Buddy Guy

kh1958 · February 15th, 2004, 10:40 AM

I've been a Buddy Guy fanatic ever since, back in September of 1982, I noticed a flyer announcing that for One Night Only Buddy Guy at Antone's. At that point, I was pretty much solely focused on jazz, but Antone's was near where I lived, so I went, and it was surely one of the most astounding performances I've ever witnessed, the wildest and most intense blues guitar I've ever heard. It was incredible.

Buddy's notorious as being inconsistent live, and I've seen many performances since, great, good, and not so good.

In case there are any other Buddy Guy afficiandos around here, I wanted to bring your attention to the following recordings, which are the best blues recordings I've heard in a long time--it's Buddy Guy live at his own club in Chicago, throughout the month of January, with his working band, in well recorded sound. He's in good to great form every night. There hasn't been one yet (I'm on the ninth one now) that hasn't featured at least one track that was astounding.

For awhile, I couldn't get past the January 15, show, as the second solo on "Damn Right I"ve Got the Blues" is utterly amazing. Another example, January 10, where he performs the old Bill Withers tune "Use Me" and unleashes an astounding guitar solo.

Here is the link: http://www.piratebootlegs.com/artist.asp?artist_id=60

These are authorized recordings, by the way.

Spike · February 15th, 2004, 11:28 AM

Thanks for the link. I've been a Buddy Guy fan since I saw him several times in the early '70s with Junior Wells. I've dropped into his club a couple times but he's never been there.

Spike

Harold_Z · February 15th, 2004, 02:35 PM

Question: I heard a Buddy Guy tune on the radio the other day - it was Buddy playing acoustic guitar (no other accompianment) and singing a lot like Muddy - and doing a Muddy tune - "I LOVE THE LIFE I LIVE" . I searched AMG but couldn't come up with anything. Anybody know what this was?

kh1958 · February 15th, 2004, 03:09 PM

That's from his last Silvertone CD, Blues Singer, which is an all acoustic recording, in the same vein as the Muddy Waters Chess record Folk Singer (which had Buddy backing up Muddy on acoustic guitar). Blues Singer is a very good recording, I listened to it quite a few times, and it kept sounding better and better the more I listened.

As for Buddy's official recordings, my favorites are as follows:

Stone Crazy (Blues Giant on Isabel, reissued as Stone Crazy by Alligator)
DJ Play My Blues (JSP)
Slippin' In (Silvertone)
Sweet Tea (Silvertone)
Blues Singer (Silvertone)

With Junior Wells:

Hoodoo Man Blues (Delmark)
Pleading the Blues (Isabel)
Buddy Guy and Junior Wells (Bourbon, Japan).

Quote:

Originally posted by Harold_Z
Question: I heard a Buddy Guy tune on the radio the other day - it was Buddy playing acoustic guitar (no other accompianment) and singing a lot like Muddy - and doing a Muddy tune - "I LOVE THE LIFE I LIVE" . I searched AMG but couldn't come up with anything. Anybody know what this was?

Harold_Z · February 15th, 2004, 03:21 PM

Thanks, KH. I'm going to get this one.

jtb · March 7th, 2004, 03:09 PM

Like you, I've been variously elated & frustrated when I've seen Buddy live. He's done some great albums (I'd say Stone Crazy is the best), but I'm yet to hear one that catches him at quite the same level of inspiration that he can reach onstage.

For those of us who can't shell out for all 11 sets, would you especially recommend one, 2 or 3 of these ? (You did mention highlights from the Jan 10 & 15 sets).

kh1958 · March 7th, 2004, 04:35 PM

After going through all 11 sets (and I now wish I'd taken notes), I think that the first one (January 9), may be the best overall buy. It is the longest (nearly 2 hours), and Buddy seems very eager to play.

Jan. 9 has a really good version of My Time After Awhile (I'm partial to that one), with the intensity at the forefront on excellent versions of Damn Right... and Goin' Down (closing out the set). In addition, this one has the only acoustic performances of the lot (Lucy Mae Blues and Done Got Old). (Other songs are: Everyday I have the Blues, Elevate Me, Drowning on Dry Land [Buddy doesn't solo on this version of the Albert King classic song], I'm Ready, Feels Like Rain, Slippin' In, I've Got a Problem, Hoochie Coochie Man, Love Her With a Feeling and Ain't That Peculiar).

January 11, I must note has an incredible extended Mary Had a Little Lamb, basically an 11 minute uptempo Buddy Guy jam.

January 14, an amazing Drowning on Dry Land.

For Stone Crazy Fans, I might recommend January 29, which has a rare performance of Come and See About Me, which is terrific to hear, some Buddy soloing but more a feature for saxophonists Jay Moynihan (who I might add is very good, and Buddy features him alot and interacts with him in solos frequently). Starts with nice version of Tired of Being Alone. Another long and intense set.

Paul Secor · March 15th, 2004, 04:06 PM

My favorite Buddy sides are his Chess recordings (at least most of them), along with the sides he cut for Artistic in the late 50's. A Man and the Blues on Vanguard is also a good one.

February 15th, 2004, 10:40 AM	#1
kh1958 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 805	Buddy Guy I've been a Buddy Guy fanatic ever since, back in September of 1982, I noticed a flyer announcing that for One Night Only Buddy Guy at Antone's. At that point, I was pretty much solely focused on jazz, but Antone's was near where I lived, so I went, and it was surely one of the most astounding performances I've ever witnessed, the wildest and most intense blues guitar I've ever heard. It was incredible. Buddy's notorious as being inconsistent live, and I've seen many performances since, great, good, and not so good. In case there are any other Buddy Guy afficiandos around here, I wanted to bring your attention to the following recordings, which are the best blues recordings I've heard in a long time--it's Buddy Guy live at his own club in Chicago, throughout the month of January, with his working band, in well recorded sound. He's in good to great form every night. There hasn't been one yet (I'm on the ninth one now) that hasn't featured at least one track that was astounding. For awhile, I couldn't get past the January 15, show, as the second solo on "Damn Right I"ve Got the Blues" is utterly amazing. Another example, January 10, where he performs the old Bill Withers tune "Use Me" and unleashes an astounding guitar solo. Here is the link: http://www.piratebootlegs.com/artist.asp?artist_id=60 These are authorized recordings, by the way.

February 15th, 2004, 11:28 AM	#2
Spike Folk Musicologist Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lost in the Ozone Posts: 52	Thanks for the link. I've been a Buddy Guy fan since I saw him several times in the early '70s with Junior Wells. I've dropped into his club a couple times but he's never been there. Spike __________________ "The present-day Pachuco refuses to die!" - RUBEN SANO, June 1955

March 7th, 2004, 03:09 PM	#6
jtb Registered User Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 15	Buddy Guy Like you, I've been variously elated & frustrated when I've seen Buddy live. He's done some great albums (I'd say Stone Crazy is the best), but I'm yet to hear one that catches him at quite the same level of inspiration that he can reach onstage. For those of us who can't shell out for all 11 sets, would you especially recommend one, 2 or 3 of these ? (You did mention highlights from the Jan 10 & 15 sets).

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February 15th, 2004, 02:35 PM	#3
Harold_Z Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 278	Question: I heard a Buddy Guy tune on the radio the other day - it was Buddy playing acoustic guitar (no other accompianment) and singing a lot like Muddy - and doing a Muddy tune - "I LOVE THE LIFE I LIVE" . I searched AMG but couldn't come up with anything. Anybody know what this was?

February 15th, 2004, 03:21 PM	#5
Harold_Z Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Posts: 278	Thanks, KH. I'm going to get this one.

March 7th, 2004, 04:35 PM	#7
kh1958 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dallas, Texas Posts: 805	After going through all 11 sets (and I now wish I'd taken notes), I think that the first one (January 9), may be the best overall buy. It is the longest (nearly 2 hours), and Buddy seems very eager to play. Jan. 9 has a really good version of My Time After Awhile (I'm partial to that one), with the intensity at the forefront on excellent versions of Damn Right... and Goin' Down (closing out the set). In addition, this one has the only acoustic performances of the lot (Lucy Mae Blues and Done Got Old). (Other songs are: Everyday I have the Blues, Elevate Me, Drowning on Dry Land [Buddy doesn't solo on this version of the Albert King classic song], I'm Ready, Feels Like Rain, Slippin' In, I've Got a Problem, Hoochie Coochie Man, Love Her With a Feeling and Ain't That Peculiar). January 11, I must note has an incredible extended Mary Had a Little Lamb, basically an 11 minute uptempo Buddy Guy jam. January 14, an amazing Drowning on Dry Land. For Stone Crazy Fans, I might recommend January 29, which has a rare performance of Come and See About Me, which is terrific to hear, some Buddy soloing but more a feature for saxophonists Jay Moynihan (who I might add is very good, and Buddy features him alot and interacts with him in solos frequently). Starts with nice version of Tired of Being Alone. Another long and intense set.

March 15th, 2004, 04:06 PM	#8
Paul Secor Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Dutchess County, N.Y. Posts: 85	My favorite Buddy sides are his Chess recordings (at least most of them), along with the sides he cut for Artistic in the late 50's. A Man and the Blues on Vanguard is also a good one.