Hard Again

Hard Againis a studio album by American blues singerMuddy Waters.Released on January 10, 1977, it was the first of his albums produced byJohnny Winter.Hard Againwas Waters's first album onBlue Sky Recordsafter leavingChess Recordsand was well received by critics.

Hard Again
Studio albumby Muddy Waters
Released	January 10, 1977(1977-01-10)
Recorded	October 1976
Genre	Chicago blues
Length	45:47
Label	Blue Sky
Producer	Johnny Winter
Muddy Waterschronology
The Muddy Waters Woodstock Album (1975) Hard Again (1977) I'm Ready (1978)

Background

In August 1975, Chess Records was sold to All Platinum Records and became a reissue label only. Waters left sometime after this, and did not record any new studio material until he signed with Johnny Winter's Blue Sky label in October 1976.

Recording

Hard Againwas recorded in three days.Producingthe session was Johnny Winter andengineeringthe sessions was Dave Still – who previously engineered Johnny's brotherEdgar,Foghat,andAlan Merrill.Waters used his touring band of the time, consisting of guitaristBob Margolin,pianistPinetop Perkins,and drummerWillie "Big Eyes" Smith.Other backing members during the sessions were harmonicistJames Cottonand bassist Charles Calmese, who performed with both Johnny Winter and James Cotton in the past.

Songs

Three of the songs on the album – "Mannish Boy","I Want to Be Loved ", and" I Can't Be Satisfied "– were re-recordings of songs that were previously recorded for Chess Records. One song," The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll, Pt. 2 ", was co-written withBrownie McGheeand another song, "Bus Driver", was co-written with Terry Abrahamson.

An outtake from the recording sessions, "Walking Through the Park", appeared on the 2004Legacy Recordingsreissue CD, while several more unused tracks appeared onKing Beein 1981.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Blender
Christgau's Record Guide	A−
DownBeat
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings
Q
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
The Village Voice	A

The album was well received by music critics. John Quaintance ofYahoo! Musiccalled it "a remarkable album" and a "return to form" for Muddy Waters, commenting that "Johnny Winter,... James Cotton, Pinetop Perkins, Bob Margolin, Charles Calmese and Willie" Big Eyes "Smith are all thrilled to be in the same room with Muddy, and it shows, as they lay down a serious foundation for the old master who struts and brags like it's 1950 again."Qcalled it "a guaranteed delight" for "students of thepost-war blues",whileDownBeatstated, "Singing, [Muddy is] playful and proud, brawny and insistent, his free-flow of inspiration spreading to his superlative road band".Dan Oppenheimer ofRolling Stonesaid that "Mannish Boy" sounded like it was recorded live,while both Oppenheimer and Daniel Gioffre ofAllMusicstate how powerful Willie "Big Eyes" Smith's drumming is.Oppenheimer and Gioffre both share the opinion thatHard Againis Muddy Waters comeback album.InThe New Rolling Stone Album Guide(2004),Rolling StonejournalistDave Marshsaid "Johnny Winter provided the sensitive production touch otherwise lacking on some of [Muddy's] early '70s recordings."

In his consumer guide forThe Village Voice,Robert Christgauattributed the record's intense quality to "the natural enthusiasm of an inspired collaboration", and remarked on its standing inChicago blues,"except maybe forB.B. King'sLive at the RegalandOtis Spann'sWalking the Blues(oh, there must be others, but let me go on) I can't recall a better bluesalbumthan this. "In a later review forBlender,the critic found Muddy Waters to be in "virile voice" and commented that "all-star musicians and fresh prospects stimulate the excitement promised in the title."

Charts and awards

Hard Againpeaked at No. 143 on theBillboard200,which was his first appearance on the chart sinceFathers and Sonsin 1969.The album won theGrammy Award for Best Ethnic or Traditional Folk Recordingthe year of its release.

Track listing

All tracks are composed by Muddy Waters (listed as McKinley Morganfield), except where noted.

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Mannish Boy"	Morganfield,Ellas McDaniel,Mel London	5:23
2.	"Bus Driver"	Morganfield, Terry Abrahamson	7:44
3.	"I Want to Be Loved"	Willie Dixon	2:20
4.	"Jealous Hearted Man"		4:23
5.	"I Can't Be Satisfied"		3:28

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"The Blues Had a Baby and They Named It Rock and Roll, Pt. 2"	Morganfield,Brownie McGhee	3:35
2.	"Deep Down in Florida"		5:25
3.	"Crosseyed Cat"		5:59
4.	"Little Girl"		7:06

2004 Epic CD reissue extra track

No.	Title	Length
10.	"Walking Through the Park"	3:55
Total length:		49:42

Personnel

The following contributed toHard Again:

Musicians

• Muddy Waters – vocals, guitar
• Johnny Winter– guitar,producer,miscellaneous screams
• Bob Margolin– guitar
• Charles Calmese – bass guitar
• Pinetop Perkins– piano
• James Cotton– harmonica
• Willie "Big Eyes" Smith– drums

Technical

• Dave Still –engineer
• Andy Manganello – assistant engineer
• Joseph M. Palmaccio–mastering
• Al Quaglieri – reissue producer
• Chris Theis –mix engineer

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Format	Catalog
U.S.	January 10, 1977	Blue Sky	LP	PZ 34449
U.K.	1977	Blue Sky	LP	SKY 32357
Europe	1977	Blue Sky	LP	SKY 81853
Australia	1977	CBS	LP	SBP 234953
U.S.	1987	Blue Sky	CD	ZK 34449
			Cassette	PZT 34449
U.S.	2004	Epic/Legacy	CD	EK 86817
Europe	2004	Epic/Legacy	CD	EPC 515161 2

External links

• musicbox-onlineHard Againalbum review
• Hard AgainatDiscogs(list of releases)