20 - Wednesday, January 10, 1990 - North Shore News Muddy Waters run deep) 5 pas omy enn, 221 ORGET BLUE Christmas. It’s Blue January. Muddy Waters — The Chess Box, MCA Records 1989 The MCA Chess Records re-issue move was one of the best things to happen last year on the recorded music front. We got polished, well-presented rounds of sound from Willie Dixon and Chuck Berry. MICHAEL BECKER record review The label recently pulled together 72 essential tracks, cut between 1947 and 1972, by blues giant Muddy Waters, Rock heads, locked into the foggy perception Promotional Price $4250. Delivered. Available in Polished Ebony, Ivory & Satin Walnut with Bench. that pop music's holy trinity — Stones, Beatles and Elvis — repre- sents the definitive reference point from which all inspiration flows, would do well to test the Waters box. The Delta bluesman from Roll- ing Fork, Mississippi, provided the Stones with their name and an early signature sound — scooped from his 1950 Chess single Rolling Stone. In the broader context, he’s lef behind a rich repertoire from which musicians including Eric Clapton, Paul Butterfield, Bonnie Raitt, Z.Z. Top, Led Zep and Robert Cray have drawn much creative sustenance. The real blues thing here cooks with an honest, soulful power. Waters’ notes, whether in the jumped-up city slicker blues mode or as resonant Delta fret-skating slide, ring true blue regardless of the delivery. Mix in hot harmonica blowing from Waters’ durable re- cording sidekick Little Walter and the raw, aching sound is set. Little Charlie and The Nightcats - Until January 21/90 CHoward’s Pianos