With retail bins overflowing with releases directly and indirectly associated with the Martin Scorsese-produced “The Blues” series of films on PBS, some attention should be reserved for this fall’s other attendant blues discs. And this deluxe double-disc set—another in Sony’s new Legacy Edition of expanded reissues, along with titles by Jeff Buckley and the Byrds—is special. It showcases Muddy Waters—Delta blues original-cum-Chicago electric hero—in his final late-period glory, recorded live in 1978 with a crack, cross-generational band. Waters roars to rival his younger self on the virile opener “Mannish Boy,” and many other thrilling numbers and entertaining asides follow, including a tribute to the recently deceased T-Bone Walker. The original seven tracks from the LP have been expanded to 18 for the reissue, and the annotation, packaging and sound are exemplary.—BB
