Muddy Waters’ career and achievements are relatively well known, but it is interesting to go back to 1960 and assess his importance at the time. By then he was a twenty year veteran of the blues circuit, highly regarded among blues aficionados but relatively unknown outside those circles. Then he was booked to appear at the Newport Jazz Festival as the top billed artist on the blues Sunday show. The previous day (Saturday) had ended in a riot as drunken crowd members fought with ill-prepared police during the performance by Ray Charles. There were those on the organising committee and city council who wanted to cancel the rest of the programme, but fortunately they were persuaded against such an action and allowed the show to proceed. It proved a fortunate decision for Muddy Waters, whose performance has since entered folklore. Calming down the crowd after the previous day’s exploits, he treated those in attendance to a wonderful show, which fortunately Chess Records had taken the decision to record. The album was subsequently issued a couple of months later and became an unqualified success, expanding Muddy Waters’ fanbase beyond even the wildest of expectations.

1. I Got My Brand On You
2. I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man
3. Baby, Please Don't Go
4. Soon Forgotten
5. Tiger In Your Tank
6. I Feel So Good
7. Got My Mojo Working
8. Got My Mojo Working, Part 2
9. Goodbye Newport Blues