Muddy Waters with The Rolling Stones: Live At The Checkerboard Lounge - 1981

This is a live album from 1981. Muddy Waters is leading his band as they played at fellow blueser Buddy Guy's Checkerboard Club in Chicago. He is joined on stage intermittently by Guy himself and also, notably, in their first-ever appearance with their original muse - by members of The Rolling Stones. Present are Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Wood and their old early days keyboard mate Ian Stewart. 

It is essentially a Waters live album, but The Stones members' presence - particularly the guitarists - add something extra special to proceedings. I imagine Keith will have loved every minute of this. There are only ten tracks on the original version, but several are lengthy workouts and the sound is A1 superb, as is the musicianship and all-round cookin' live atmosphere. Highlights are Next Time You See Me, Got My Mojo Working, Long Distance Call, Baby Please Don't Go and a stonking Champagne And Reefer. Waters is one fine form throughout - strong and dominant, both vocally and musically.

This is a little gem of an album, one that has remained under the radar, save with the cognoscenti.

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