I'm Ready (Muddy Waters song)

Last updated
"I'm Ready"
Single by Muddy Waters
B-side "I Don't Know Why"
Released1954 (1954)
RecordedChicago, September 1, 1954
Genre Blues
Length3:03
Label Chess
Songwriter(s) Willie Dixon
Producer(s) Leonard Chess, Phil Chess
Muddy Waters singles chronology
"Just Make Love To Me"
(1954)
"I'm Ready"
(1954)
"Natural Born Lover" / "Loving Man"
(1954)

"I'm Ready" is a blues song written by Willie Dixon and first recorded by Muddy Waters in 1954. [1] It was a hit, spending nine weeks on the Billboard R&B chart where it reached number four. [2] The song became a blues standard and has been compared to "Hoochie Coochie Man", the standard also written by Dixon that Waters recorded earlier in 1954. [1]

Contents

Composition and recording

"I'm Ready" was inspired by a comment by Muddy Waters prior to a gig, when harmonica player Willie Foster visited him at home. As Foster recalled,

I knocked on the door, and he was shaving. He said "You here? I told you to come tomorrow." I said, "Yeah, but I'm here today." While drinking, Waters ribbed Foster for bringing a suitcase for a weekend. He said, "I mean you ready!" And I said, "Ready as anybody can be!" He popped his finger and turned to Willie Dixon and said, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking? That's a record, man!" [3]

Dixon proceeded to write a song and "I'm Ready" was completed within about three days. [4] The lyrics continue the use of swagger and supernatural imagery found in Dixon's "Hoochie Coochie Man", which Waters recorded in January 1954:

I gotta ax handle pistol, on a graveyard frame
That shoots tombstone bullets, wearing balls and chain
I'm drinkin' TNT, smokin' dynamite
I hope some screwball, start a fight [3]

In addition to the lyrical theme, "I'm Ready" incorporates a stop-time sixteen-bar structure analogous to "Hoochie Coochie Man". The song was recorded September 1, 1954, by Waters on vocal and guitar, accompanied by Little Walter on chromatic harmonica, Jimmy Rogers on guitar, Otis Spann on piano, Willie Dixon on bass, and Fred Below on drums. [5]

Releases

Chess Records issued the song as single in late 1954, with "I Don't Know Why" as the B-side. In 1958, it was included on Muddy Waters' first album, The Best of Muddy Waters (1958). [5]

Muddy Waters later re-recorded the song for his albums Fathers and Sons (1969) and The London Muddy Waters Sessions (1971). [5] In 1978, he re-recorded it again as the title track to his album I'm Ready . The album, which was produced by Johnny Winter, earned Waters a Grammy award in 1978. [6]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Dixon</span> American blues musician (1915–1992)

William James Dixon was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he is perhaps best known as one of the most prolific songwriters of his time. Next to Muddy Waters, Dixon is recognized as the most influential person in shaping the post–World War II sound of the Chicago blues.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muddy Waters</span> American blues musician (1913–1983)

McKinley Morganfield, known professionally as Muddy Waters, was an American blues singer and musician who was an important figure in the post-World War II blues scene, and is often cited as the "father of modern Chicago blues". His style of playing has been described as "raining down Delta beatitude".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muddy Waters discography</span>

Muddy Waters (1913–1983) was an American blues artist who is considered a pioneer of the electric Chicago blues and a major influence on the development of blues and rock music. He popularized several early Delta blues songs, such as "Rollin' and Tumblin'", "Walkin' Blues", and "Baby, Please Don't Go", and recorded songs that went on to become blues standards, including "Hoochie Coochie Man", "Mannish Boy", and "Got My Mojo Working". During his recording career from 1941 to 1981, he recorded primarily for two record companies, Aristocrat/Chess and Blue Sky; they issued 62 singles and 13 studio albums.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mannish Boy</span> Song first recorded by Muddy Waters in 1955

"Mannish Boy" is a blues standard written by Muddy Waters, Mel London, and Bo Diddley. First recorded in 1955 by Waters, it serves as an "answer song" to Bo Diddley's "I'm a Man", which was in turn inspired by Waters' and Willie Dixon's "Hoochie Coochie Man". "Mannish Boy" features a repeating stop-time figure on one chord throughout the song.

<i>At Newport 1960</i> 1960 live album by Muddy Waters

At Newport 1960 is a live album by Muddy Waters recorded during his performance at the Newport Jazz Festival on July 3, 1960. With his longtime backup band, Muddy Waters plays a mix of his older popular tunes and some newer compositions. Chess Records released the album in the United States on November 15, 1960.

<i>The Anthology: 1947–1972</i> 2001 greatest hits album by Muddy Waters

The Anthology: 1947–1972 is a double compilation album by Chicago blues singer and guitarist Muddy Waters. It contains many of his best-known songs, including his R&B single chart hits "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man", "Just Make Love to Me ", and "I'm Ready". Chess and MCA Records released the set on August 28, 2001.

<i>Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters</i> 1993 studio album by Paul Rodgers

Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters is the second solo album by Paul Rodgers, consisting predominantly of covers of songs made famous by blues artist Muddy Waters. Although attributed solely to Rodgers, the album features many guest musicians including Jeff Beck, Jason Bonham, David Gilmour, Buddy Guy, Brian May, Steve Miller, Gary Moore, Trevor Rabin, Richie Sambora, Neal Schon, Brian Setzer and Slash. It was released in 1993.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spoonful</span> Blues standard first recorded by Howlin Wolf

"Spoonful" is a blues song written by Willie Dixon and first recorded in 1960 by Howlin' Wolf. Called "a stark and haunting work", it is one of Dixon's best known and most interpreted songs. Etta James and Harvey Fuqua had a pop and R&B record chart hit with their duet cover of "Spoonful" in 1961, and it was popularized in the late 1960s by the British rock group Cream.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm a Man (Bo Diddley song)</span> Blues standard

"I'm a Man" is a rhythm and blues song written and recorded by Bo Diddley in 1955. Inspired by an earlier blues song, it was one of his first hits. "I'm a Man" has been recorded by a variety of artists, including the Yardbirds, who adapted it in an upbeat rock style.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hoochie Coochie Man</span> Blues standard written by Willie Dixon

"Hoochie Coochie Man" is a blues standard written by Willie Dixon and first recorded by Muddy Waters in 1954. The song makes reference to hoodoo folk magic elements and makes novel use of a stop-time musical arrangement. It became one of Waters' most popular and identifiable songs and helped secure Dixon's role as Chess Records' chief songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Got My Mojo Working</span> Blues standard popularized by Muddy Waters

"Got My Mojo Working" is a blues song written by Preston "Red" Foster and first recorded by R&B singer Ann Cole in 1956. Foster's lyrics describe several amulets or talismans, called mojo, which are associated with hoodoo, an early African-American folk-magic belief system.

<i>I Am the Blues</i> 1970 studio album by Willie Dixon

I Am the Blues is the sixth studio Chicago blues album released in 1970 by the well-known bluesman Willie Dixon. It is also the title of Dixon's autobiography, edited by Don Snowden.

<i>Muddy "Mississippi" Waters – Live</i> 1979 live album by Muddy Waters

Muddy "Mississippi" Waters – Live is a live album by Muddy Waters, released in January 1979. It was recorded during the 1977–78 tour to support Muddy Waters' album Hard Again (1977) and features the same musicians, including James Cotton and Johnny Winter, who had produced the album.

<i>The Best of Muddy Waters</i> 1958 greatest hits album by Muddy Waters

The Best of Muddy Waters is a greatest hits album by Muddy Waters released by Chess Records in April 1958. The twelve songs were originally issued as singles between 1948 and 1954 and most appeared in Billboard magazine's top 10 Rhythm & Blues Records charts.

<i>Super Blues</i> 1967 studio album by Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, Little Walter

Super Blues is a 1967 studio album by a blues supergroup consisting of Bo Diddley, Muddy Waters, and Little Walter. The album was released in both mono and stereo formats by Checker Records in June 1967. A follow-up album The Super Super Blues Band was released later that year and featured Howlin' Wolf replacing Little Walter.

<i>Fathers and Sons</i> (album) 1969 studio album / Live album by Muddy Waters

Fathers and Sons is the seventh studio album by the American blues musician Muddy Waters, released as a double LP by Chess Records in August 1969.

<i>The Essential Collection</i> (Muddy Waters album) 2000 compilation album by Muddy Waters

The Essential Collection is a 20-song compilation of the music of Muddy Waters, spanning work from 1950 through to 1972. The album, released in 2000 by Universal Music Group's Spectrum Records, complements much of his original work with many songs that went on to become classics of the British Invasion when used by other artists.

<i>The London Muddy Waters Sessions</i> 1972 studio album by Muddy Waters

The London Muddy Waters Sessions is a studio album by Muddy Waters, released in 1972 on Chess Records. A follow-up to 1971's The London Howlin' Wolf Sessions, the concept was to combine American bluesmen with British and Irish blues/rock stars. The album was an attempt to capitalise on the increasing popularity of traditional blues music and blues artists in Britain.

<i>McKinley Morganfield A.K.A. Muddy Waters</i> 1971 compilation album by Muddy Waters

McKinley Morganfield A.K.A. Muddy Waters is a compilation album by blues musician Muddy Waters featuring tracks recorded between 1948 and 1953 released by the Chess label in 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Need Love (Muddy Waters song)</span>

"You Need Love" is a song with lyrics written by American blues musician Willie Dixon. The instrumentation was recorded first by slide guitarist Earl Hooker and backing musicians, then Chicago blues artist Muddy Waters overdubbed vocals, and Chess Records released it as a single in 1962.

References

  1. 1 2 Herzhaft, Gerard (1992). "I'm Ready". Encyclopedia of the Blues. Fayetteville, Arkansas: University of Arkansas Press. p.  454. ISBN   1-55728-252-8.
  2. Whitburn, Joel (1988). Top R&B Singles 1942–1988. Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research. p.  435. ISBN   0-89820-068-7.
  3. 1 2 Janovitz, Bill. "Muddy Waters: 'I'm Ready' Review". AllMusic . Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  4. Gordon, Robert (2002). Can't Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters . New York City: Little, Brown. pp.  132–133. ISBN   0-316-32849-9.
  5. 1 2 3 Palmer, Robert (1989). Muddy Waters: Chess Box (Box set booklet). Muddy Waters. Universal City, California: Chess Records/MCA Records. pp. 26–28. OCLC   154264537. CHD3-80002.
  6. "GRAMMY Award Results for Muddy Waters". Grammy.org . 1978. Retrieved October 31, 2009.