Customer Reviews

Complete Vanguard Recordings

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

I am not a Blues nor a Buddy Guy scholar, so all I can tell you is that this album is smokin', especially the live disk #2 (This is Buddy Guy). What I especially like about the album is Guy's versatility. He does a first class job whether he is doing Motown, funk, or down and dirty blues. My favorite is the live disk just because I think you get the flavor of the man as a performer. This is also one CD I have to share equally with my wife.

Anyone familiar with the soul-raking sounds of Buddy Guy, any lover of "good" blues, anyone aspiring to the type of career that this fantastic bluesman had...HAS TO have this CD! And those of you who haven't heard his performance...buy it, you'll love it!

I was surprised to see only two reviews, so I thought I would chime in.

Overall, there are many reasons to get this. I have the three original issue discs and this set sounds much better. There are bonus tracks, but they are mostly just "there" - a notable exception is a long slow blues on the live disc where Buddy really shows off (in a good way). The price is certainly right.

The thing that makes it a must-have is, of course, the music. Fans of modern/recent Buddy may be surprised, especially by disc one. This disc alone is priceless. Buddy is soooo cool on this one, the best cuts being the slow ones. The drummer is the legendary Fred Below - blues fans should know his work from the countless recordings he played on. Fred adds much to the music. The pianist is the perhaps even more legendary Otis Spann, and his contributions are amazing. On bass is the enigmatic Jack Meyers, who plays unique but always perfect bass lines.

The live disc suffers a bit from some of Buddy's over-the-top playing and singing. That said, there are great moments. Several cuts just burn (1,2,5 & 9) and I may have overlooked some good ones - sorry.

The third disc is not as good - that's the conventional wisdom. It certainly does have its moments, and should not be quickly dismissed. You could always think of it as a bonus disc!

Great sound, great performances and a great price. A winner.