sentiment :)

Solid blues from the legend.

Musical tastes are a subjective thing. But this was objectively awful.

A lot of fun

Amazing blues album

I've never listened to a true blues album before, but I enjoyed listening to this album. Muddy Waters's voice is fantastic, and I love how simple the instrumentation is, and how it complements the rich and emotional lyrics. When I heard the guitar riff kick in on "Mannish Boy," I knew that I was going enjoy my experience. I hope I get more blues like this as I keep working through this list.

You won't catch me listening to classic blues music often, it's definitely not my thing. So I can't say I was excited to listen to this album, but like...it's good. I liked this a lot actually, every song is so catchy, so electrifying, so much energy. It's a really fun listen, even if I was a bit tired of it towards the end. Most I've ever enjoyed the blues. 3.5/5

Classic blues for the rescue! Great music.

Sounds like the 1950's again. Muddy big and proud on this album with tight backing. Some of the best mainstream blues

Get your mojo rising...

Very good. Lotta soul. 4 star

Good album. I'd say it was repetitive if it wasn't the blues. You get what you want with this album. Want blues? There's some damn blues for ya

Fun one

This is some blues and traditional rhythm and blues (not the bastardisation that "R&B" is these days). Very smooth. I am getting into this album.

Classic blues. Catchy, gets a bit monotonous

Was already familiar with Manish Boy. Had no idea that Muddy did this in the 70s (and at the age of 74) though. Great start to the album recommendations, although it'll be rare that I care to listen to a full album of blues.

So good! Great recording and energy! My one hang up is a hang up I have with all blues records: I love them off the bat but the songs end up sounding the same and I’ve grown tired by the end.

So much fun. I'm not cool enough to like this album. Harmonica is too high in the mix if he's going to wail on that one E/G trill for most of the whole album, but otherwise I could listen to this 10x. 100x if in person. Muddy Waters has the best voice for blues.

I'm not a huge blues fan to be honest. The lyrics and song topics were a bit repetitive. But the instrumentals were good. I liked the shorter songs best.

Classic three bar blues.

Very good. Always love some blues