[Harp-L] Muddy Waters "The Chess Box"

[David M Scudamore <aroundtoithandyman@xxxxxxxxx>]

Happy Birthday to me! My gift was one of the absolutely best ever! The Muddy Waters "Chess Box" set. It is a 3 CD set retailing around $45. First, it arrives in a box the same size as a 78 record box set. 3 CD's and a book.

 From the back of the box, "72 classic preformances by perhaps the greatest bluesman ever, Muddy Waters. Covering a quarter century on Chess Records, the recordings are sequenced as recorded and are digitally mastered from the original masters or original Chess 78 r.p.m. singles. Twenty-Four of the tracks are rare, including 10 previously unreleased. Included is a 32 page booklet featuring 2 sets of liner notes (one focusing on Muddy's life, the other on his music), song by song credits, a complete album by album Chess discography, historic photos and related memorabilia."

 Now for harp content! Chronological song by song, with credits is amazing! Muddy learned the harmonica at age 13, a few years before he took up the guitar. According to the notes, Little Walter first recorded on harmonica with Muddy on October 23, 1950 on "Louisiana Blues". Then in a session on January 25, 1951 Little Walter played harmonica on "Long Distance Call", then switched to guitar for "Honey Bee".

Some of the previously unreleased cuts are the alternate version from a session that did not make a record release. A lot of fun!

Dave