Amplification. Electricity. I could leave the article at that and it would be better than any further elaboration. I'd say that almost anybody would acknowledge that the blues was created by black men. I'd also say that those same people would say that Rock n' Roll was a 'black' sound. I don't think that many people would tell you that Rock was a sound developed by black musicians at all, when it is widely credited to Zeppelin, Cream, The Stones or The Beatles. Although, it is acknowledged that a sound developed by black musicians laid the foundation for those previously mentioned, it is not acknowledged that maybe some black musicians made it onto or gave birth to the psychedelic movement before the white British rockers we love ever figured it out
Muddy Waters you sonofabitch. I always knew you were contributing from behind the scenes for the entirety of the 60's. But until I found this record I had no idea that you found psychedelia this early. Sometimes you need an album that kicks the fucking door in. This is one such album. Electric Mud was Produced by Marshall Chess of Chess Records in 1968 (pause... realize... '68 was the year Cream disbanded, it was before MC5, Yes, Iron Butterfly, The Jeff Beck Group, Steppinwolf, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Vanilla Fudge, The Guess Who, Led Zeppelin I or White Light/White Heat..... pause... appreciate... continue), in part to rein in a new audience weaned on the burgeoning wave of psychedelic rock whose predecessors both jeered and worshiped the temple of Muddy Waters, Buddy Guy, Albert king and their blues brethren. The results, depending on your age, vantage point and general attitude, was one of either disdain (purists) or that of enthusiasm (young rock fans). The album was thrown together in hopes of attracting this younger generation who seemed to be attracted by inordinately loud decibel levels. Abandoning Waters' normal band, Chess rounded up a group of new musicians who dubbed themselves "The Electric Niggers." Once in the studio, the new band set their equipment to 11 in search of new levels of distortion and fuzz. I'd say they found it. This is blues driven Psychedelic Rock n' Roll that sling shots itself past capabilities or achievements of any other traditional blues guitarist. The album is built on Muddy originals, covers and re-workings, and gives the general attitude of incredible accidents and exploratory dumb luck. This is not clean or slick or sexy. This is dirty and misunderstood. Tru Grit. You put it on late at night, when you need the proper amount of voltage to kick doors down.
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-Corey Bleedoor
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