New Buddy Guy - "Blues Singer"

Splendid! I gotta git it!

Bought it today at Borders, put it on and was doing some chores around the house, so not a close listen yet. No complaints, but probably no Handy Award either.

I wonder if this recording is some sort of a response to Sweet Tea's psychodelica? I don't know, but I'm still kinda cool to Sweet Tea. Sometimes I think that it's unlistenable--all that reverb! It's as if Buddy has just discovered the fun of pedals, and he's got 'em all turned up to "11." Still not sure of the point of it all.

Anyway, I think that Blues Singer seems to be an answer to all of those who thought that Sweet Tea was too far out. This latest effort seems to be Buddy saying, "See, I still sing the blues!" I don't think that Buddy needs to do this; I just want him to play the music that HE wants to play. The thing is, Blues Singer is probably closer to home for him. After all, he's pretty much the living history of post-war (that's WW II, y'all!) blues.

Comments? Thoughts?

Hdm: I have to appreciate your honesty. You make a good argument, and I sorta agree. But Buddy has been through it all and has come out shining. Yes, Blues Singer is a B- at best, but wudda ya gonna do? He's a earned a chance to ride his rep' for a little while. Let's all raise a glass to him!

Interesting footnote: The recording engineers rented the vintage microphones from the company that recorded the "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" soundtrack. This from an interview with Buddy in Blues Revue. Makes me want to check out sonic similarities b/n the two recordings . . .

Unfortunately, Buddy has only two entries in the Alligator catalog: "Stone Crazy" and "Alone and Acoustic," the latter, of course, is shared with Junior Wells.

It's a shame, because both of these recordings are arguably his best performances. I believe that Buddy and Bruce Igueler (sp?) of Alligator had a bit of a falling out, and Buddy did not have a record release in the U.S. for over 10 years--a true crime. And I just don't get it because Albert Collins had all the support in the world from Alligator; what made Buddy so different? Alone and Acoustic sat in the can until "Damn Right I Got The Blues"--on Silvertone--was released. I guess Alligator finally believed that it had a "viable product." Don't you just "LOVE" the record industry??? It's things like this for which Buddy need make no apologies.