Happy Birthday Muddy Waters! Part 2

Understanding Muddy can be difficult at times.
Like most of the great blues artists, he often
felt he didn't get his due, financially or
professionally. There are 2 books that
have some first-hand interviews with the
great man, among others. "Deep Blues"
by Robert Palmer, and "Feel Like Going
Home" by Peter Guralnick, which was

written some time ago. Guralnick had
gone on a road trip, interviewing Howlin'
Wolf and Jerry Lee Lewis as well. The
portrait that emerges is of a man
that is cautious of the current music
business and at the same token
restless, feeling unfulfilled. The same
could be said of Wolf and Lewis.
They are like wild animals, that were
caught and caged, unsure of what to make
of enforced domesticity. The parts
with Jerry Lee were striking. He

was still married to the infamously

young Myra Gale, and she had

obviously placed restrictions on his

drinking.

Back to Muddy- I think it was Peter Guralnick
that had the opinion that Muddy's music
remained simpler as compared to Robert
Johnson, because unlike Waters, Johnson
had traveled more widely and was for the
most part a one-man band, often playing more
than just the blues. Show tunes, hillbilly music,
anything that would get the money
flowing. Muddy followed a simpler
trail, when he got to Chicago, when he wasn't
working as a delivery man, he was played
parties and bars. Waters also had built a
connection with alot of the artists that
were already there, like Sunnyland Slim
who would be pivotal in getting the Chess
Brothers to hear him.

The Chess Box set is a great collection
if you're not familiar with Muddy.