THE WOODSTOCK ALBUM

Personnel: Muddy Waters (vocals, guitar); Joe Willie "Pinetop" Perkins (vocals, piano); Fred Carter (guitar, bass); Bob Margolin (guitar); Garth Hudson (saxophone,accordion, organ); Howard Johnson (saxophone); Paul Butterfield (harmonica); Levon Helm (bass,drums); Recorded at Bearsville Turtle Creek Studio, Woodstock, New York, February 6 & 7, 1975. Includes liner notes by Chris Morris. Personnel: Muddy Waters (vocals, guitar); Pinetop Perkins (vocals, piano); Fred Carter, Sammy Lawhorn, Bob Margolin (guitar); Paul Butterfield (harmonica); Garth Hudson (accordion, saxophone, organ, keyboards); Howard Johnson (saxophone); Levon Helm (drums). Liner Note Author: Christopher Morris. Recording information: Bearsville Sound Studios, New York, NY. Part a follow-up to Muddy Waters' LONDON SESSIONS album (where he was fronting a band of British rock stars heavily influenced by him), part the result of Band drummer/singer Levon Helm and producer Henry Glover's desire to work with Waters, the 1975 WOODSTOCK ALBUM catches Waters in fine form. Waters sounds less fierce and menacing than on many of his albums, though no less forceful. In fact, Waters sounds relaxed (but NOT mellow!) and jovial, befitting the easygoing, R&B-styled program. The band, featuring the piano and vocals of Pinetop Perkins and the razor-sharp harmonica of Paul Butterfield, is tight, focused, and joyful. Waters' presence clearly inspires everyone to play at the top of their game. Everyone--Waters included--sounds as if the recording session was both a special occasion and a vacation from the dark-of-the-night-style of blues. As a bonus, there's a previously unreleased song, "Fox Squirrel." This is a welcome reissue of Waters' '70s work.