Customer Reviews

Play the Blues

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a spirited rendition of the work of Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, two of Chicago's leading lights in the blues world. Junior Wells' harmonica playing and Buddy Guy's guitar work set a sound foundation for this CD. This was a re cording spearheaded by Eric Clapton as his Derek and the Dominoes album was being finally mixed. And we are fortunate to be able to listen to the results.

Backing instrumentals are played by the likes of Clapton, Dr. John (on piano), and J. Geils (guitar), among others.

Some cuts illustrate their work. "A Man of Many Words" is a clean sounding, contemporary blues song. This does not look back toward the delta or the early Chicago sound. Clapton's guitar playing is interesting and spirited (although maybe a bit overdone). The vocals are smooth. Some nice wording:

"I know I rap long and know I rap strong,
Come on mama let me turn you on."

"T-Bone Shuffle" is one of T-Bone Walker's songs. Here, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells do a nice job with their cover. The sound is simpler than with "A Man of Many Words." The ensemble playing is very good. Vocals, again, are nice, as they play with lines like:

"Tell me what the reason
You keep on teasin' me."

"This Old Fool" is another fun cut. J. Geils joins with guitar here. Buddy Guy sings against a really insistent beat, with the rhythm section playing splendidly. Magic Dick's harmonica adds to the whole sound. There is a great blues sensibility to this song. The end of the song features some fiery guitar work.

So, this is a nice view of the work of Buddy Guy and Junior Wells. The session that was recorded here is lively and has a spontaneous feel to it. Well worth listening to.

I bought "Buddy Guy & Junior Wells Play the Blues abum" when it first hit the rack.
Then again about a month ago. It had the same effect as it did back then...I put it in the cd player, sat down and didn't get up until I'd heard every song on the cd.
It is Buddy Guy and Junior at their very best.
Rickey Noel Mitchell

What can I say? A five star album rating to balance
out the idiot who gave the album a good review but only
2 stars. Well I did see them live in the 80's at a club
in Portland. "Can you smell that s*** ", said Buddy Guy
as he was wailing on lead guitar while Junior jammed
on harp!

Ireally enjoy this CD. What stands out for me, is you start out in New Orleans and start traveling thru Georgia on up to St.Louis and Chicago. All kinds of blues is represented.
Buddy Guy and Junior Wells really work well together.

This is a classic album - full of raw power, funk and foot tapping drive yet somehow doesn't seem to take itself too seriously. Not just for the blues zealots, this album may actually manage to bring the willfully ignorant into the light!

This album is a favorite of mine, I bought it from Amazon nearly two years ago and it's already pretty much worn out. Buddy Guy and Junior Wells make the blues fun and exciting with songs like "man of many words" and "T-bone Shuffle". If you want great blues that is more of the modern, faster paced style then try this album. The guitar parts are simply amazing, and in closing I just want to say that each song on this album is awesome. There are many blues artists out there that are famous, and none more so maybe than Buddy Guy. Junior Wells died in 1998 but his harmonica playing on here is sweet and contagious. I think this is a great album because it puts two truly great musicians together to tell the storybook music that is blues.

i absolutely love blues music,but buddy guy is just exceptional,the nature of my job enables me to listen to him all day long,thank heavens,i cant get enough blues music.like honey dripping down the stairs.

Readers of this space may be aware that over the past year or so I have gone to great lengths to highlight some of the blues greats that I was doggedly devoted to as a kid (and still am) and helped form in me, and others from my generation, the Generation of '68 as well, an important musical componet as we fought our political battles for a more just society. The names of Lead Belly, Josh White, Son House, Muddy Waters and the like easily come to mind.

And then in a whisper in the back of the brain comes- don't forget Buddy Guy. Well, of course. The Chicago blues branch of the blues tree would not be complete without recognizing what every serious blues artist of the time recognized- here was a master. This CD only goes to prove the point. Electric guitar, acoustic guitar, solo, with Junior Wells, as a backup to others Guy did it all. Even with all-star help this is strictly Buddy's gig. That's why there was that little whisper.

So what is good here? Well, how about "T-Bone Shuffle", (that's T-Bone Walker of course), "This Old Fool" and "Honeydripper". Listen and see if you agree.

Five stars for sure if not for tracks 7&10. So it gets four stars instead.

Im a big fan of buddy's and this is a good album. Wish I could have seen these guys live.