Live at the Chicago Fest

Muddy Waters

Overview

"Legendary blues man Muddy Waters was 66 years old when he was booked to headline the Chicagofest Music Festival in 1981, but he showed that his mojo was working just fine that evening, and this DVD captures the iconic singer, guitarist and songwriter wowing an enthusiastic audience with some help from guitarist and studio collaborator Johnny Winter and a solid six-piece band. Muddy Waters: Live at Chicagofest has been transferred to disc in its original full-frame aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The source tapes don't show much wear, but the shaky camera work leaves a bit to be desired, the image is just a bit soft and shortly before ""She's Nineteen Years Old"" begins, the image shifts from color to black and white without explanation, with the color returning a few moments into ""You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling"". Still, historical importance trumps these minor image flaws, and at very least the cameras caught the enthusiastic interplay between Waters and the other musicians. The audio is mastered in two formats, Dolby Digital Stereo and Dolby 5.1 Surround, and in both versions one can't help but wish Muddy and his guitar were higher in the mix during the first half of the show, though it sounds good for a location video shoot of the period. The songs are performed in English, with no subtitles or multiple language options. No bonus materials are included on this release beyond a liner essay by Bill Dahl, but this preserves a strong late-career performance from Waters, and blues fans will certainly find it worth their time."

Product Details

Release Date:	04/21/2009
UPC:	0826663113044
Original Release:	1998
Source:	Shout Factory
Sound:	[Dolby Digital Stereo, Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround]
Language:	English
Time:	0:56:00
Sales rank:	31,669

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Muddy Waters

Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Editorial Reviews

Here you'll find Chicago blues titan Muddy Waters on his home turf near the end of his life. This 1981 performance (Waters died in '83) features the final version of Muddy's band, including pianist Lovie Lee and harmonica man George "Mojo" Buford, but there's also a guest appearance from blues-rock guitar hero Johnny Winters, who had produced a trio of late-'70s albums that gave Waters a comeback of sorts. The set list includes plenty of Muddy's classics, like the carnal stomp "Mannish Boy" and the frenzied "Got My Mojo Working."