In 1984, the Newport Jazz Festival hosted a seismic collision of blues royalty. Amidst a stellar lineup, B.B. King, Muddy Waters, and Big Mama Thornton emerged as the standard-bearers of the tradition now so deeply etched into American music. For the audience, it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness these pioneers in their prime. For the historians, each performance is a chapter in a collective story, a testament to the deep roots and evolving power of the blues at that time. And now, for the listener, these electrifying recordings stand as proof that the blues, forged in sorrow and resilience, still command hearts just as they did on that unforgettable night in Newport.