Folk Singer＜限定盤＞

60年代初頭のフォーク・リバイバル最盛期に録音された『フォーク・シンガー』は、そのタイトルにもかかわらず、最も純粋な形のブルースである。初期作品のような完全アコースティック編成に戻ったウォーターズは、バディ・ガイ(ギター)、ウィリー・ディクソン(ベース)を迎え、クリフトン・ジェームズが「グッド・モーニング・リトル・スクールガール」「フィール・ライク・ゴーイング・ホーム」など一部曲で控えめなドラムを添えている。本作は希少価値の高いモノラル・ミックスで収録され、かつてない高音質を実現している。

Muddy's "unplugged" album was cut in September of 1963 and still sounds fresh and vital today. It was Muddy simply returning to his original style on a plain acoustic guitar in a well-tuned room with Willie Dixon on string bass, Clifton James on drums, and Buddy Guy on second acoustic guitar. The nine tracks are divvied up between full rhythm section treatments with Buddy and Muddy as a duo and the final track, "Feel Like Going Home," which Waters approaches solo. What makes this version of the album a worthwhile buy is the inclusion of five bonus tracks from his next two sessions: An April 1964 session brings us Willie Dixon's "The Same Thing" and Muddy's "You Can't Lose What You Never Had," while the October 1964 session features J.T. Brown on sax and clarinet on "Short Dress Woman" and "My John the Conqueror Root," as well as "Put Me in Your Lay Away," another strong side. Folk Singer offers both sides of Muddy from the early '60s. ~ Cub Koda