Fathers and Sons (album)

Untitled

Fathers and Sons was orginally released as a double LP record by American blues musician Muddy Waters released by Chess Records in August 1969 (see 1969 in music).

The album features both studio and live recordings recorded in April 1969 with an all-star band including Michael Bloomfield and Paul Butterfield of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band, and Donald "Duck" Dunn of Booker T. & the M.G.'s in Chicago, Illinois.

The album was Muddy's biggest mainstream success, reaching #70 on the Billboard 200, which was his only appearance in the top half of the chart. Muddy would not make another appearance on the 200 until Hard Again in 1977.

Background

According to Marshall Chess, the idea behind Fathers and Sons came when Mike Bloomfield was at his house and said that he and Paul Butterfield wanted to do an album with Muddy Waters because they would be in Chicago for a charity concert. Chess then rounded up Donald "Duck" Dunn, Otis Spann, and Sam Lay for the studio sessions.

Recording and production

The studio disc of the album was recorded in April 21–23, 1969 at Tel Mar Studios. Theses sides were engineered by Ron Malo and featured rhythm guitarist Paul Asbell, who did not play on the live songs.

The live songs were recorded on April 24, 1969 at the Super Cosmic Joy-Scout Jamboree. These sides were engineered by Reice Hamel. Drummer Buddy Miles played on the second part of "Got My Mojo Working".

The producer on all sessions was Norman Dayron, who would go on to produce The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions in 1970, among other items.

Artwork and design

The cover illustration for Fathers and Sons was created by Don Wilson and was based on Michelangelo's design on the Sistine Chapel. The original album's design was by Daily Planet. The 2001 MCA Records expaanded reissue featured a reissued design by Mike Fink.

Track listing

All songs written by McKinley Morganfield, except where indicated.

Vinyl version

Side A (studio)

1. "All Aboard" – 2:50
2. "Mean Disposition" – 5:42
3. "Blow Wind Blow" – 3:35
4. "Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had" – 3:03
5. "Walkin' Thru The Park" – 3:07

Side B (studio)

1. "Forty Days and Forty Nights" (Bernard Roth) – 3:04
2. "Standin' Round Crying" – 4:01
3. "I'm Ready" (Willie Dixon) – 3:33
4. "Twenty Four Hours" (Eddie Boyd) – 4:46
5. "Sugar Sweet – 2:16

Side C Live

1. "Long Distance Call" – 6:35
2. "Baby, Please Don't Go" (Big Joe Williams) – 3:05
3. "Honey Bee" – 3:57

Side D Live

1. "The Same Thing" (Dixon) – 6:00
2. "Got My Mojo Working, Part 1" (Preston Foster, Morganfield) – 3:39
3. "Got My Mojo Working, Part 2" (Foster, Morganfield) – 5:33

CD version

1. "All Aboard" – 2:52
2. "Mean Disposition" – 5:42
3. "Blow Wind Blow" – 3:38
4. "Can't Lose What You Ain't Never Had" – 3:06
5. "Walkin' Thru The Park" – 3:21
6. "Forty Days And Forty Nights" (Roth) – 3:08
7. "Standin' Round Cryin'" – 4:05
8. "I'm Ready" (Dixon) – 3:39
9. "Twenty Four Hours" (Boyd) – 4:48
10. "Sugar Sweet" – 2:18
11. "Country Boy" – 3:20
12. "I Love the Life I Live (I Live the Life I Love)" (Dixon) – 2:45
13. "Oh Yeah" (Dixon) – 3:38
14. "I Feel So Good" (Big Bill Broonzy) – 3:00
15. "Long Distance Call" – 6:37
16. "Baby, Please Don't Go" (Williams) – 3:03
17. "Honey Bee" – 3:56
18. "The Same Thing" (Dixon) – 5:59
19. "Got My Mojo Working, Part 1" (Foster, Morganfield) – 3:22
20. "Got My Mojo Working, Part 2" (Foster, Morganfield) – 2:54

Personnel

• Muddy Waters – vocals, guitar
• Otis Spann – piano
• Michael Bloomfield – guitar
• Paul Butterfield – harmonica
• Donald "Duck" Dunn – bass guitar
• Sam Lay – drums
• Paul Asbell – rhythm guitar
• Buddy Miles – drums on "Got My Mojo Working, Part 2"
• Jeff Carp – chromatic harmonica on "All Aboard"
• Phil Upchurch – bass guitar on "All Aboard"

External links

• Fathers and Sons at Discogs (list of releases)
• Fathers and Sons. Expanded Reissue at Yahoo! Music