Albums That Deserve Another Listen

Muddy Waters - Fathers And Sons (1969)

Fathers and Sons is the seventh studio album by Muddy Waters, released as a double LP by Chess Records in August 1969.

The album contains both studio and live recordings recorded in April 1969 in Chicago, Illinois, with an all-star band, including Michael Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, Donald "Duck" Dunn of Booker T. & the MG's, Otis Spann, and Sam Lay.

The album was Waters' biggest mainstream success, reaching #70 on the Billboard 200, which was his only appearance in the top half of the chart. Waters would not make another appearance on the 200 until Hard Again in 1977.

According to Marshall Chess, Fathers and Sons came about when Mike Bloomfield said that he and Paul Butterfield wanted to do an album with Muddy Waters while in Chicago for a charity concert. Chess rounded up Donald "Duck" Dunn, Otis Spann, and Sam Lay for the studio sessions.

While some blues purists criticized Waters' psychedelic album Electric Mud, Fathers and Sons was received more favorably since it avoided psychedelia, instead showcasing his classic sound of the 1950s. 

The studio disc of the album was recorded on April 21–23, 1969, at Ter Mar Studios. These sides were engineered by Ron Malo and featured rhythm guitarist Paul Asbell, who did not play on the live songs.

The live songs were recorded on April 24, 1969, at the Super Cosmic Joy-Scout Jamboree. These sides were engineered by Reice Hamel. Drummer Buddy Miles played on the second part of 'Got My Mojo Working'.

Studio Recordings:

01. All Aboard

02. Mean Disposition

03. Blow Wind Blow

04. Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had

05. Walking Thru The Park

06. Forty Days And Forty Nights

07. Standin' Round Cryin'

08. I'm Ready

09. Twenty Four Hours

10. Sugar Sweet

11. Country Boy

12. I Love The Life I Live (I Live The Life I Love)

13. Oh Yeah

14. I Feel So Good

Live Recordings:

15. Long Distance Call

16. Baby, Please Don't Go

17. Honey Bee

18. The Same Thing

19. Got My Mojo Working, Part 1

20. Got My Mojo Working, Part 2

Personnel:

Muddy Waters - vocals, guitar

Otis Spann - piano

Michael Bloomfield - guitar

Paul Butterfield - harmonica

Donald Dunn - bass guitar

Sam Lay - drums

Paul Asbell - rhythm guitar

Buddy Miles - drums on 'Got My Mojo Working, Part 2'

Jeff Carp - chromatic harmonica on 'All Aboard'

Phil Upchurch - bass guitar on 'All Aboard'

Review:

The resurgence of Chicago-based blues in the mid- to late 1960s came with an entirely new breed of icons to bear the torch. Among them were the decidedly electric Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Joining Muddy Waters (guitar/vocals) and Otis Spann (piano) on the aptly titled Fathers and Sons are three Butterfield Blues Band alumni: Michael Bloomfield (guitar), Sam Lay (drums), and leader Paul Butterfield (guitar). Further augmenting the personnel is Booker T. and the MG's Donald "Duck" Dunn (bass) and Buddy Miles (drums) who cameos during the live "Got My Mojo Workin'" finale. This all-star cast helps reclaim some of Waters' fire, which had been summarily doused on his previous outing Electric Mud, a tasteless pseudo-psychedelic disaster. The poorly executed scheme had been designed to introduce Waters' music to a younger and mostly white audience. In essence, Fathers and Sons is able to accomplish with musical integrity what Electric Mud couldn't through gimmickry. Additionally, the incorporation of the younger generation blues men solidified Waters stature as one of the pre-eminent forces in Chicago Blues to a decidedly fresh and underdeveloped audience. The disc is split between studio sides cut on April 21-23 and a half-hour live set. This performance, during the Super Cosmic Joy-Scout Jamboree, was documented on the evening following the final day of studio recording. The event was held at Auditorium Theater in Chicago. Simplifying the process is Fathers and Sons set list, which consists of exclusively vintage Waters material. 

The 2001 remastered CD edition includes four additional studio sides issued here for the first time: "Country Boy," "I Love The Life I Live (I Live The Life I Love)," "Oh Yeah," and "I Feel So Good." Without question, the highlight of Fathers and Sons is the live performances which are incessantly fuelled by the explosive nature of the musicians on stage as well as the audience. "Long Distance Call" and the two-part "Got My Mojo Working" are the finest pieces on the album. They likewise rate among the most complimentary marriages of Chicago R&B with rock & roll. Of Muddy Waters' later recordings, it certainly got no better than the summit meeting heard on Fathers and Sons.

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