I'm Ready, the second of
Muddy Waters' recordings for Columbia's Blue Sky imprint, like its predecessor was produced by
Johnny Winter, who also guests on guitar here. While
Hard Again showcased a reinvigorated
Waters at the peak of his blues power as a singer and bandleader in the company of former employee
James Cotton, I'm Ready also reunited
Waters with former friends and collaborators. Along with
Johnny Winter, guitarist
Jimmy Rogers from
Waters '40s and '50s bands was recruited for the session, as was Chicago blues harp legend
Big Walter Horton. Filling out the date were
Waters' road guitarist
Bob Margolin (playing bass), drummer
Willie "Big Eyes" Smith, pianist
Pinetop Perkins, and
Jerry Portnoy also playing harp on a few tunes. The three-guitar front line on these sides is what immediately marks it. The interplay between
Rogers and
Waters made it sound like 20 years had never passed.
Rogers ability to come down always on the right note and create memorable riffs to accompany
Waters' razored percussive attack is astonishing here, as is
Winter's ability to play around the outside, on the fringes, and rein it all in with his burning fills.
Horton's playing here is utterly inspired and the listener can feel this band stretching to meet
Waters' energy. As they do, his own willingness to break the mold grows exponentially. The material comes from the heart of
Waters' catalog, as well as the Chicago blues canon in the form of tunes by
Willie Dixon and
Sonny Boy Williamson. The title track, which opens the set, is a case in point.
Rogers trademark riff at the beginning is played lower and meaner and
Waters comes roaring out of the box like an uncaged tiger. In addition, both
Horton and
Portnoy play harp on the tune and set the entire record reeling into the stratosphere from the jump. It's an auspicious beginning, and a high watermark, but it just gets better.
Margolin's bass playing is reminiscent of the old-style Chicago blues and works its magic in the pocket. As the anchor of the rhythm section, he probably surprised himself with his performance on these tunes. There isn't a weak moment on I'm Ready, but there are some clear standouts apart from the title track --
Waters' "33 Years," the houserocking blue-black blues of
Willie Dixon's "Hoochie Koochie Man," and the in-the-grease "Screamin' and Cryin," which offers a stellar vocal performance by
Waters. (
Bob Dylan's emulation of this singing style in his blues-oriented material is unmistakable.) In addition to this scorching set, in full remastered -- but not remixed, thankfully -- glory, are an addition 15-and-a-half-minutes of music in the form of three bonus tracks -- a stinging version of "No Escape From the Blues"; a slow, snakey "That's Allright"; and an earthshaking "Lonely Man Blues," to breathlessly close it all. Add to this
Margolin's wonderfully candid liner notes that offer not just factual but anecdotal information and an intimate portrait of the session and you have a reissue that's superior to the album it represents. ~ Thom Jurek