Album: Going Way Back

Overview
"Going Way Back" is an album by the legendary blues musician Muddy Waters, released in 1965. The album includes a collection of early recordings from Muddy Waters, dating back to the 1940s and 1950s, prior to he ended up being a family name in the blues scene. These recordings display the raw skill and modest beginnings of one of the most influential blues artists of perpetuity.

The album provides a distinct insight into the early years of Muddy Waters' career, showcasing a range of musical designs and affects that would go on to form his later work. From his sincere vocals to his evocative slide guitar playing, "Going Way Back" functions as an engaging history lesson on the roots of contemporary blues music.

Background and Recording
Muddy Waters, born McKinley Morganfield, began his profession as a sharecropper and amateur musician, playing guitar and harmonica at juke joints and houseparty in rural Mississippi. His raw, Delta blues-influenced design eventually caught the attention of legendary record manufacturer Alan Lomax, who tape-recorded Waters for the Library of Congress in 1941. These early recordings represent the earliest recognized work by Muddy Waters and form the backbone of "Going Way Back".

In the years following his initial recordings, Muddy Waters continued to improve his noise, incorporating influences from other blues greats such as Robert Johnson and Son House. By the time he began tape-recording once again in the late 1940s, his style had actually matured into the electrified, Chicago blues sound that would come to define his career. Much of these early recordings, which were originally launched on numerous labels like Chess and Aristocrat, are featured on "Going Way Back".

Track List
"Going Way Back" includes 15 tracks of early Muddy Waters product. Some of the standout tracks on the album consist of:

1. "I Can't Be Satisfied"
2. "I Feel Like Going Home"
3. "Rollin' Stone"
4. "Louisiana Blues"
5. "Long Distance Call"
6. "Honey Bee"
7. "Still a Fool"
8. "She Moves Me"
9. "All Night Long"
10. "Please Have Mercy"
11. "Standing Around Crying"
12. "Baby Please Don't Go"
13. "Rollin' and Tumblin'"
14. "Just Make Love to Me (I Just Want to Make Love to You)".
15. "Double Trouble".

Musical Style and Legacy
"Going Way Back" showcases the early development of Muddy Waters' signature noise. His raw, emotive vocals were coupled with his distinct slide guitar playing, which frequently included open tunings and substantial use of vibrato. This combination developed a deeply expressive and effective noise that is clearly Muddy Waters.

The recordings on "Going Way Back" catch a moment in time when the blues was transitioning from a mainly acoustic, rural genre to a more city, electrified sound. This improvement was led by artists like Muddy Waters, whose early work prepared for the future of the blues and its impact on rock and roll.

Today, "Going Way Back" stands as a testimony to Muddy Waters' enduring legacy and the seismic effect his early work had on the world of music. The album offers a look into the birth of modern blues music and the origins of among its most iconic and influential figures.