"I do have one complaint with this release from Hip-O Select, and it deals with the packaging. Although it LOOKS incredibly handsome on the surface, they have the discs fitting into these tight cardboard slots that are tailor-made to get the discs scratched up, and that's just ridiculous. In this day and age, these guys should really know better.
Still, I say hunker down and grab a couple spare jewel cases to put the two discs of this set in. Because they are truly incredible discs. Muddy was playing with a rhythm section by the time where this set begins--he was in absolute peak form, and innovating in ways that may go underappreciated nowadays but shouldn't be dismissed.
Due to the strict chronological sequencing and thoroughness of the set, there are cases where the same song appears twice in a row, but it's hardly a problem, because songs like the riffy "She's All Right" and the stomping "Baby Please Don't Go" are so great that you won't mind hearing them twice in a row, and the little differences between the two versions are intriguing.
A case can be made that Muddy Waters paved the way for rock & roll more than any other performer. Beyond that though, his music is simply timeless, and resonates in a way those who followed in his footsteps (i.e. the Rolling Stones) have been woefully unable to duplicate. Yes, Muddy's vocals are obviously the REAL DEAL. But also a key 'secret weapon' was Little Walter's brilliant, utterly natural and earthy harmonica playing--just listen for his absolutely hair-raising solo on "I Just Want To Make Love To You" to cite one example.
This wonderful two disc set piles up one soulful classic after another, whether it's the irresistibly swaggering "I'm Ready", "Don't Go No Farther", and "Rock Me", the mind-blowingly swinging-yet-gutsy "Trouble No More", or mournful slow blues numbers like "Standing Around Crying" or "Sad, Sad Day", just to name half a dozen more in addition to the ones mentioned previously.
A couple songs, particularly "Hoochie Coochie Man", have absolutely been done to death, both by Muddy's own endless re-recordings, not to mention all the other artists' covers, but that's a minor gripe.
Ultimately, this set is a treasure. Just buy it, it's beyond essential."
Very Sloppy Reissue Series
Wayside | Missouri | 05/03/2010
(2 out of 5 stars)
"The two star review is not a reflection on the music which I would say ranks about four.
It is a judgment on what has to be one of the sloppiest reissue campaigns ever for such an influential artist.
The problems with this set are as follows:
1: The clumsy packaging is in no way conducive to longevity.
2: Volume One was issued through a different record label way back in 1999 under a misleading title with no fanfare. Said volume,Rollin' Stone: The Golden Anniversary Collection, has been out of print for about ten years and now sells for over a hundred dollars if you can even find it.
3: When doing a complete reissue campaign why would you do it in two disc sets? Muddy cut a lot of sides. At this rate I won't be around by the time they finish. These should be issued as 4 disc sets in one year increments.
4: This series seems to be defunct. As of this writing Volume 2 is the last volume and that was released in 2004. Hopefully they will restart this series and follow the pattern of the much better (but still flawed) Chuck Berry reissue campaign.
The benchmark for music reissues is the Bear Family label. Their releases have none of the problems that this one does. They come in LP size boxes with lavish and scholarly books and the CD are always in hard shell cases. They also have the foresight to not issue them in limited edition runs. There is no reason that the Muddy Waters series could not be just as good.
Track Listings (25) - Disc #1