Drinking Muddy Water

Album: Little Games (1967)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This song is an update of the 1950 Muddy Waters blues classic "Rollin' and Tumblin'" and nominally a tribute to the bluesman. As well as the four Yardbirds members, the track also featured The Rolling Stones' Ian "Stu" Stewart on piano.
  • This was a track on Little Games. The album was produced by successful singles producer Mickie Most, who was brought in by The Yardbirds' record company to coax out more commercial product. Although Page had worked earlier for Most as a session guitarist, he was unhappy with him taking on the production duties as the producer was basically interested in singles and didn't believe it was worth spending much time on album tracks. Page recalled to Mojo magazine July 2014. "You'd finish recording the track and Mickie would just go 'Next!'"

    "I remember that happening during 'Drinking Muddy Water,'" Page continued. "Stu looked at me and he said 'I can't believe this! I've never worked like this in my life! And I said to him, 'And you're not going to start now! We're going to hear a playback. And we did, but everything was based around the idea of getting things done quickly."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"

Lou Gramm - "Waiting For A Girl Like You"They're Playing My Song

Gramm co-wrote this gorgeous ballad and delivered an inspired vocal, but the song was the beginning of the end of his time with Foreigner.

Michael W. Smith

Michael W. SmithSongwriter Interviews

Smith breaks down some of his worship tracks as well as his mainstream hits, including "I Will Be Here For You" and "A Place In This World."

David Sancious

David SanciousSongwriter Interviews

Keyboard great David Sancious talks about his work with Sting, Seal, Springsteen, Clapton and Aretha, and explains what quantum physics has to do with making music.

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard

Joe Elliott of Def LeppardSongwriter Interviews

The Def Leppard frontman talks about their "lamentable" hit he never thought of as a single, and why he's juiced by his Mott The Hoople cover band.

Ian Anderson of Jethro Tull

Ian Anderson of Jethro TullSongwriter Interviews

The flautist frontman talks about touring with Led Zeppelin, his contribution to "Hotel California", and how he may have done the first MTV Unplugged.

The Punk Photography of Chris Stein

The Punk Photography of Chris SteinSong Writing

Chris Stein of Blondie shares photos and stories from his book about the New York City punk scene.