Mannish Boy

Recorded on May 24, 1955, in Chicago at a Chess session cut at Universal Recording. Muddy Waters was joined by Junior Wells on harmonica, Jimmy Rogers on guitar, Willie Dixon on bass, Fred Below on drums, and vocal responses from the band. Released as Chess 1602, it was a sharp answer song to Bo Diddley’s "I’m a Man" and a continuation of Waters’ run of mid-1950s Chess singles built around his tough, boastful persona. It reached the R&B top ten and became one of his defining records. The track became one of Muddy Waters’ signature songs and a durable blues standard, later reworked, covered, and sampled across rock, blues, and popular music. Its status was cemented by later recognition in the Blues Hall of Fame.