Buddy Guy

One look at the release date (1974, when all music was just better) and album artwork, not to mention the title of the thing, and you know you are in for bluesy good times. Buddy Guy is at his youthfully incendiary best and the added attraction of Junior Wells' raucous harmonica playing and even more raucous shouting makes this one of those albums worth checking out simply because it exists. Wells and Guy drip with "we are two extremely cool dudes" vibes here and, as with all of Guy's best stuff, the intensity and flash is held in check, dealt sparingly for maximum power.

I assume this 1974 live-at-Montreux was finally released because it features Bill Wyman, who does seem to know the parts, but saints be praised, he's not the star. Saints be criticized, neither is Wells, who was once a sharper, tighter singer. He's plenty soulful, though, especially on harp, and Guy picks up the slack--listen to him think on "Ten Years Ago." (Grade - B+)