One More Mile / Chess Collectibles, Vol. 1
With this surprise two-CD package of rarities and outtakes, the formidable Waters legacy is significantly enhanced yet again. No random collection, the first 30 tracks of this essential set chart Muddy's steady professional and artistic growth at Chess Records. Beginning with early tracks featuring just Waters and bassist Big Crawford, the great bluesman is followed through changing personnel and sounds as his groundbreaking vision is refined. Among the previously unreleased gems on "One More Mile" are 11 tracks from a 1972 Radio Lausanne broadcast featuring Muddy with Louis Myers on acoustic second guitar andMojo Bufordon harp. Covering classics like "Feel Like Goin' Home," "Baby Please Don't Go," "Rock Me," and "Hoochie Coochie Man," Muddy's virtuosic display at this late stage in life provides the rarest of musical pleasures.--Alan Greenberg