The Lost Tapes

I seldom purchase CDs these days, and I certainly have plenty of Muddy Waters in various formats, but after hearing this version of "19 Years Old" on the radio, complete with Muddy's salty spoken intro, I ordered the disc and haven't been disappointed. I've played bits of it on a show I do on KEOS, a community radio station in Bryan, Texas. Reminds me of the live shows I saw Muddy do in the 1970s, when he came to Texas frequently to perform at venues such as Antone's in Austin. These classic blues guys weren't afraid to play slowly and put lots of emphasis on the singing, reminding me of Muddy's classic line, "Some of these young white boys can play circles around you on the guitar, but they cannot vocal like a black man."

One of the better "live" Muddy albums out there. Recorded properly - it sounds fabulous on vinyl.

I have a passion for Blues music, which sadly seems to be dying out. After collecting a Muddy Waters vinyl at our local record shop, I instantly fell in love and wanted to purchase more. This was my first online purchase of this album and I love it.

I bought this album for my husband who loves the blues. He couldn't have been happier with it. He listened to it all night with his eyes closed and a smile on his face. Awesome.

Muddy Waters' numerous live albums range from "pretty good" to "magnificent", with "Take A Walk With Me" and "The Muddy Waters Blues Band Featuring Dizzy Gillespie" at one end of the scale, and the magnificent "Muddy Waters At Newport", "Chicago 1979", "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Mojo: The Live Collection" at the other end. This one is at the almost-five-stars end of the scale, featuring a top-notch combo, excellent production, and some of the best sound you're ever likely to hear. All of these ten songs have been available in official live versions for a long time, and most of them are on virtually every live Muddy album from the 70s. "The Lost Tapes" may not be a revelation, excactly, but it is top-notch electric blues from one of the genre's greatest, and compared with similar albums this one is perhaps the very best from this particular period. Recorded at the universities of Washington and Oregon, "The Lost Tapes" features Muddy's stellar early-70s band, Sammy Lawhorn and James "Pee Wee" Madison on guitars, the great George "Harmonica" Smith, bassist Calvin Jones, Joe "Pinetop" Perkins on the piano, and veteran drummer Willie "Big Eyes Smith. George Smith and Pinetop Perkins are particularly delightful to hear, and of course Muddy Waters himself, his big, confident voice possesing both power and nuance. It doesn't really make sense to talk about highlights here...everything is great, from the rather slow but very gritty renditions of "Hoochie Coochie Man" and "Mannish Boy" to the superbly swinging "Crawlin' Kingsnake" and "Walking Thru The Park". And the band delivers a cracking performance all the way through. If your collection is lacking a little in the "live Muddy Waters from the early 70's" department, this is the CD for you. And if it isn't, pick it up anyway. It's great.

Muddy Waters helped create the dynamic postwar Chicago blues. His talent and personality influenced many performers to play their best and to stretch themselves, seeking the limits of their instruments and souls. It is so nice to listen to these sessions, recorded in 1971, at Washington and Oregon Universities, because they capture some of the essence of what truly made Muddy Waters so terrific; his live performances and kinship with his audience and fellow performers. Joined by greats George "Harmonica" Smith, Pinetop Perkins on piano, Sammy Lawhorn and Pee Wee Madison on guitar, Calvin "Fuzz" Jones on bass, and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith on drums, Waters and co. rock the house on standards like "Crawling Kingsnake" "Hoochie Coochie Man," and "Got My Mojo Working," through a bunch of his own tunes like "Honey Bee," "Walking Thru The Park," "Trouble No More," and "She's 19 Years Old." My favorite cut has got to be "Long Distance Call." On this song, Muddy attacks his guitar neck with his slide, making it scream out hard and soulful blues. This is an enhanced CD as well, and contains a video interview with Waters as well as a video performance of "Long Distance Call," which brings the greatness of this performer through to the viewer even stronger. All in all, this is a great CD, and I'd recommend it to anybody.

Excellent cd a long player, some of Muddy's best live stuff I have heard. George "Harmonica" Smith is fantastic he is one of the harmonica greats. Also on this cd Muddy sounds excellent his voice is second to none, his guitar playing on this especially his slide is great. This is classic Muddy live he has been one of my favorites for years.

The opening riff of "Honey Bee" when I first heard this cd sent a chill and shivers down my spine and my eyes got swollen with tears while listening to this true master of the Blues in such a marvelous live setting with an incredibly talented Raw and Gritty band! Every track is a Muddy Waters masterpiece! The man's voice and playing add a surreal feeling of times gone by that can be relived over and over with the same feelings being felt. The people that handled this at Blind Pig Records did a great job of restoring and mastering these gems! Play him over and over on The Crazy Coyote Blues Power Show AT 1490 KOTY AM Yakima Nation Reservation Radio in south central Washington state.

Gottseidank sind die Auftritte vom King of the Blues gut dokumentiert. Neben den offiziellen Veröffentlichungen (Newport 1960, Fathers and Sons 69, Live at Mr. Kelly's 1971 und Live 1979) gibt es eine Anzahl gut aufgenommener Konzerte. Hier geht es um zwei Konzerte 1971 mit einer Band im Umbruch. Noch sind Sammy Lawhorn und Pee Wee Madison an den Gitarren zu hören, doch die Rhythmusband ist schon jene legendäre der 1970er: Willie Smith an den Drums, Pinetop Perkins am Piano und Calvin Jones am Bass. An der Harp der leider unterschätzte George Harmonica Smith, ein ganz großer seines Fachs. Die Songauswahl ist auch topp auf der Platte: neben einigen oft (aber nie zu oft) gehörten Nummern (Mannish Boy, Long Distance Call) gibt es selten gespieltes zu hören - und zwar in absoulter Toppqualität. Walking Thru the Park, Just to Be With You und Crawlin Kingsnake sind einfach ein Ohrenschmaus. Der Sound der LP ist überragend - alles knackig da, obwohl 1971 "nur" für's Radio aufgenommen. Ein wunderbare Platte des King of Blues mit einer Band, die nicht einmal ihresgleichen sucht - denn was besseres gab es nie und wird es nie geben.

I liked this Live CD. It is a good Live CD for your collection. As well as the enhanced features of a short interview with Muddy. And then Muddy and his band playing in a live video "Long Distance Call" A nice edition to your Muddy Waters Collection. Good for any fan.

Consiglio questo disco, a tutti gli amanti del blues e del leggendario Muddy Waters, capolavoro che raccoglie grandi classici suonati nei primi anni, non parliamo poi della copertina, a mio avviso fantastica,che rispecchia a pieno la somma eccellenza di un grande maestro come Muddy, disco imperdibile da gustare in silenzio lentamente!

Vintage Muddy. Great band; Pinetop pounding the keys and Willie pounding the skins. There is nothing better than Waters walkin' through the park LIVE!

Great recording