Personnel: Paul Rodgers (vocals, nylon string guitar); Neal Schon, Slash, Jeff Beck, Trevor Rabin, Buddy Guy, Brian May, Richie Sambora, Steve Miller, David Gilmour, Gary Moore, Brian Setzer, Ian Hatton, Jimi Haun (guitar); Jimmie Wood (harmonica); David Paich (piano, Hamnmond B-3 organ); Paul Shaffer, Ronnie Foster (Hammond B-3 organ); Pino Palladino (bass); Jason Bonham, Mark T. Williams (drums); Billy Sherwood (percussion); Alexandra Brown, Carmen Carter, Jean McClain (background vocals).

Paul Rodgers' tribute to Muddy Waters is not a return to Waters' electric Chicago blues, but a continuation of the blues-rock of Rodgers' old bands, Free and Bad Company. Taken on those terms, Muddy Water Blues: A Tribute to Muddy Waters works only when Rodgers is matched with a good blues-rock guitarist. Jeff Beck, Buddy Guy, and Gary Moore all play well, while Richie Sambora, Neal Schon, and Trevor Rabin all sound a bit lost; the rest, including David Gilmour and Brian May, fall somewhere in between. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine