Muddy Waters - They Call Me Muddy Waters - ChicagoFest 1981

gravityworld.tv...
In August of 1981, when the undisputed king of Chicago blues headlined ChicagoFest -
then the Windy City's top outdoor music festival - for two nights, his loyal subjects mobbed Navy
Pier on the lakefront to hear one of the greatest innovators the idiom had ever produced.
Muddy Waters led the charge in the late 1940s and early '50s to electrify Delta blues in an
urban setting. His peerless combo would include such future stars as ace guitarist Jimmy Rogers,
harmonica virtuoso Little Walter and piano wizard Otis Spann. But Muddy was always at the center
of the action. His gruff, authoritative vocal delivery and slashing slide guitar define the purest form
of postwar Chicago blues. Waters' charisma was as immense as his musical vision.
Born April 4, 1915, in Issaquena County, Mississippi, McKinley Morganfield learned the
blues while sharecropping on Stovall Plantation. One guitarist particularly influenced him. "I never
seen a man could play at that time as good as Son House, to me. With that big voice he had, he could
sing," said Muddy. "He was preachin' the blues then, and I thought he was the best in the world."
In late August of 1941 musicologists Alan Lomax and John Work rolled into Coahoma
County in search of rural gospel and blues talent. They made field recordings of Muddy, with Lomax
returning the next year to cut more. But those were for the Library of Congress. It was only after
Muddy migrated north in 1943 that he pursued a career as a professional bluesman.
"As soon as I decided to leave, my mind said, 'Go to Chicago!'" he recounted. "So I
came." Pianist Sunnyland Slim introduced Muddy to Leonard Chess, then with the fledgling
Aristocrat label, in 1947. Waters cut a few small combo sides for the label before reverting to his
Delta slide attack the following year on "I Can't Be Satisfied" and "I Feel Like Going Home," his
first hit. "When I did them two sides, that's the sides they went nuts over," said Waters.
"I had a band in less than a week," Muddy remembered. "Mojo Buford - he was with
me before, the harp player - said, 'I'll get you some boys that'll cook just like that.' He called in
about two or three days. He said, 'I'm gonna bring 'em over and let you listen to 'em.' Just that fast,
I had a band!" Buford was joined by guitarists John Primer and Rick Kreher, pianist Lovie Lee,
bassist Earnest Johnson and drummer Ray Allison. They all instinctively understood Muddy's
groove.
After "Mannish Boy" gets the festivities off to a rousing start, Muddy counts off romping
shuffles for the ChicagoFest throng, rolling through Jimmy Reed's "You Don't Have To Go," Big
Joe Williams' "Baby Please Don't Go," Slim Harpo's "I'm A King Bee" and his own 1955 gem
"Trouble No More." For the luxuriantly downbeat "They Call Me Muddy Waters," he peels off a
slide solo that makes the hair on the nape of your neck stand up in silent salute.
In the midst of his rollicking "Walking Thru The Park," Muddy brings out fleet-fingered
guitar wizard Johnny Winter, producer of his 1977 "comeback" album Hard Again. "We met back
in the '60s in Austin, Texas," recalled Muddy. "He was one of the young white kids who was really
deep into it." Johnny sings "Going Down Slow" before Waters blasts out a swaggering "She's
Nineteen Years Old," boasting another jaw-dropping slide ride. Winter takes over again vocally for
a grinding "You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling" that morphs into "Five Long Years" when
local luminary Mighty Joe Young strolls up to the mic, Big Twist following that with a few special
lyrics for the occasion. Muddy brings it all to a close with a rousing "Got My Mojo Working."
"To stay with this music, you got to live with it. Sometimes you might be a little hungry,
but you got to stay with it. I've been where I couldn't get the right food a lot of times. My icebox
wasn't full, you know?" said Muddy, who passed away not long after this show on April 30, 1983.
"I'm glad it was like that. So when I got to the point that I could get what I want, I think I enjoyed it
better."
It's hard to tell who enjoyed those two evenings at ChicagoFest more - the crowd, his
pals onstage or Muddy himself.
- Bill Dahl
Research Materials
Can't Be Satisfied: The Life And Times Of Muddy Waters, by Robert Gordon
(Boston & New York: Little, Brown and Co., 2002)
Spinning Blues Into Gold: The Chess Brothers And The Legendary Chess Records, by Nadine Cohodas
(New York: St. Martin's Press, 2000)
The Complete Muddy Waters Discography, by Phil Wight and Fred Rothwell
(Cheshire, England: Blues and Rhythm Pub.)
Joel Whitburn's Top R&B Singles 1942--1988, by Joel Whitburn
(Menomonee Falls, WI: Record Research Inc., 1988)
The Official Muddy Waters Web site: www.muddywaters....

[@martelprayer416]

Damn man hearing Muddy sing and play the hell out of that slide on guitar is "priceless"!!!

[@SNAPLEO]

This is what is called low down dirty blues

[@balerjohnson3099]

Nobody played like Muddy he was bending strings long before Hendrix or Clapton ..One of a kind

[@eleanormaloney4004]

This was at Navy Pier before they turned it into an amusement park. I was there to see him play. Front row seats. A concert I will never forget.

[@mytriwee]

man, that voice and that guitar gives me chills down my spine

[@carlosangel9404]

Not anyone can rock the 'reverse mohawk' bald spot. Muddy could.

[@msaintpc]

Muddy Waters, best ever did it, PERIOD!

[@maggiestone7982]

That’s so beautiful I love the music

[@DWatchtower1]

Sort of, reminded me of sitting on the front porch in Leesville, Texas in 1923. Lest, we forget !! Better watch out. There's a bad moon on the right. Man, I can feel Muddy Waters to the core.

[@chrismonk8446]

knowing this was the last year of his life ( and year of my birth) and he's still able to play with such raw emotion and skill and his voice never lost anything. he is as good as ever i'm very impressed

[@Ruefus]

+Chris Monk Not trying to be a jerk. But I believe this performance was 8/4/81. Muddy died April 30, 1983. Certainly this was one of his last performances, but it was not during the last year of his life.

[@trentblender3318]

when ur childhood is ruined

[@jimsliverootsculturemusic]

actually, Muddy passed in 1983 at age 68.

[@jeremyparsons9152]

Muddy was 70

[@mlhesler68]

Clapton said nobody plays like Muddy. A lot get pretty close but like that feeling of the delta blues.

[@shaserv]

Muddy Waters, Best Guitar Player Ever......

[@coravisser727]

this is real blues a legend with muddy, His voice is so good and play the real blues.

[@joergmoeller1030]

Pure magic ...thanks Muddy, you will be in our hearts forever

[@551896]

The Godfather of the Blues and the Don of the electric guitar!!!

[@smoothoperator7023]

Known from now on as Godfather Don. 😌

[@Pyrognosis]

Awesome show. I love the harmonica bandoleer. I can also see the flattened frets where the slide has hammered them to nubs on the B and E strings. A legend.

[@MyYTaccountName]

I’ve heard his name a ton over the years but never thought to watch any of his performances. Very glad I did, thanks for the upload.

[@lucas8209]

King of electric blues

[@jefflh9200]

such music could only come from the pain the and sadness of Black Americans in the south in the 30’s ….the inventors of blues and rock n roll Straight from soul music

[@jamesdaniels7088]

AMEN Brother !!!!❤

[@d_walsh]

THE BEST EVER, thanks muddy. rip

[@Bluesful1]

King of the blues and slide guitar!!

[@HealingfromtheHeartcoaching]

R.I.P Muddy

[@wisesatyr72]

that was a long ass slide solo..wicked

[@mannypedroza6538]

Muddy Kickin Ass !!!!!!!

[@JoeyhasMojo]

HEAVEN! The visual and audio quality are stunning!

[@laaijekreek]

he's my inspiration !

[@jeremyparsons9152]

You and everybody else who lived in the last 80 years

[@tacojohnny8990]

jesus christ bout got the chills

[@if6wer966]

i saw muddy at the beacon theater with johnny winter jan. 1981..i was 15yrs old...unreal..

[@jeffroblueguitarman]

thats just bad ass slide

[@poobob5272]

Good ol killer Ray on drums. RIP.

[@ddoeser5830]

Pracht van een Blues man , Geniet van al zijn muziek ! 👍

[@fiorellafenati5395]

paradisiaco. super. genius

[@chmueller50]

God Bless Muddy Waters

[@smokydogjoe]

The Greatest

[@luigicapone2]

This is scotch for the soul !

[@helderzidane]

É A ALMA DO ROCK!

[@Rooster04TRD]

Thank you Muddy .

[@victorallende4962]

grande de los grandes

[@gae41278]

Muddy è Dio.

[@Fr3derick]

Awesome Grandma Mary

[@TheShaveButler]

Did he say "...call me Muddy Waters....[on!...]!!!" Man'...he could even say Clarisse!!...He is the greatest or what?! Your crying guitar sound is missed these days, Morganfield!!

[@thomasbingham8332]

Nothing But The Best

[@wisesatyr72]

@codeblue27 thats what I like Muddy ,he slides in a standard key..anyone can do it. Hes the Best !

[@EarnestL]

Great Sound

[@smoothoperator7023]

4:53 the cameraman finally breaks the Muddy Waters spell 😵‍💫😵‍💫😵‍💫& realizes who is really playing the solo......🙄

[@jannedved9275]

wonderfull

[@bobobekker]

@bluesify100 for as far as I know it's Mojo Bufford he was at that time joing the club for my brother and I travelled a short time with bluesmen

[@DirtyDeck]

play that fuckin slide muddy!

[@michaelfradono4066]

Muddy Waters is the King of the Delta blues! Their is Robert Johnson then Their is Muddy Waters..........

[@marcisaac2558]

toss-up

[@marcisaac2558]

perhaps you are correct ...we should enjoy every artist in their own sphere ...

[@jimsliverootsculturemusic]

Muddy's final band. His old band having quit and formed The Legendary Blues Band. Ray Allison was a very wild blues drummer but he really stays within himself on this tune. I'd take Lafayette Leake before Lovie Lee if I had any say in the matter. Mojo Buford was a great choice but I'd say he's the least of all of Muddy's harp players. Still, Muddy tears it up and this song is very powerful, just as Muddy always did everything to his utmost.

[@JAYESCOTT1]

Jim Hunter

[@boxingin]

@Bluesful1 I agree!

[@cresops1361]

Tem estilo melhor que blues, pra relaxar?!

[@patriciaroberts100]

Sounds like my life [ muddy.

[@jackdempsey9644]

That whiteboy on guitar probably shreds. He had to earn his spot!

[@bloui1033]

he just light skinned

[@TheMouko]

7/2/24 Views 208k & likes 1,6k comments 105 enjoy,,,,,,

[@rollingstopp]

he slapped buddys face --cause bud did not act too serious about playin the blues--muddy said you got to carry on the blues

[@zeleniouszeleniou6766]

Machine Gun Nest dude you got the story wrong when Buddy Guy came to Chicago he was broke and hungry in between sets at one of Muddy's shows Muddy and Buddy went out to Muddy's car and Muddy handed him a bologna sandwich and Buddy Guy was too proud and said no and that's when muddy slapped him that's the truth

[@curleyteeth]

mojo is the harp man

[@BlueLou974]

No Bob Margolin, no Fuzz, no Willie Big Eye Smith, no Jerry Portnoy, no Pinetop Perkins , no Luther gtr Johnson on stage, because it was just his new & last . John Primer real grand debut. Ray Allison was playing with Buddy Guy & Jr Wells before ( or in the same time !?) etc etc.

[@WilliamMusicEater]

GOT SLIDE

[@marcisaac2558]

I know Sonny L..I cut his hair years ago....wonderful man....

[@marcisaac2558]

sonny l is the new man ...yes he is

[@blkrbt426]

if this is the first chicagofest, I was the in the front row

[@malli69]

What's up with the 16 dumbs down?

[@blkrbt426]

no, this is at navy pier. I was there but not at this show

[@jimsliverootsculturemusic]

thank you for clarifying

[@SavantSvant]

@annayoakum Of all blues IMO! :)

[@michaelvolgare4454]

Who was backing him up for this gig??

[@MindfulMaps]

@bluesify100 Might want to look again bro, thats john primer, eddie taylor at this time would be about as old as muddy and was most certainly doing his own thing

[@codeblue27]

Nintendo asked this ? but no answer Is he tuned to open E or something or Standard on the Tele :)

[@disco4535]

Is his Tele even plugged in lol?? All I can hear is the white boy playing the strat

[@donaldzackson1765]

muddy and hoss makin shit happen

[@AliSleeq]

I came.

[@NintendoSinceBirth1]

is he just tuned standard with that slide?

[@DatBoi-mo9vc]

Probably an open tuning of some sorts

[@wkg55]

standard

[@superpoof]

Who was playing the harp at this concert?

[@ScreaminJames]

George 'Mojo' Buford. 👍

[@superpoof]

@@ScreaminJames Thanks man!

[@ScreaminJames]

@@superpoof You got it. 👌

[@orion3511]

No Steady Rollin Margolin ??

[@jimsliverootsculturemusic]

This was after the classic 70's band quit and formed the Legendary Blues Band. But Bob didn't land with them, Louis Myers took his spot. And Duke Robillaird did the solos on their first album, Life Of Ease, which is great.

[@ChrisJimenez2010]

whos the guy with the natural wood-colored telecaster

[@parlorBlues]

John primer I guess

[@hurricanebillbass1]

parlorBlues John Primer definitely . And my friend currently owns that Telecaster . Oh , and John should soon be buying it back . Stay tuned .....

[@jeremyparsons9152]

THE living legend, John Primer! Still plays, still amazing, go see him

[@amrimohamed1635]

OK

[@znmcg]

Why has muddy never really impressed me compare to others of the era, lightnin Hopkins, Clapton, skip james, Robert Johnson, just to name a few, why is he so liked? Even rl burnside did it better, I guess I’m odd man out. He’s got a badass tele tho

[@smoothoperator7023]

Junior Kimbrough, Elmore James

[@curleyteeth]

Bob Margolin was there and so was Pinetop Perkins.

[@baiadigrotta]

+curleyteeth No. The white guy in the band is Rick Kreher and the piano player here is Lovie Lee. This is actually his last "road band". The younger black guitarist is John Primer, the harp player is Mojo Buford, Earnest Johnson on bass and Ray Killer Allison on drums.

[@MrTruegrit2288]

the drummer ummm... lokk a bit weird