(VG+ Box)
LP size cardboard box with 32-page booklet (11" x 11").
℗ 1989 MCA Records, Inc. © 1989 MCA Records, Inc. Manufactured by MCA Records, Inc.
All tracks recorded in Chicago except where noted:
A1: Recorded 1947, originally Aristocrat single 1302
A2: Recorded April 1948, previously unreleased
A3: Recorded April 1948, originally released on Chess LP 9180, "Rare And Unissued"
A4: Recorded April 1948, originally Aristocrat single 1305
A5: Recorded April 1948, originally Aristocrat single 1305
A6: Recorded November 1948, originally Aristocrat single 1306
B1: Recorded November 30, 1948, originally Aristocrat single 1307, previously unreleased on U.S. album
B2: Recorded November 30, 1948, originally Aristocrat single 1310
B3: Recorded July 1949, originally Aristocrat single 1311
B4: Recorded February 1950, originally Aristocrat single 412
B5: Recorded February 1950, originally Chess single 1426
B6: Recorded February 1950, originally Chess single 1426
C1: Recorded October 23, 1950, originally Chess single 1441
C2: Recorded October 23, 1950, originally Chess single 1441
C3: Recorded January 23, 1951, originally Chess single 1452
C4: Recorded January 23, 1951, originally Chess single 1468
C5: Recorded July 11, 1951, originally Chess single 1490
C6: Recorded July 11, 1951, originally Chess single 1480
D1: Recorded December 29, 1951, originally released on Chess LP 9180, "Rare And Unissued"
D2: Recorded September 17, 1952, originally Chess single 1526
D3: Recorded December, 1952, previously unreleased in U.S.
D4: Recorded May 4, 1953, originally Chess single 1542
D5: Recorded September 24, 1953, originally Chess single 1550, previously unreleased on U.S. album
D6: Recorded January 7, 1954, originally Chess single 1560
E1: Recorded April 13, 1954, originally Chess single 1571
E2: Recorded September 1, 1954, originally Chess single 1579
E3: Recorded September 1, 1954, originally released on Chess LP 9180, "Rare And Unissued"
E4: Recorded February 3, 1955, originally Chess single 1602
E5: Recorded 1955, originally Chess single 1602
E6: Recorded 1955, originally Chess single 1612
F1: Recorded 1956, originally Chess single 1620
F2: Recorded 1956, originally Chess single 1644
F3: Recorded 1956, originally Chess single 1630
F4: Recorded 1956, previously unreleased on U.S. album
F5: Recorded December 1, 1956, originally Chess single 1680
F6: Recorded December 1, 1956, originally Chess single 1652
G1: Recorded December 1, 1956, originally Chess single 1758, previously unreleased on U.S. album
G2: Recorded December 1, 1956, originally Chess single 1652
G3: Recorded May/June 1957, originally Chess single 1667, previously unreleased on U.S. album
G4: Recorded May/June 1957, originally Chess single 1680, previously unreleased on U.S. album
G5: Recorded November 1958, originally Chess single 1704
G6: Recorded November 1958, originally Chess single 1704
G7: Recorded Fall 1958, originally Chess single 1718
H1: Recorded early 1959, previously unreleased in U.S.
H2: Recorded July 1959, originally released on Chess LP 1444 "Muddy Waters Sings Big Bill Broonzy"
H3: Recorded July 1959, previously unreleased
H4: Recorded July 1959, originally Chess single 1733
H5: Recorded July 1959, originally released on Chess LP 1444 "Muddy Waters Sings Big Bill Broonzy"
H6: Recorded August, 1959, originally released on Chess LP 1444 "Muddy Waters Sings Big Bill Broonzy"
I1: Recorded live at Newport Jazz Festival, Newport, R.I., July 3, 1960, originally released on Chess LP 1449 "Muddy Waters At Newport"
I2: Recorded June 1962, originally Chess single 1827
I3: Recorded October 12, 1962, originally Chess single 1839
I4: Recorded May 2, 1963, originally Chess single 1862, previously unreleased on U.S. album
I5: Recorded June 6, 1963, previously unreleased
I6: Recorded June 6, 1963, previously unreleased in U.S.
J1: Recorded June 6, 1963, previously unreleased in U.S.
J2: Recorded June 6, 1963, previously unreleased
J3: Recorded June 6, 1963, previously unreleased in U.S.
J4: Recorded September 1963, originally released on Chess LP 1483 "Folk Singer"
J5: Recorded September 1963, originally released on Chess LP 1483 "Folk Singer"
J6: Recorded April, 1964, originally Chess single 1895
K1: Recorded April, 1964, originally Chess single 1895
K2: Recorded October, 1964, originally Chess single 1914, previously unreleased on U.S. album
K3: Recorded June 22, 1966, originally Chess single 2107
K4: Recorded June 22, 1966, original session produced for Chess LP 1507 "Muddy, Brass & The Blues", previously unreleased; remixed without horns at Penguin Recording, Eagle Rock, California, June, 1989
K5: Recorded 1967, originally Chess 2018
K6: Recorded live at Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland, 1968, previously unreleased
L1: Recorded April 22, 1969, previously unreleased
L2: Recorded April 22, 1969, previously unreleased
L3: Recorded live, Mister Kelly's, June 1971, previously unreleased
L4: Recorded in London, December 7, 1971, previously unreleased
L5: Recorded March 1972, originally released on Chess album 50023, "Can't Get No Grindin'"
Keyboard credits track L4: Georgie Fortune (Georgie Fame).
All recording dates and personnel culled from the Chess files; "The Chess Labels—A Discography," Vols. One and Two by Michel Ruppli (Greenwood Press); "Blues Records," Volume Two (pre-release copy) by Mike Leadbitter & Neil Slaven; "Muddy Waters Discography" by Tommy Holmstrom & Tommy Lofgren (Jefferson Magazine, Sweden ). Album release dates from the Chess files.
Digitally transferred from original mono and stereo Chess masters except for those marked with an asterisk (B5, D5, F3, G2, G4) which are digitally transferred from original Chess 78 r.p.m. recordings. Digitally assembled from original Chess masters and disc transfers by Doug Schwartz, MCA Studios, No. Hollywood. Digital transfers from 78 r.p.m.s by Steven Lasker with Paul Elmore, MCA Studios, No. Hollywood, except for "Blow Wind Blow" and "Good News" courtesy of Warner Pioneer Japan.
Photo Credits: (1, 4, 5, 8, 15, 29) Chess files, (2, 16) Mary Katherine Aldin, (3) Jacques Demetre/Courtesy Blues and Rhythm Archives, (6, 38, 39) Courtesy of The Cameron Organisation, Inc., (7) Courtesy of Frank Driggs, (9, 11) Paul Natkin/Photo Reserve, (10, 21) The Estate of McKinley Morganfield, (12) David Gahr, (13) Courtesy of Brian Smith, (14, 22, 28) Showtime (Toronto) Archive/Escott, (17, 18, 19, 20) George Adins, Courtesy of The Estate of McKinley Morganfield, (23) James Bland, (24 ) Courtesy of Mary Katherine Aldin, (25, 26, 27) Courtesy of Jim O'Neal, (30, 31, 32) Brian Smith, (33, 34 ) Tom Copl, (35) Ray Flerlage, (36) CBC/TV photo, courtesy of Manny Greenhill, (37) Valerie Wilmer
Special Thanks To Phil Chess, Scott Cameron and Nancy Meyer
Thanks to those members of the worldwide blues community who freely and generously assisted the producers of this compilation, and especially to: Bruce Bastin; Keith Briggs; Tony Burke (Blues And Rhythm: The Gospel Truth); Robert Cray; Dr. Demento; Willie and Marie Dixon; Bill Ferris (U. of Mississippi's Center For The Study Of Southern Culture); Manny and Mitch Greenhill; Paul Harris; Richard James Hite; John Lee Hooker; Aki Inagaki; Mike Kappus; Dan Kochakian; Steven Lasker; Peter Lee (Living Blues Magazine); Denis Lewis; Luke "Long Gone" Miles; Jim O'Neal; Bonnie Raitt; John G. Rockwood; Jim Rooney; Frank Scott; Dick Shurman; Neil Slaven; Suzanne Steel (The Blues Archive, U. of Mississippi); Dick Waterman.
