Both sessions, like the one that produced Hubert Sumlin's About Them Shoes, were star-studded affairs. Waters had the likes of Michael Bloomfield, Paul Butterfield and blues pianist extraordinaire Otis Spann at his disposal, while the Wolf secured the services of Eric Clapton, Sumlin and Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts.

Despite all the star power, Waters and the Wolf make it clear they're the album's real attraction through their always-emotive vocal turns. Both artists have better whole albums of material (see Waters' live At Newport and Wolf's self-titled 1962 Chess debut), but there's no better introduction to the work of two Chicago blues titans than Muddy & The Wolf.

~Dave Rossetti

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on Feb. 17 2005.,”Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf”

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