Muddy Waters - Live At Rockpalast (2CD+2DVD)

Seldom had Muddy Waters such a hot sound as in this recording of WDR Rockpalast on 10th Dec 1978 in Dortmund, Germany.

Muddy Waters had a great ear for talent and accordingly the formation which you will hear on this DVD was one of the very best: The pianist Pinetop , the drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith , the bass player Calvin Jones , the two guitarists Luther "Guitar Jr." Johnson and Bob Margolin and the harmonica player Jerry Portnoy. At the Rockpalast recording on December 10, 1978 at Westfalenhalle Dortmund Muddy Waters still was at the height of his creative power, his mighty vocals and his splendid charisma on stage fascinated the audience. Muddy's guitar playing on the Fender Telecaster especially comes into full effect with his typical slow blues solos - and seldom had Muddy such a hot sound as in this tv recording of the WDR. The song selection of the evening consisted of several of his biggest hits which probably are standard discipline of each evening ("Hoochie Coochie Man", "Walkin' Thru The Park", a superb version of the macho hymn "Mannish Boy" and, of course, the immortal "Got My Mojo Workin'"), but also less performed titles like "Soon Forgotten" by St. Louis Jimmy Oden or "Country Boy", both atmospheric slow blues with slide. When the Muddy Waters Tribute Band appeared at the Rockpalast Open-Air at the Loreley on June 23, 1996 (bonus content DVD2), the pianist Pinetop Perkins could unfortunately not travel due to medical reasons and Jerry Portnoy was replaced by blues harper Carey Bell who had already played in Muddy's band in early 1970. All band members switch with the vocals and in "Gone To Main Street" The Band's Levon Helm is to be heard as a guest singer. Naturally, the repertoire consists mainly of Muddy Waters classics but also songs of Jimmy Reed, two titles that have become known through Albert King and one original composition of the drummer Willie Smith were on the set list.

Track Listing

Disc 1:

Intro
I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man
Soon Forgotten
Baby Please Don't Go
They Call Me Muddy Waters
Walkin' Thru The Park
Country Boy (All Night Long)
Kansas City
Caledonia
Everything Gonna Be Alright
Mannish Boy
Got My Mojo Working
Sweet Home Chicago
Disc 2:

Clouds In My Heart
Walkin' Thru The Park
You Can't Loose What You Ain't Had
You Don't Have To Go
Honey Bee
Everything Gonna Be Alright
Laundromat Blues
I'm Ready
If the Washing Don't Get You, The Rinsing Will
Hard Hard Way
I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man
Gone To Main Street
Got My Mojo Working
Mannish Boy
Disc 3:

Intro
I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man
Soon Forgotten
Baby Please Don't Go
They Call Me Muddy Waters
Walkin' Thru The Park
Country Boy (All Night Long)
Kansas City
Caledonia
Everything Gonna Be Alright
Mannish Boy
Got My Mojo Working
Sweet Home Chicago
Disc 4:

Clouds In My Heart
Walkin' Thru The Park
You Can't Loose What You Ain't Had
You Don't Have To Go
Honey Bee
Everything Gonna Be Alright
Laundromat Blues
I'm Ready
If the Washing Don't Get You, The Rinsing Will
Hard Hard Way
I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man
Gone To Main Street
Got My Mojo Working
Mannish Boy