MUD MORGANFIELD

Son of the Seventh Son

Severn Records

By Dawn O’Keefe Williams

Listening to this CD is like taking a trip back in a time machine. You may find yourself transported to a nondescript blues bar from the 1960s, digging to the groove of Larry “Mud” Morganfield and the well- seasoned musicians backing him.   You can feel the ambiance, smell the smoke and taste the drink sitting on the bar in front of you.  The voice is familiar, from the early days of electric blues, but this is a brand new CD (and they didn’t have those back then).  Reality hits and you’re back in 2012 as you realize you’re listening to Mud Morganfield, whose voice and looks are strikingly similar to his late father, the famous Muddy Waters.  Mud, who is Water’s eldest son, is proud of the resemblance and humbly accepts it as it is. However, he is making his own mark in the music industry without leaning on his family’s history.  Not only is he a distinctive singer, but Mud also contributed seven original songs to this remarkable CD.

Rick Kreher, who is an alumna of Muddy Waters’ band in the early Eighties and   plays guitar on the CD, states that Mud has “one foot in both worlds”.  Mud has proven that even though the CD is steeped in Chicago style blues, he sings it his way.  He also has proven to be a fluent songwriter that writes about timeless topics.  His words are not flowery, they are just very real. He writes about keeping your health, finding a mate, having an affair, love lost and just plain old having the blues.

Mud’s voice is powerful and has a clarity that is reminiscent of the days when concert halls didn’t have microphones.  In those days you needed a voice that could belt out a tune to cut through the instruments and across the room.   Even with today’s electric guitars, Mud’s voice has the gifted power to be heard without a mic.   He also has the ability to project different moods.  Mud’s voice sounds matter-of-fact, while his words are humorous, in his song “Loco Motor” as he frankly states he’s “Gonna find me a Queen with long black hair and no underwear”.  In another original, the moody “Midnight Lover,” you can feel the pain of lust and disdain as he belts out  the lyrics, with a little vibrato in his voice, pleading “midnight lover what kind of power do you have over me?”  Mud also brought to the table two originals from fellow CD band mates: “Money (Can’t Buy Everything)”, written by guitarist Billy Flynn, as well as one by harp player Bob Corritore, “Go Ahead And Blame Me”.  The tite track, “Son of the Seventh Son”, was penned by John Grimaldi, a.k.a. Studebaker John.  With one foot in old school, Mud sings his father’s song, “You Can’t Lose What You Ain’t Never Had”.

Bob Corritore produced the CD, which was recorded in Chicago at Rax Trax Studios.  Bob’s artistry created an album that not only spins an ambiance which reflects traditional Chicago blues,  but also keeps Mud Morganfield front and center on every song.  The sound is mixed with the instruments in a perfect balance.  The guitars always have a presence with a rhythmic background, but stand out when they provide a solo.  The harps, played by both Harmonica Hinds and Bob Corritore, weave in and around while providing support with their rhythm fills and leads.  You can hear the distinct difference between the two harp players, which adds to more layers of ear candy.   The bass and drums are solid, yet distinct, such as in the first song “Short Dress Woman”.  The piano has a honky tonk sound that plays full chords and fills; yet it remains subtle and provides background.  All in all, this is a group of stellar musicians featuring:  Kenny “Beady Eyes” Smith on drums (son of Muddy Waters’ drummer, the late Willie “Big Eyes” Smith), Barrelhouse Chuck on piano and organ, E.G. McDaniel on bass, Billy Flynn and Rick Kreher on guitars. All of them perform on this CD as a team to enable Mud Morganfield to shine, which is precisely what Muddy Waters’ storied bandmates did, too.

The subtle artistry in Son of the Seventh Son is a gem to be discovered.  As the last song ends, you will be amazed as you realize that you were taken on a trip back to the old days with a spin of today’s blues.  Son of the Seventh Son is music history in the making, featuring a voice in the blues that is uniquely Mud Morganfield’s. 

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