King Bee (album)
Encyclopedia
King Bee is the final release by blues
singer and guitarist Muddy Waters
. Released in 1981, it is third in a series of records done for the label Blue Sky Records
under producer/guitarist Johnny Winter
. Recorded in three days (and in the wake of Water's failing health) some of the band members, namely Winters and guitarist Bob Margolin
, were not happy with the result. As his health failed, Waters canceled an increasing number of shows. His band, dependent on money made from touring, soon quit. He died of a heart attack on April 30, 1983. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
The album consists of recordings from May 1980, as well as outtakes from 1977's Hard Again
.
Bonus 2004 reissue tracks
Blues
Blues is the name given to both a musical form and a music genre that originated in African-American communities of primarily the "Deep South" of the United States at the end of the 19th century from spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts and chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads...
singer and guitarist Muddy Waters
Muddy Waters
McKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
. Released in 1981, it is third in a series of records done for the label Blue Sky Records
Blue Sky Records
Blue Sky Records was a custom label created by Steve Paul for Columbia Records, featuring acts managed by Steve Paul, primarily Johnny Winter, Edgar Winter, Rick Derringer, David Johansen and Muddy Waters.-History:...
under producer/guitarist Johnny Winter
Johnny Winter
John Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
. Recorded in three days (and in the wake of Water's failing health) some of the band members, namely Winters and guitarist Bob Margolin
Bob Margolin
Bob Margolin is an American electric blues guitarist. His nickname is "Steady Rollin'".-Biography:Bob Margolin was born and raised in Brookline...
, were not happy with the result. As his health failed, Waters canceled an increasing number of shows. His band, dependent on money made from touring, soon quit. He died of a heart attack on April 30, 1983. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987.
The album consists of recordings from May 1980, as well as outtakes from 1977's Hard Again
Hard Again
Hard Again is a 1977 Chicago-style electric blues album by Muddy Waters. It was recorded by its producer, Johnny Winter, in a rough, bare-bones style...
.
Track listing
All tracks composed by McKinley Morganfield; except where indicated- "I'm A King BeeI'm a King Bee"I'm a King Bee" is a swamp blues song that has been performed and recorded by numerous blues and other artists. In 2008, Slim Harpo's "I'm a King Bee" received a Grammy Hall of Fame Award, which "honor[s] recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance".-Original song:Written and...
" (James MooreSlim HarpoSlim Harpo was an American blues musician. He was known as a master of the blues harmonica; the name "Slim Harpo" was derived from "harp," the popular nickname for the harmonica in blues circles.-Early life:...
) - 3:50 - "Too Young To Know" - 4:30
- "Mean Old Frisco Blues" (Arthur CrudupArthur CrudupArthur "Big Boy" Crudup was an American Delta blues singer, songwriter and guitarist. He is best known outside blues circles for writing songs such as "That's All Right" , "My Baby Left Me" and "So Glad You're Mine", later covered by Elvis Presley and dozens of other artists.-Career:Arthur Crudup...
) - 3:46 - "Forever Lonely" - 4:35
- "I Feel Like Going Home" - 3:42
- "Champagne & Reefer" - 4:37
- "Sad, Sad Day" - 5:25
- "(My Eyes) Keep Me In Trouble" (Hap Walker) - 3:18
- "Deep Down in Florida #2" (Jimmy Oden) - 4:09
- "No Escape From The Blues" (Morganfield, Charles E. Williams) - 2:04
Bonus 2004 reissue tracks
- "I Won't Go On" (Jimmy Oden) - 4:16
- "Clouds In My Heart" - 7:46
Personnel
- Muddy WatersMuddy WatersMcKinley Morganfield , known as Muddy Waters, was an American blues musician, generally considered the "father of modern Chicago blues"...
– vocalsSingingSinging is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
& guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with... - Johnny WinterJohnny WinterJohn Dawson "Johnny" Winter III is an American blues guitarist, singer, and producer. Best known for his late 1960s and 1970s high-energy blues-rock albums and live performances, Winter also produced three Grammy Award-winning albums for blues legend Muddy Waters...
- guitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
& slide guitarSlide guitarSlide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles... - Bob MargolinBob MargolinBob Margolin is an American electric blues guitarist. His nickname is "Steady Rollin'".-Biography:Bob Margolin was born and raised in Brookline...
- guitar - Pinetop PerkinsPinetop PerkinsJoseph William Perkins , known by the stage name Pinetop Perkins, was an American blues musician, specializing in piano music...
– piano - Jerry PortnoyJerry PortnoyJerry Portnoy is an American harmonica blues musician, who has toured with Muddy Waters and Eric Clapton.-Biography:Portnoy grew up in Chicago's Maxwell Street neighborhood where his family owned a store...
– harmonicaHarmonicaThe harmonica, also called harp, French harp, blues harp, and mouth organ, is a free reed wind instrument used primarily in blues and American folk music, jazz, country, and rock and roll. It is played by blowing air into it or drawing air out by placing lips over individual holes or multiple holes... - Luther Johnson (Guitar Junior)Luther Johnson (Guitar Junior)Luther Johnson is an American Chicago blues singer and guitarist, who performs under the name Luther "Guitar Junior" Johnson....
- guitar - Charles Calmese - bassDouble bassThe double bass, also called the string bass, upright bass, standup bass or contrabass, is the largest and lowest-pitched bowed string instrument in the modern symphony orchestra, with strings usually tuned to E1, A1, D2 and G2...
- Calvin Jones - Bass
- Willie "Big Eyes" Smith – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....