Buddy Guy - A Man and the Blues

Buddy Guy's greatest album is also his debut full-length session as a leader. "One Room Country Shack," "Mary Had a Little Lamb" (a Stevie Ray Vaughan favorite), "Sweet Little Angel," and "Worry, Worry" are defining songs, full of high-wire vocal dynamics and guitar work of almost balletic poise. The tone of Guy's 1957 Fender six-string remains the benchmark for nearly every blues player who's since hefted a Stratocaster. This CD is as tasteful and dramatic as Guy's 1990s performances are brash and assaultive. Producer Samuel Charters, the noted blues historian, caught Guy just as he was emerging from the shadow of B.B. King and Muddy Waters, and provided an excellent cast of supporting musicians, including the underrated guitar genius Wayne Bennett, gritty piano virtuoso Otis Spann, and Muddy's redoubtable drummer Fred Below. The results are blues perfection. --Ted Drozdowski Amazon.com essential recording

Buddy at his best

Far and away his best solo effort. Everything that people love about Buddy Guy is present on this album: smoking guitar (yet still pure blues--B.B. and T-Bone on steroids vintage Buddy,untainted by rock producers and multitudes of guest appearances), passionate vocals, and lots of personality. Some highlights are title track which is textbook slow blues, unimprovable! A hot blues blues version of "Money," and the classic take on "Mary Had a Little Lamb." Actually though, in all fairness to Buddy, every track here is classic blues! September 6, 2008

it is that good

young buddy, delivering the hot licks. a must have, and believe what these other people say about buddy and this disc, both are that good. April 9, 2008

Lord, have mercy in this cotton field!

Buddy Guy is one of my favorite all time blues artists, behind only the great Howlin' Wolf and John Lee Hooker, as well my favorite blues guitarist along with Otis Rush. A Man and the Blues is his first studio album, and regarded by many as his best. It might just be his best studio album, but if you are just now getting into Guy, I would start elsewhere. My favorite of his CD's in order are Buddy's Blues (Chess 50th Anniversary Collection) (his best Chess singles), DJ Play My Blues (his best live album), and Slippin' In (Silverstone album with no celebrity guests or pop covers). But I won't argue the fact that A Man and the Blues is essential Buddy Guy as well as essential for any blues collection.

If you are expecting the frenetic Buddy Guy who not a single performer in the business can't match for pure energy and passion, you will not be getting that here. But, if you want a more soulful, controlled-passion Guy, then this is the best representation of that side. I love it when Buddy lets out a long, energetic guitar solo that will absolutely sear the flesh, but he doesn't have to play like that to impassion one`s soul, a fact he proves masterfully with this album. Also on this album is Otis Spann, widely acknowledged as the greatest blues pianist of all time, so naturally he is a great addition. He plays the perfectly understated piano, never stealing any of Buddy's fire, always firmly aware that this is Buddy's album, but when called upon he does his thing perfectly.

The album starts out with a soft number, "A Man and the Blues" (penned by Buddy), with Buddy playing a perfectly gentle guitar. The next song is "I Can't Quit the Blues," one of many jams on the album, and Guy's guitar shines. Next Buddy covers the Barret Strong song "Money (That's What I Want)," probably the catchiest song on the album. I find Guy's version superior to Barret's (although I am a bit biased), certainly more inspired and passionate. It seems more energetic and upbeat. Buddy's vocals on this song blow Barret's out of the water. Buddy has one of the most powerful voices in blues, and this album displays it very well. In addition to that, Guy's guitar on this song is just excellent. The solo in this song is one of my favorite rockin' solos ever, and Guy finds three great melodies on his guitar. Next comes another slow burner, "One Room Country Shack." This is it, that gem of a song you find every now and then, the one that gives you goosebumps as only the blues can. Otis's piano in this song is extremely eerie, making ample use of the flatted fifth interval, and Guy's vocals are equally haunting ("Lord, have mercy in this cotton field"). As other reviewers have already stated, this is what the blues is all about. After that comes "Mary Had a Little Lamb," which is superior to Vaughan's version, "Just Playing My Axe," another jam, "Sweet Little Angel" and "Worry, Worry," two slow B.B. King covers that are very similar to "A Man and the Blues," and "Jam on a Monday Morning," where Otis in particular shines.

So, if you want to hear the Buddy Guy that inspired Clapton, Hendrix, and so many others, look elsewhere, but if you want some great soulful, if soft, Chicago blues like only the masters can deliver, don't hesitate to pick up A Man and the Blues.

Also, if you like Buddy, you should get into Otis Rush. July 10, 2007

My Favorite Buddy Guy disc

Releases since on Silvertone definitely are a step up in production over this short old LP. BUT as noted by others, THIS is a definite benchmark. If I had to count my most listened to discs over the past 20+ years this one would rate very high. It never gets old, classic in every sense of the word. Definitive Chicago blues sound. A must have by any blues listener. February 26, 2007

Straight to your soul

I've been listening to Buddy Guy play the blues for thirty years. I've seen him in concert 6-8 times. I think he is the most talented blues guitarist, bar none, that there is. I laughed when I compared his recording of "Five Long Years" with Eric Clapton. This album is one of the first I listened to and is still one of my favorites. "One Room Country Shack" is what the blues are all about. He finds notes on the guitar that aren't there and his plainitve voice singing " why don't you make connection with me, give me some kind of good deal" grabs you by the soul and don't let go. He also does uptempo on "Money" and makes a pop song the blues. If you don't love this album quit listening to the blues, you don't get it. March 22, 2006

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