Blue Monday: Muddy @ Jazz Workshop, '72

Those of you who suffered through my Paul's Mall post a few weeks back (or you folks who just happen to know Boston...) might recall that both Paul's Mall and the Jazz Workshop were under one roof, both downstairs and separated by a wall. Through their 15 year run (1963-78), these very small clubs would see the undisputed musical giants of their era. A great many of these shows were broadcast by Boston's WBCN radio...which almost always means that somebody bootlegged it...

In August of '72, it was Muddy's turn to take the stage at the Jazz Workshop, leaving us a woefully short set that is amply pleasing nonetheless. Muddy brought a fierce little line-up with him to Boyleston Street that night; behind him were Pinetop Perkins working the keys, PeeWee Madison and the legendary Louis Myers on guitar, Mojo Buford on harp and the fierce little rhythm section of Fuzz Jones and Willie "Big Eyes" Smith.


One of the joys of this set is Madison warming the room for the first 2 (actually 3 tunes) tracks, bringing some of that West Side goodness into mix with a Big Legged Woman>You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now and I Need Your Lovin'. Following Buford's standard circus barker intro, Muddy steps forward...and gives us his standard band intro banter. Listen to a stack of Muddy's band intros through this period and you'll see how little he seemed to wander from his script.

Muddy's leading the way through just 4 songs here, a by rote Stormy Monday, backed by a version of Jimmy Reed's You Don't Have to Go that gets to cooking. Long Distance Call was a fixture of Muddy's sets through the '70's, a ready-made moment for Muddy to break out his nasty slide and join the fun. After a romping, if predictable Mojo, Muddy's down the road and the band wraps things up with a spirited outro.

Short-dose Muddy it may be, but a tasty little nug it remains. And a fine way to kick off Blue Monday...

Peace, Mudcatz


Muddy Waters
Jazz Workshop
Boston MA
August 22, 1972

(FM) WBCN, Boston

1 Big Legged Woman>You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now
2 I Need Your Lovin'
3 Muddy intro
4 Band intros>Stormy Monday
5 You Don't Have to Go
6 Long Distance Call
7 Got My Mojo Workin'
8 Instrumental Outro


Link