Muddy Waters remains one of the greatest of all time. His 1977 release Hard Again — released on on January 10, 1977 — was appropriately titled and marked the kind of comeback you expect from the great ones. Any coach can tell you the best way to break out of the slump is surround yourself with good talent and get back to the fundamentals and Muddy did just that. Great musicians are all over this record: the late Pinetop Perkins, James Cotton and Willie “Big Eyes” Smith, just for starters. Blues guitar monster Johnny Winter served as producer for this album and serves up some of his patented nasty guitar licks and some great vocals — maybe, it’s more like screeching, whooping and hell yeahs!
Backed by an all-star band that featured harp player James Cotton, pianist Pinetop Perkins, drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, guitarists Bob Margolin and Johnny Winter, and bass player Charles Calmese, Waters appeared relaxed from the outset, and the inclusion of some of the exuberant studio chatter gave Hard Again a fascinating sense of intimacy. Whether stomping through a thunderous update of Mannish Boy, tearing into the acoustic groove of I Can’t Be Satisfied, or slipping into the slow-burning strains of Deep Down in Florida, the ensemble was on fire, and as a result, Waters not only regained his momentum but also built upon his remarkable legacy. Recently remastered, Hard Again sparkles with a renewed sense of warmth and clarity, and its lone bonus track (a remake of Walking through the Park) is as stunning as the rest of the material.
It’s pretty much what you would imagine it was like to have Muddy and friends come into your house, eat all your food, drink your beer then plug up and jam. You should know you are in trouble right off the bat when Muddy takes his classic hit “Mannish Boy” and turns it into something new, maybe better, but definitely mean. Take my word for it: No matter how bad you feel, no matter if your sweetie left you for another guy, your dog takes up with your arsehole of a neighbor or your boss tells you to hit the road — put this version of “Mannish Boy” in your car and drive. Cotton does some great work on “Bus Driver” and “Little Girl.” The blues standard “I Can’t Be Satisfied” is just what it should be: a kick butt, funky blooz swing. If you dig Muddy, make sure you get a hold of this one.
1. Mannish Boy
2. Bus Driver
3. I Want to Be Loved
4. Jealous Hearted Man
5. I Can't Be Satisfied
6. The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock And Roll, Pt. 2
7. Deep Down in Florida
8. Crosseyed Cat
9. Little Girl
10. Walking Through The Park (Bonus Track)