Stone Crazy!
1981 – Buddy Guy
So, to follow up my bit on Junior Wells, why not segue right into his partner in crime who happens to be one of the greatest blues singers and guitarists in the world, Mr. Buddy Guy?
When I need some aggressively insane blues guitar solos – Stone Crazy! is my go to! This record packs a punch, a punch of blues that is.
George Buddy Guy is the trifecta of blues musicians – he has the skill, he has an incredible singing voice and he has the attitude to kick you right in the nuts with the blues. I consider myself very lucky to have been able to see Mr. Guy live and in person on 3 different occasions. He was smokin’ hot every time!
Stone Crazy!
Alligator Records
Side One
- I Smell a Rat
- Are You Losing Your Mind
- You’ve Been Gone Too Long
Side Two
- She’s Out There Somewhere
- Outskirts Of Town
- When I Left Home
Originally released as “The Blues Giant” and produced by Didier Tricard, this is the fourth studio album by the blues giant. I don’t know if it was the vibe in France when these cats were there to record, but this is the real deal folks and the bad-ass version of Buddy Guy was just completely unleashed on the tape recorder at Concoret Studios, Toulouse, France.
This record was the result of a 13 song session that was recorded October 31st, 1979 for two different albums. The line up was the same for both albums, but Junior Wells only played on his record “Pleading The Blues“.
Musicians
- Buddy Guy – Lead Vocal & Guitar
- Phil Guy (Buddy’s Brother) – Rhythm Guitar
- J.W. Williams – Bass
- Ray Allison – Drums
Hard to pick a favorite on this one, but I would have to say “You’ve Been Gone Too Long” has the groove and killer solos that have become Buddy’s signature, backed up by this solid rhythm section, the tune just blows me away every time.
On “When I Left Home” Buddy gets so quiet you can barely hear him. Then he peels back the skin to reveal the inside with blistering guitar solos that tear into your very soul. The man is in pain and you can feel it.
“Are You Losing Your Mind” is an amazing slow blues number that Buddy lets his guitar tell you how it is and people, it surely is cold at the end of crazy street.
“Oh, you know it snowed in Chicago
‘Till I can walk down the streets you know and I couldn’t see myself
Well you know I was tryin’ to find my baby
You know she was right over, right over snowin’ with somebody else”
– Buddy Guy – Are You losing Your Mind
If you don’t have any Buddy Guy, shame on you – but this is a great one to start with. You can pick up “Stone Crazy!” here. It’s raw and emotional and on vinyl, the man sounds like he’s in the room with you. Turn this album up, then turn it up some more.
