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Documentary Review: PBS American Masters
Muddy Waters: Can't Be Satisfied
Reviewed by Eric Steiner
This month marks the birth and death of Muddy Waters. He was born on April 4, 1915 in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, and died of cancer in his Westmont, Illinois home on April 30, 2003. He's been gone 20 years, but his presence is as strong as ever whenever I turn on "Hoochie Coochie Man," "I Just Want to Make Love to You," or "Mannish Boy."
On April 23rd, Thirteen/WNET New York's American Masters will pay tribute to the Year of the Blues with Muddy Waters: Can't Be Satisfied. This hour-long film is the first-ever documentary on Muddy Waters, and is based on Robert Gordon's groundbreaking book, Can't Be Satisfied: The Life and Times of Muddy Waters.
We trace Muddy's musical career from Stovall Plantation in Mississippi to Chicago nightclubs and international blues festivals. In addition to never before seen footage of Muddy Waters in concert, this outstanding documentary features interviews with Charlie Musselwhite, Keith Richard, Chuck D, Marshall Chess, Muddy's relatives, girlfriends, and last of his four wives. Together, they weave a story of a complicated man who left Mississippi behind in 1943 for the bright lights of the big city of Chicago. The film is a fitting tribute to a true giant of the blues, and there's blues aplenty in Muddy Waters: Can't Be Satisfied. There's rare 1941 field recordings and concert footage from the 1960s, 70s and 80s, each with a stellar line up of sidemen such as Otis Spann, Jimmy Rogers, and Steady Rollin' Bob Margolin.
The film follows Gordon's award-winning biography nicely, and we revisit Muddy's South Side home that served as a rooming house and rehearsal studio for his band. The house is a mere shell of its former self, but I can imagine the music they made in the basement with Otis Spann on piano, and Jimmy Rogers and Muddy on guitar. Along the way, we learn how Muddy inspired younger bluesmen and blueswomen like B.B. King, Buddy Guy, James Cotton, and Bonnie Raitt.
This month's American Masters is required viewing for all blues fans. Check local TV listings for PBS, American Masters airing nationally at 8:00 PM (ET) on April 23rd.
© 2003 - Eric Steiner