This one really stands out from the glut of former-sidemen-as-leaders blues releases. Smith, longtime drummer in some of Muddy Waters’ greatest bands and the harmonica player on Bo Diddley’s “Diddy Wah Diddy,” showcases both talents along with singing lead on a set that has the texture and bottled excitement of the classic Waters sound. That’s hardly a surprise with former Muddymen Pinetop Perkins on piano, Bob Margolin on drums and James Cotton on harp helping out on a mixture of originals and blues classics and the Waters-penned “Read Way Back” inspiring the title.