Muddy Waters - The Best Of Muddy Waters (1958/2019)

"The Best of Muddy Waters" was the first LP by the blues giant, compiled from his greatest singles released during the late 1940s and early 1950s. While Muddy is associated with Chicago-style blues and all of these tracks were recorded in Chicago, one thing that is interesting about the album is that his Delta roots are still very apparent. True, his guitar is amplified and he plays with a backing band, but the music maintains a very rural feel to it. This provides great contrast not only with his contemporaries but also with the later Muddy Waters. Only a handful of tracks sound more urban, with greater intensity in both the vocals and the instrumental accompaniment. The first half of the album, or side if buying on vinyl, is stronger than the second, with masterpieces such as "Long Distance Call," "Louisiana Blues," and "Honey Bee." Still, however, the second half of the album includes several gems as well, the best of which are "Hoochie Coochie Man," "Still a Fool," and "I Can't Be Satisfied."