Customer Reviews

Breakin' It Up, Breakin' It Down

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Muddy Waters' work on Chess Records from the late 1940s to the early 1970s is truly amazing. He was the most powerful blues artist and one of the best songwriters. Many fans think he was in decline in the mid-1970s when "Breakin' It Up, Breakin' It Down" was recorded. This concert document should dispel those thoughts. It might have taken Muddy longer to build up a head of steam, but when he got rollin', he was as "mannish" as ever. With old pal James Cotton blowing away on harp and Johnny Winter (who ignited Muddy's revival by producing his later records on Blue Sky Records) as his co-stars on the 1977 tour, Muddy was pushed to the heights he regularly reached in his 1950s and 1960s heyday ("Pinetop" Perkins on piano, and Bob Margolin on guitar also shine). The live version of "Can't be Satisfied" - the second cut on the disc - is as strong as any live recording in his career. I saw this band at Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. and the three stars were on fire and having a whale of a time. When I bought "Breakin' It Up, Breakin' It Down," I thought, "there is no way this recording will be as good as I remember the show." But not to worry, it's all here and hearing it again made me smile at the memories of Muddy, James, and Johnny pouring out electric blues. A rousing "Got My Mojo Working" (the encore) finishes things up nicely. Someone once said, "In Muddy Waters' hands 'the blues' is a misnomer."

They were only together for one album and tour, but the Hard Again band was the most kickass assemblage of blues talent there has ever been. They simply never played anything, either live or in studio, that was not of extraordinarily high quality. This disc absolutely smokes, and it's a welcome treat that Cotton and Winter each get a couple turns on lead vocals. It's very encouraging that there's still this much great stuff left over after after the two disc edition of Muddy "Mississippi" Waters, because that means there's likely more on the way.

This cd is a new release of a concert tour in 1977 with Muddy Waters, Johnny Winter and James Cotton. I vacillated for days before I bought this. I have deducted, that listening to the thirty second sound bites, are worthless, especially when making a decision on electric blues. In 30 seconds, the guy might not even be done tuning his guitar! I'm going to attempt, to help you, not to have to go through, the anguish, that I went through, before I made the decision to buy this cd. First of all, you can tell how much these three guys like each other. Since this is a live performance, you hear them kidding each other throughout each song. One guy sings: "Your mother ought to know..." And one of the guys not singing lead, is yelling: "Yea tell em!" or you hear enthusiastic screams like: "Ow!" "Yea" "Do it James!" "Do it Johnny", etc. I personally think James Cotton, and his mind blowing "harp" (For you non-experienced blues neophytes, that's his harmonica! Please make a note of that!) steals the whole show. That magic harp of his, is either screeching, scratching, waling, and always cooking. If I were to try to draw a verbal picture for you, of the type of blues these fella's are playing, I'd say, think about an old black and white detective movie, and you're inside a bar, smoke is slowly circling its way to the ceiling, and in the background you hear the blues. That's the kind of blues on this cd. James Cotton, when he's not blowing the "harp", showcases a voice, that sounds like its seen, a lot of cigarettes, a lot of whiskey, a lot of women, and left it with the blues. This entire cd, is old-time "roadhouse", feeling good, blues. There are 11 songs, totaling just under sixty minutes. This is a classic taste, of old-time jamming, ELECTRIC BLUES, with the "harp", being the pulse, that never misses a blue beat! Buy this!

This CD is excellent. Sometimes when additional material is released it is dissapointing and it is apparent why the artist did not release it in the first place. NOT the case here!!! Every and I mean every tune is excellent. If you are a Johnny Winter fan you will love this CD. Johnny is much more prominent on this CD then in the other live Waters/Winter releases. This CD is produced by Bob Margolin (he also plays on the CD), Muddy's guitar player and a fine job he does here. He also authors the liner notes paying tribute to the three legends. Nice, another guitarist producing and recognizing Johnny late in his current career as Johnny did for Muddy.

If you want original Chicago Blues that smokes, buy this CD you will not be sorry.

What a concert CD! "Breakin' it Up, Breakin' it Down" features the vocals of three pretty good bluesmen--Muddy Waters, James Cotton, and Johnny Winter. Waters and Winter also play guitar, and James Cotton is referred to as "Superharp" in the notes accompanying the CD. Also in the group: Bob Margolin (guitar and vocals), Pinetop Perkins (vocals and piano), Willie "Big Eyes" Smith (drum), and Charles Calmese (Bass). They play awfully well together. . . .

Bob Margolin wrote to notes. At one point he says of this CD: "[The CD] showcases each of these [three] blues legends leading the band, but more important historically, and much more fun, we find them jamming together, pushing, teasing, and inspiring one another."

Let's take a look at a few examples of the cuts on this live CD. . . .

"Black Cat Bone/Dust My Broom." The authorship of this song is split among Winter, Elmore James, and Robert Johnson. This is a rocking version of this song! There is fine guitar work, good keyboards, and terrific harmonica. It is taken at a rollicking pace. The three central vocalists take turns in vocals--to good effect.

"Can't Be Satisfied." One of Muddy Waters' hits, covered by many others, including the Rolling Stones. There is cool guitar work at the outset, and Waters' singing does justice to this song. There is a sense of improvisation and spontaneity, as the three central players interact with one another. Lots of fun.

"Rocket 88" is one of Cotton's songs, about his car. It starts up with some great harmonica work. This work is taken at the quick pace and there is a sense of joy to Cotton's vocalizations.

Another Waters' classic closes out this concert CD--"Got My Mojo Workin.'" The three principal artists share in the vocals, but this is Muddy Waters' song. Love the lyrics!

"Got my mojo workin',
Just don't work on you.
So bad I just don't
Know what to do."

A real lively version, with the crowd getting involved. Harp, drums, guitars work well together. There is some nice jamming among the musicians in the middle. What a way to close out this CD.

So, my judgment? If you like the blues, this would be a fine addition to your library. I rate this highly.

Why was this stuff hidden away for so long--I love this CD--a great addition to my collection

This was a match made in "blues heaven". Some have lamented that Johnny Winter and James Cotton sings part of these tunes...somehow they just don't understand that all of these men are true legends of the blues.

I saw Muddy Waters as the headliner in 1970. Ten Years After stole HIS show! He was going through the motions, but he pretty much "phoned in" his set. He looked and sound whipped. I saw this group at the Palladium in Los Angeles, CA. on 03/04/1977 (I still have the stub). Johnny Winter was producing and resurrected Muddy. Ever since Johnny had struck gold with The AND Band, he was a huge personality in the Rock and Roll genre and with the blues crowd. Muddy was a new man compared to what I saw in 1970. To this day, the show I witnessed in LA, was one of my all time favorite blues shows (and I seen dozens).

Toss out the 2 star guy, he obviously doesn't understand the importance of this offering. If you LOVE THE BLUES, or you enjoy any of these featured artists, buy this one, you'll have no buyer's remorse.

FOLLOW UP RELEASE (THIRTY YEARS LATER) OF THE MUDDY WATERS, JOHNNY WINTER, JAMES COTTON TOUR, CIRCA 1977, ALL LIVE CUTS IN THEIR RAW, HARD-EDGED, BLISSFUL FORM. THIS IS GREAT STUFF. IF YOU ARE A FAN OF ANY ONE OF THESE THREE ARTISTS, OR ALL THREE OF THEM ,THEN YOU HAVE GOT TO CHECK OUT THIS CD. IT IS GREAT. THEY JUST DON'T MAKE MUSIC LIKE THIS ANYMORE......................

The performances on this CD are very high energy, rockin' performances. "Mama Talk to Your Daughter" is one of my favorite blues songs, and they do a great job with it here. The band is fantastic! Just another example of how great Muddy Waters really was!

I'm not one of those Blues fans that can tell you who played drums on which LP. If they weren't printed right above, I couldn't even name the guys on the cover of this one.

I *do* know, however, that I am loving the Blues. This is a very satisfying start to my collection.