Woodstock Album

I would have given this album four stars if it hadn't been for that annoying accordion which only detracts from the power of Muddy Waters, because the songs are generally very good, and Waters himself plays great slide guitar on a couple of mercifully accordion-free numbers.
"Why Are People Like That", "Born With Nothing" and "Love, Deep As The Ocean" are particularly good, featuring excellent piano playing by Pinetop Perkins, and great blues harmonica by Paul Butterfield.
Waters' take on Louis Jordan's "Let The Good Times Roll" is pretty good as well, and so is the CD bonus track "Fox Squirrel".

Not too many people realize how incredibly important the drummer is in electric blues music...the reason why many contemporary blues recordings fall flat is simply because the drummer can't play the blues, resorting instead to a stale, plodding rock rhythm.
If you listen to blues drummers like Willie "Big Eyes" Smith or the great Fred Below you'll understand what I mean. They knew how to get a real swinging groove going, and fortunately the Band's Levon Helm proves to be a fine blues drummer.
This album was Helm's brainchild, and he and Perkins are the main reasons why it works in spite of that awful accordion!