Matt LuceyBuddy guy is an icon in the world of Blues. Considered by many to be one of the greats, Buddy has had a storied career in the industry. Born in Louisiana in 1936, Guy had a keen interest in the blues from a young age. Making himself a makeshift guitar, Guy practiced until receiving his first full acoustic.
He began playing with bands in Baton Rouge in the mid 50s, honing his craft in the early days, when stars in the genre were emerging. He fell in with the likes of Muddy Waters, gaining some attention and eventually recording his first publicised record. Following this, Guy signed with Chess records, a decision Guy would come to regret as they stunted his musical development. Even with this disadvantage, Guy would come to be playing alongside the likes of Clapton, Zeppelin and more by the late 60s.
Guy’s Influence
While he might not have expected it in the early days, Guy came to be a hugely influential figure in the world of Blues. Some of those who have praised his style include Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Guy, Bill Wyman and many more. Buddy’s guitar style and the life he brought to his music was renowned. To cap this off, Buddy Guy sang in front of then President, Barack Obama at the White House in 2012. At the end of this show, Buddy invited the president to sing. One of the most incredible instances in blues history occurred, with a president singing the blues with the legendary Buddy Guy.
Ain’t Done With the Blues: 89 and Thriving
In celebration of his 89th birthday, Guy released this album, Ain’t Done With the Blues. This incredible 18 track record was produced by Tom Hambridge, a long time collaborator. It feels like a well polished studio album that serves the legends name well.
Not only did Buddy Guy perform on every song, he was accompanied on many of them by other artists. Joe Bonamassa joined him on “Dry Stick”, Peter Frampton on “It Keeps Me Young” and many more. It’s clear that these talented musicians relished the opportunity to work with the living legend on what may be his final album.
The music on this album lives up, in every way, to the legend Guy has established. With classic blues riffs, features from some of the biggest names in the genre currently and his classic style, this album is packed with the good stuff.
“Where You At”
One of my favourites on the record was “Where you At”, featuring Kingfish. I had recently reviewed Kingfish’s new album and found it to be incredible. He brings that same energy to this track, with wailing guitar tones. The Synth on this track brings a modern element to the sound. Kingfish and Guy take turns in singing and their voices mesh well. With slightly funky sounds, this is a bit of a departure from the standard Buddy Guy sound, but it works so well. Half way through, there is a breakdown, where a tambourine joins the ensemble. The piano solo is a great addition to the track and the following guitar licks make the song in my opinion. It pleases me to see that Guy has time for newer artists and I’m delighted to see Kingfish get the recognition he deserves.
“Dry Stick”
“Dry Stick” takes a different approach. Featuring Joe Bonamassa, this track is more soulful, slow and soothing. The deep tones from the backing singers is an incredible addition the the track and sets the scene. The piano and guitar begin quite minimally but build up throughout the song. This means that the soft lead vocals get their chance to shine. Joe joins the fray. Joe’s guitar style is well documented, through his many outstanding records. Having a track record of working with other musicians, Joe knows exactly what to do on this track. He joins in without overpowering Buddy’s sound, while maintaining his own signature. The sharp yet clear guitarwork compliments the rest of the song without changing to tone. Overall, this track was wonderfully put together and was a highlight of the album.
“I Got Sumpin’ For You”
“I Got Sumpin’ For You” is the last song I wanted to mention. With just Buddy Guy and the band this one is one of the most upbeat on the album. With a barking, commanding guitar tone, this felt very much like classic Buddy Guy. The drums and bass on this track are simple, yet efficient. They keep a perfect rhythm for the guitar, laying out the heart of the track. Vocals really get a chance to shine here and Buddy Guy demonstrates that he can still sing. When the song comes together, and the guitar comes out with an echoey, reverby treble lead, it just feels right. You can hear how much Guy enjoyed singing this track by the smile in his voice as he sings.
Conclusion
As I expected, the album was incredible. I was happy to see so many features but Buddy himself really shone throughout. I would certainly recommend this if you’re a blues fan, or even just a fan of good music. Thats what this is.
