Muddy Waters — Rockpalast, Dortmund, 1978

Live concert film of Muddy Waters for the Rockpalast programme, recorded on 10 December 1978 at the Westfalenhalle in Dortmund, Germany, by broadcaster WDR. A founding figure of Chicago electric blues, McKinley Morganfield, known as Muddy Waters, leads here one of the finest bands of his career. This full concert runs through several of his classics: « I’m Your Hoochie Coochie Man », « They Call Me Muddy Waters », « Walkin’ Thru the Park », « Mannish Boy », « Got My Mojo Working » and « Sweet Home Chicago ». Around the singer-guitarist stand pianist Pinetop Perkins, drummer Willie « Big Eyes » Smith, bassist Calvin Jones, guitarists Luther « Guitar Junior » Johnson and Bob Margolin, and harmonica player Jerry Portnoy. The polished German television direction captures the full vocal power and stage charisma of the master. This live recording is a major historical document: an essential live concert film for understanding the roots of electric blues and its influence on rock.