Mud Morganfield - Deep Mud!
Peter “Blewzzman” Lauro © August 2025
Deep Mud is what I believe to be the seventh release from Mud Morganfield and oddly enough, the first one I’m having the pleasure of reviewing. On the other hand, I have had the pleasure of seeing him perform live several times, with one of my favorites of his performances being when he portrayed his father - the great Muddy Waters - in a stage production called Ghost Of the Blues. It was a blues musical that celebrated the music we love and the legends who created that music. The show also featured Biscuit Miller as Willie Dixon, Stacy Brooks as Etta and Koko, Bobby Wilson as Robert Johnson, James Armstrong as John Lee Hooker, and was narrated by Big Lou Johnson. Damn, talk about a soundtrack! Speaking of which, I’d better get back on track and start telling you about Deep Mud.....
Joining Mud Morganfield, on vocals and bass, are: Rick Kreher, one of Muddy’s last guitarists, on guitar; Mike Wheeler on guitar; Melvin “Pooky Styx” Carlisle on drums; the disc’s producer, Studebaker John on harmonica; E.G. McDaniel on bass; Sumito Ariyo Ariyoshi and Rooselvelt Purify on piano and organ; Rodrigo Mantovani on upright bass; Phil Perkins on trumpet; with Felicia Collins, Kristen Lowe, Jacole Avent, and Demetrias M. Hall on background vocals. Deep Mud features twelve of Mud’s originals and two covers of Muddy’s songs.
Sounding exactly like something Muddy would say, “Bring Me My Whiskey” opens up with Mud saying, “Bring me my whiskey and set my woman by my side”. Yep, this apple did not at all fall far from the tree. That said, that same proverb can certainly be said about Mud’s vocals and singing style. Stating “I don’t want no vodka, cause vodka makes me sick. Don’t give me no gin, gin always make me sin”, Mud makes it clear that only whiskey will do. Musically, “Pooky Styx” and E.G. have a hard driving rhythm going on while Studebaker John and Rick are firing it up on the harmonica and slide guitar respectively.
Like so many bluesmen before him, Mud wants a “Big Frame Woman” to, amongst other things, hold him tight and love him morning, noon and night. This up-tempo, dance floor filler features a rhythm to shake to, hot lead guitar licks from Mike, and fabulous piano runs from Ariyo.
Along the lines of those old Memorex commercials that featured Ella Fitzgerald belting out a song while you’re being asked “Is it live, or is it Memorex?”, Mud’s rendition of Muddy’s “Strange Woman” could actually have you wondering is it Mud, or is it Muddy?
This smokin’ eighties dance music number titled “She’s Getting Her Groove On” is sure to transcend you to a dance floor filled discotheque, and if it doesn’t get you getting your groove on, you gotta be in a coma. Of course, the rhythm is funky and the energy is taken up a notch by the blazing trumpet blowing from Phil and the very lively organ runs from Roosevelt.
“Ernestine” certainly had a profound effect on Mud. Shortly after asking “Ernestine, Ernestine, can I go home with you?”, he immediately comes back “Ernestine, Ernestine, will you marry me? I’ll give you anything, anything that you need”. Musically it features fiery blues harmonica from Studebaker John; fierce blues guitar leads from Rick; and fervid blues piano runs from Roosevelt.
In a statement he makes on the disc’s liner notes, this is how Mud described his music: “Listen man, it’s Chicago blues. None of that rock-blues. No rock-blues here for Mud”; and there is no better track to back that up with than “Strike Like Lightning”. With every box checked, this is slow and lowdown Chicago blues at its finest.
Along those same lines, with its deep rhythm; serious blues harmonica leads; and monster slide and lead guitar runs; “The Man That You’re With” definitely keeps the slow blues thing going on.
On a track titled “A Dream Walking”, Mud pays homage to his late mom. The pain he still feels from her loss can clearly be felt from his very emotional and heartfelt vocals. One of the lines from the song is “Have you ever seen a dream walking, have you ever heard an angel sing?” and between the angelic backing vocals, of Felicia, Jacole and Demetrias; and the Gospel feel coming from Roosevelt on the organ; a hymnal effect has indeed been created. An absolutely glorious way to close things out.
Other tracks on Deep Mud, which could very well earn Mud a few more Blues Music Awards, include: “Don’t Leave Me”; “Consigner Man”; “Lover Man”; “In And Out Of My Life”; “Carolina”; and “Country Boy”, the second Muddy cover.
To know more about Mud, check him out at - www.mudmorganfieldblues.com. As usual, whomever you contact, please tell them their friend the Blewzzman sent you.
