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Hard Again

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Untitled

Hard Again is a 1977 Chicago-style electric blues album by Muddy Waters. It was recorded by its producer, Johnny Winter, in a rough, bare-bones style. After several lackluster records, this was Waters's comeback album.

Released on January 10, 1977 (see 1977 in music), Hard Again was Muddy's first album released by the Blue Sky record label after he left Chess.[1]

Background

In August 1975, Chess Records was sold to All Platinum Records and became a reissue label only. It was sometime after this when Muddy Waters left the label and did not record any new studio material, until he signed with Johnny Winter's Blue Sky record label, when he went into the studio in October 1976.

Recording

The sessions for Hard Again were recorded across the space of three days. Producing the session was Johnny Winter and engineering the sessions was Dave Still – who previously engineered Johnny's brother Edgar, Foghat, and Alan Merrill. For the recordings Muddy used his then current touring band of guitarist Bob Margolin, pianist Pinetop Perkins, and drummer Willie "Big Eyes" Smith. Other backing members during the sessions were harmonicist James Cotton, who performed with Muddy at the Newport Jazz Festival in 1960, and bassist Charles Calmeses, who performed with both Johnny Winter and James Cotton in the past.[2]

Songs

Three of the songs on the album – "Mannish Boy", "I Want to Be Loved", and "I Can't Be Satisfied" – were re-recordings of songs that were previously recorded for Chess Records. One of the songs recorded, "The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll, Pt. 2", was co-written by Brownie McGhee and another song, "Bus Driver", was co-written by T. Abrahamson.

An outtake from the recording sessions, "Walking Through the Park", appeared on the 2004 Legacy Recordings reissue CD, while several more unused tracks appeared on King Bee in 1981.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[3]
Robert Christgau(A-)[4]
Rolling Stone(favorable)[5]

The album has been well received by several critics. The critics often state how Muddy feels happy about the songs he is performing and who he is performing with. Dan Oppenheimer of Rolling Stone magazine said that "Mannish Boy" sounded like it was recorded live,[5] while both Oppenheimer and Daniel Gioffre of Allmusic state how powerful Willie "Big Eyes" Smith's drumming is.[5][3] Oppenheimer, Gioffre, and Robert Christgau all share the opinion that Hard Again is Muddy Waters comeback album.[3][4][5]

Charts and awards

Hard Again peaked at #143 on the Billboard 200, which was his first appearance on the chart since Fathers and Sons in 1969.[6] The album won the Grammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recording the year of its release.[7]

Track listing

All songs written by McKinley Morganfield, except where indicated.

Original album

  1. "Mannish Boy" (Morganfield, Ellas McDaniel, Mel London) – 5:23
  2. "Bus Driver" (Morganfield, Terry Abrahamson) – 7:44
  3. "I Want to Be Loved" (Willie Dixon) – 2:20
  4. "Jealous Hearted Man" – 4:23
  5. "I Can't Be Satisfied" – 3:28
  6. "The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock And Roll, Pt. 2" (Morganfield, Brownie McGhee) – 3:35
  7. "Deep Down in Florida" – 5:25
  8. "Crosseyed Cat" – 5:59
  9. "Little Girl" – 7:06

2004 bonus track

  1. "Walking Through the Park" – 3:55

Personnel

The following people contributed to Hard Again:[2]

Release history

Region Date Label Format Catalog
United States January 10, 1977 Blue Sky Records LP PZ 34449
United Kingdom 1977 Blue Sky Records LP SKY 32357
Europe 1977 Blue Sky Records LP SKY 81853
Australia 1977 CBS Records LP SBP 234953
United States 1987 Blue Sky Records CD ZK 34449
Cassette PZT 34449
United States 2004 Epic/Legacy Recordings CD EK 86817
Europe 2004 Epic/Legacy Recordings CD EPC 515161 2

References

  1. ^ a b Williams, Jean (January 22, 1977). "Soul Sauce". Billboard: 62G. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
  2. ^ a b c d Hard Again (Expand Reissue) (Media notes). United States: Epic Records/Legacy Recordings. 1977, 2004. {{cite AV media notes}}: |format= requires |url= (help); Check date values in: |year= (help); Unknown parameter |artist= ignored (|others= suggested) (help); Unknown parameter |publisherid= ignored (help)CS1 maint: year (link)
  3. ^ a b c Gioffre, Daniel. Review: Hard Again by Muddy Waters at AllMusic. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
  4. ^ a b Christgau, Robert. "Consumer Guide Reviews: Muddy Waters" (PHP). Robert Christgau. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d Oppenheimer, Dan (March 24, 1977). "Album Review: Hard Again by Muddy Waters". Rolling Stone. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
  6. ^ "Charts & Awards: Muddy Waters – Billboard Albums". Allmusic. United States: Rovi Corporation. Retrieved February 6, 2011.
  7. ^ Grammy Award Winners Search Engine. Type in "Muddy Waters" under Artist to see results.
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