Muddy Waters had a great ear for talent and accordingly nearly always an excellent backing band. But the band accompanying him from 1974 to 1980 that you hear on the DVD was one of the very best: the pianist Pinetop Perkins, drummer Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, bass player Calvin Jones, the two guitarists Luther “Guitar Jr.” Johnson and Bob Margolin, and harmonica player Jerry Portnoy. Permanent touring turned this crew into a well-oiled machine supporting their charismatic leader in the best way. At Westfalenhalle Dortmund on December 10, 1978, for the Rockpalast recording, Muddy Waters was still at the height of his creative power, his mighty vocals and his splendid charisma on stage fascinated the audience. Muddy’s guitar playing on the Fender Telecaster especially comes into full effect with his typical slow blues solos – and seldom had Muddy such a hot sound as in this TV recording of the WDR. The song selection of the evening consisted of several of his biggest hits, but also less performed titles.
As a bonus the boxset contains a recording of the Muddy Waters Tribute Band during a Rockpalast Open Air at the Loreley in summer 1996, where all the still living (and healthy) members of Muddy’s old band came together, on “Gone To Main Street” The Band’s Levon Helm is the guest vocalist.
Tracklisting CD/DVD:
DVD 1/ CD 1: 10. Dezember 1978 , Westfalenhalle Dortmund
01. Intro 01:11
02. I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man (Willie Dixon) 03:23
03. Soon Forgotten (St. Louis Jimmy) 04:42
04. Baby Please Don't Go (Big Joe Williams) 03:53
05. They Call Me Muddy Waters (Muddy Waters) 08:04
06. Walkin' Thru The Park (Muddy Waters) 03:28
07. Country Boy [All Night Long] (Muddy Waters) 05:07
08. Kansas City (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) 07:13
09. Caledonia (Fleecie Moore) 04:56
10. Everything Gonna Be Alright (Little Walter) 03:22
11. Mannish Boy (Muddy Waters, Mel London, Bo Diddley) 06:26
12. Got My Mojo Working (Preston Foster) 02:40
13. Sweet Home Chicago (Robert Johnson) 04:25
DVD 2/ CD 2: June 23, 1996 Open Air Festival Loreley
01. Clouds In My Heart (Muddy Waters) 04:34
02. Walkin' Thru The Park (Muddy Waters) 04:03
03. You Can’t Lose What You Ain’t Never Had (Muddy Waters) 04:46
04. You Don't Have To Go (Matcher James Reed) 04:50
05. Honey Bee (Muddy Waters) 04:50
06. Everything Gonna Be Alright (Little Walter) 05:19
07. Laundromat Blues (Sandy Jones Jr) 06:30
08. I'm Ready (Willie Dixon) 05:15
09. If the Washing Don't Get You, The Rinsing Will (Homer Banks, James Cross, Allen Jones) 04:05
10. Hard Hard Way (Willie Smith, Anthony Melio) 03:32
11. I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man (Willie Dixon) 05:36
12. Gone To Main Street [feat. Levon Helm](Muddy Waters) 04:03
13. Got My Mojo Working (Preston Foster) 04:30
14. Mannish Boy (Muddy Waters, Mel London, Bo Diddley) 06:02
Tracklisting Vinyl:
10. Dezember 1978, Westfalenhalle Dortmund
SIDE A
01. Intro 01:11
02. I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man (Willie Dixon) 03:23
03. Soon Forgotten (St. Louis Jimmy) 04:42
04. Baby Please Don't Go (Big Joe Williams) 03:53
05. They Call Me Muddy Waters (Muddy Waters) 08:04
Total Side A: 21:13
SIDE B
06. Walkin' Thru The Park (Muddy Waters) 03:28
07. Country Boy [All Night Long] (Muddy Waters) 05:07
08. Kansas City (Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller) 07:13
09. Caledonia (Fleecie Moore) 04:56
Total Side B: 20:40
SIDE C
10. Everything Gonna Be Alright (Little Walter) 03:22
11. Mannish Boy (Muddy Waters, Mel London, Bo Diddley) 06:26
12. Got My Mojo Working (Preston Foster) 02:40
13. Sweet Home Chicago (Robert Johnson) 04:25
Total Side C: 16:53
SIDE D
14. You Can’t Lose What You Ain’t Never Had (Muddy Waters) 04:46
15. You Don't Have To Go (Matcher James Reed) 04:50
16. Honey Bee (Muddy Waters) 04:50
17. Everything Gonna Be Alright (Little Walter) 05:19
Total Side D: 19:45
