Of the three shows the legendary Muddy Waters played at San Francisco’s Fillmore West the weekend of November 4, 5 and 6th, 1966, this second show on Saturday evening certainly featured the best array of his hits. All three shows include Quicksilver Messenger Service and Andrew Staples on the bill, but it seems clear that it was the Big Muddy that audiences came to…entire summary
Muddy Waters - vocals, guitar
Francis Clay - drums
Calvin Jones - bass
Sammy Lawhorn - guitar
George Smith - harmonica
Luther "Georgia Boy" Johnson - guitar
Of the three shows the legendary Muddy Waters played at San Francisco’s Fillmore West the weekend of November 4, 5 and 6th, 1966, this second show on Saturday evening certainly featured the best array of his hits. All three shows include Quicksilver Messenger Service and Andrew Staples on the bill, but it seems clear that it was the Big Muddy that audiences came to hear.
Opening with "Chicken Shack" and moving straight into "Honky Tonk” these Fillmore shows document that legendary Chicago blues masters’ ability to appeal to audiences of all races, creeds and ages. "Forty Days & Forty Nights,” one of his earlier recordings, is played with exceptional energy, as is the classic "Hoochie Coochie Man” and "Rock Me, Baby,” both of which were covered around this time by guitar-whiz Jimi Hendrix.
By the time Muddy gets to "Baby Please Don’t Go” and "She Moves Me,” he is red hot and ready to take the performance into the home stretch. "Got My Mojo Workin’” and "Born In Chicago,” (which unfortunately is not complete) close the show. Combined, these tracks make up one of the best live shows ever captured for Muddy Waters.
Playing the Fillmore West was a new challenge for Waters, who had built his career playing juke joints and blues clubs in urban meccas like Chicago, New York and Detroit. Although Waters (born McKinley Morganfield) would continue recording and performing until his death in 1983, many consider the touring band featured on this show among his finest backing bands. The band included George Smith on harmonica and Luther "Georgia Boy" Johnson on guitar.
collapse
