Mud Morganfield

They Call Me Mud

Severn Records

Mud Morganfield is the oldest son of McKinley Morganfield better known as Muddy Waters. Morganfield grew up surrounded by music but was mostly raised by his mom and uncles. He became a truck driver and didn’t consider a career in music until after his father’s death.

Morganfield released his debut recording “Fall Waters Fall” in 2008. Morganfield signed with Severn Records in 2012 and released the widely acclaimed “Son of a Seventh Son”. His follow-up recording 2014’s “For Pops: A Tribute to Muddy Waters” was recorded with Kim Wilson, the multiple Blues Music Award winning harmonica master. The album won the 2015 BMA for Traditional Blues Album of The Year and helped to further establish Morganfield’s career.

This is Morganfield’s third album for Severn. The album is co-produced by Morganfield and guitarist Rick Kreher who played on Waters’ “Live at the Checkerboard Lounge, Chicago 1981” recorded with The Rolling Stones. Ten of the twelve tracks were written by Morganfield who also covers two from Waters. The core band includes Morganfield, vocals; Kreher and Billy Flynn, guitars; Studebaker John, harp; Sumito Ariyo Ariyoshi, piano; E.G. McDaniel, bass; and Melvin “Pookie Stix” Carlisle, drums.

Six of the originals feature the horn section of Phil Perkins, trumpet and Michael Jackson, sax; including the title track which opens the album. On “48 Days” Morganfield plays bass. The horn arrangement on the R n’ B styled “Cheatin’ is Cheatin’” make it a great production. Vocalist Lashunda Williams, Morganfield’s daughter joins him on “Who Loves You”.

Guitarist Mike Wheeler sits in on both “Who’s Fooling Who?” and “24 Hours”. Billy Branch plays harp on the jazzy instrumental “Mud’s Groove” also featuring Morganfield on bass.

The covers are “Howling Wolf” and “Can’t Get No Grindin’”. The latter featuring solos by members of the band who become the background singers.

Morganfield’s deep baritone voice leaves little doubt that he is Muddy’s son. He is at home with everything from soul to R n’ B on this revealing new album.

Richard Ludmerer

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