When stars start to dim, producers tend to flail about, and strange music can result. By 1975, as Muddy’s sales figures were in decline, he became the first customer for Levon Helms’ Woodstock studio. Backed up by members of his own band, together with Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Paul Butterfield, and some accomplished studio musicians, the results aren’t half-bad and except for Garth Hudson’s accordion, not at all strange. Not a classic Muddy Waters recording, but a relaxed and cheerful outing all the same, and a crackerjack party record.
Discovered The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album last night at Freakbeat Records. Released on Chess in 1975, Levon Helm invited Muddy Waters to Woodstock to record in his brand new barn-turned-studio. The resulting record features Waters’ band plus Garth Hudson (keyboards and horns), Levon Helm (drums) and Paul Butterfield (harmonica), it went on to win the Grammy Award for “Best Ethnic or Traditional Recording.”
– Pat Thomas is the author of the recently released work, Listen, Whitey! The Sights and Sounds of Black Power 1965-1975. The companion disc for the book has been named one of the ten best CDs of 2012 by Time magazine.
