Hoochie Coochie Man: Complete Chess Masters, Vol. 2: 1952-1958 [BOX SET] [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Muddy Waters

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 26, 2006)
• Original Release Date: December 2004
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Box set, Original recording remastered
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Hip-O Select
• ASIN: B000AO9CUK
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #68,936 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Its hard to overestimate the impact of McKinley Morganfield on the Chicago post-war blues scene, and by extension on rocknroll itself. Having come from the heart of the Mississippi Delta (Rolling Fork), he spent the first 28 years of his life close to his birthplace, leaving for the Windy City in 1943. With this set of recordings, which covers the years 1952-1958, we continue the survey of the complete recorded works of Muddy Waters in chronological order. The first fifty tracks of his Aristocrat/Chess career appear on Muddy Waters, Rollin' Stone: The Golden Anniversary Collection (MCA/Chess 2301-2); the present set continues to follow his musical development, and showcases the second fifty sides, picking up where the previous collection ended and spanning an important seven year period in his career. Packaged in a bound booklet, replete with rare photographs and extensive liner notes, this set captures Muddy Waters at the height of his commercial success, and includes literally dozens of songs that influenced rock and blues performers right up to the present day.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a case where 5 stars doesn't feel like enough, October 31, 2007

By	Dave "missing person" (United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)

I do have one complaint with this release from Hip-O Select, and it deals with the packaging. Although it LOOKS incredibly handsome on the surface, they have the discs fitting into these tight cardboard slots that are tailor-made to get the discs scratched up, and that's just ridiculous. In this day and age, these guys should really know better.

Still, I say hunker down and grab a couple spare jewel cases to put the two discs of this set in. Because they are truly incredible discs. Muddy was playing with a rhythm section by the time where this set begins--he was in absolute peak form, and innovating in ways that may go underappreciated nowadays but shouldn't be dismissed.

Due to the strict chronological sequencing and thoroughness of the set, there are cases where the same song appears twice in a row, but it's hardly a problem, because songs like the riffy "She's All Right" and the stomping "Baby Please Don't Go" are so great that you won't mind hearing them twice in a row, and the little differences between the two versions are intriguing.

A case can be made that Muddy Waters paved the way for rock & roll more than any other performer. Beyond that though, his music is simply timeless, and resonates in a way those who followed in his footsteps (i.e. the Rolling Stones) have been woefully unable to duplicate. Yes, Muddy's vocals are obviously the REAL DEAL. But also a key 'secret weapon' was Little Walter's brilliant, utterly natural and earthy harmonica playing--just listen for his absolutely hair-raising solo on "I Just Want To Make Love To You" to cite one example.

This wonderful two disc set piles up one soulful classic after another, whether it's the irresistibly swaggering "I'm Ready", "Don't Go No Farther", and "Rock Me", the mind-blowingly swinging-yet-gutsy "Trouble No More", or mournful slow blues numbers like "Standing Around Crying" or "Sad, Sad Day", just to name half a dozen more in addition to the ones mentioned previously.

A couple songs, particularly "Hoochie Coochie Man", have absolutely been done to death, both by Muddy's own endless re-recordings, not to mention all the other artists' covers, but that's a minor gripe.
Ultimately, this set is a treasure. Just buy it, it's beyond essential.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars THIS is the best of Muddy Waters, April 11, 2009

By	Gordon Pfannenstiel (Russell, KS United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Muddy had a long and brilliangt career, and much of what he recorded for Chess between 1947 and 1952 is seminal. Much of what he recorded for Chess between 1958 and 1975 is very good, some of it (Sings Big Bill Broonzy, Live at Newport, Folk Singer, Fathers & Sons) bordering on essential.

But the real deal is captured in this release. These are the recordings that define Chicago Blues. Great bands, great production, great songs, great singing. What more could you ask for? Little Walter does some of his best playing on these sides, and Dixon provides some of his best songs. All in all, this is Muddy's truly classic period, and this release captures all of it.

Essential.

5.0 out of 5 stars The Great Muddy Waters!, May 8, 2009

By	D. A. Vail "Hangman Angman" (Salem, OR USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Wonderful collection, from top to bottom! Muddy's blues is deceptively complicated. The riffs are few notes, but the soul in them is deeper than the Mississippi. Almost anyone can play the notes, but the number of people who can genuinely get the groove is few and far between. This is the real deal!