John Primer and Friends

Muddy Waters 100
Raisin’ Music Records

Wow! Is this really John Primer singing these songs? He sounds so close to Muddy Waters that it’s haunting. Take a number of classic Muddy Water’s songs, add a few obscure tunes from his career, spanning from the late 1940s up to the late 1970s, throw in some stellar musicians, and you have the perfect tribute to an American icon in the blues world — Muddy Waters 100. The songs may not all come across as Muddy first recorded them. There is a bit of modernization on a few, but this works and the feel for the love of Muddy Waters comes across from everybody involved.

And the people involved? You have some of the best from Chicago, where Muddy made his mark. People like Primer himself, Johnny Iguana, Kenny “Beedy Eyes” Smith, Billy Flynn, and Billy Branch. You have one of Muddy’s most recognized sidemen in guitarist Bob Margolin, harmonica player James Cotton, and Muddy’s friend and collaborator Johnny Winter (in what may be one of his last recordings). And then there are the youngbloods of today’s blues, such as keb’ Mo’, Shemekia Copeland, Derek Trucks, and Gary Clark Jr. This is no cast to shake a stick at. They’ve got their mojo workin’ and they may have even fixed that mill that done broke down.

This is an official tribute to Muddy Waters in recognition of what would’ve been his 100th year of life. It is beautifully packaged with a hardshell book case, outstanding photography, and an essay from Water’s Grammy Award winning biographer, Robert Gordon. The music is contemporary, but it’s all Muddy Waters. This is one collection to check out. Muddy Waters legacy will continue to live on when handled by musicians who love the music and love the man. You have that here.

Total Time: 53:32

Got My Mojo Workin’ / Still A Fool / I Be’s Troubled / I’m Ready / Mannish Boy / Rosalie / Why Don’t You Live So God Can Use You / Good News / Troubled No More / She Moves Me / Can’t Get No Grindin’ / 40 Days And 40 Nights / Last Time I Fool Around With You / I Feel So Good / Feel Like Going Home