Alone & Acoustic

Junior Wells, Buddy Guy, Buddy Guy & Junior Wells | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 6, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Alligator Records
• ASIN: B000000A04
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #39,859 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #11 in Music > Indie Music > Blues > Chicago Blues
  • #21 in Music > Indie Music > Blues > Electric Blues Guitar
  • #22 in Music > Indie Music > Blues > Contemporary Blues

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unplugged, July 17, 2000

By 

deepbluereview "deepbluereview" (SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alone & Acoustic (Audio CD)

This CD is simply outstanding. Originally released in 1981, it features blues greats Buddy Guy and Junior Wells unplugged. Two men, one day in Paris, one acoustic guitar and one harmonica with each sharing the vocal duties. While the material is not new it is performed with such individuality and conviction that other interpretations of this same material pales in comparison. There are 15 songs arranged into an hours worth of deep south acoustic blues. This has got to be one of Alligators finest releases and is a must have for any fan of these two giants, fans of acoustic blues and fans of the blues period.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A perfect combination of two blues greats!, August 2, 2001

By 

Darren Burton "virtualbloodhound" (Ogden, Utah United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Alone & Acoustic (Audio CD)

I could sit and listen to these two all day. It would be great if more blues albums were made this way. The pure sound of a 12 string guitar and a unamplified harmonica. I think the great vocals of Junior Wells on "Big Boat" would be worth the price of this album alone - but it is just one of the many treats on this album. This album is full of standard blues classics, but the sound is so fresh it is like you are hearing them for the first time.
A treat for anyone, no matter what their favorite style of the blues is.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Team!, September 20, 2005

By 

Henry Kerfoot (Tyler Durden) (Huntington Beach, Calif) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Alone & Acoustic (Audio CD)

The magical synergy of Junior Wells and Buddy Guy was apparent in "Hoodoo Man Blues", recorded before Buddy Guy was well known. Junior Wells' subsequent solo works, while workmanlike, have never achieved the same pinnacle (e.g., Come On Into This House). With this joint effort, that synergy is back.

It is very interesting to see (hear) the pair together 30 years after that first work together. The undefinable synergy is still there - Is it the way Buddy sets up a background for Junior's vocals or harmonica? Or is it the way that Junior defers to Buddys guitar? However, with age, the two interact more sensitively and with a polish - No, a burnished patina - that makes this work a mellower version of their earlier work together. Both performers are secure in their careers and accomplishments and this results in a very special and mature interaction between them.

From the folk blues of Big Boat to the John Lee Hooker homage in Boogie Chillen, the pairing in "Alone and Acoustic" is seamless - You can almost see one person playing the guitar and harmonica while singing.

Caution: As the title suggests, this is not the Buddy Guy that Jimi Hendrix studied. For those of us who grew up with the Eric Clapton of John Mayall (also Cream, Blind Faith) Canned Heat, and Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac as our introduction to the blues (along with Hendrix's 'Red House') in the late 60's, this could be a disappointment. But to me the CD is not. It is a great pleasure, with the lack of other instruments a sort of relief. No, for those of us of that era, this is more like the 'Hot Tuna' record (remember records?) after lots of electric music from Jefferson Airplane, Led Zepplin, Cream, Iron Butterfly, etc... clean and unpretentious.

And in 'Big Boat' we hear something like one of my favorites from Hoodoo Man, Buddy's sharp "Ow!" during Junior's first harmonica solo in 'Early in the Morning'. And Buddy sings on this one, too! (Hoodoo Man is one of the classic blues albums - Do yourself a favor and get it if you don't have it!)

A wonderful CD to just listen to and enjoy.