Buddy Guy - The Buddy Guy Collection (CD 2000)

These are original Chess recordings recorded in the early Sixties when Guy was usually accompanying Muddy Waters, or other Chess artists.The Classic is ofcourse "First time i met the blues", and "Broken hearted blues", and "When my left eye pops(What a title!)aren't far behind.

Guy's guitar work is simply stunning, and despite his well received recent success on the "Silvertone" label he never quite, to these ears,successfully bettered his Chess sides.

Normally backed by Saxaphones,bass, another guitar, and drums the sound is primitive and if you really wish to treat yourself buy "The Complete Chess recordings" which is fairly easy to find.The only problem with this double cd is that the outakes can be annoying, particually when there are 5 versions of certain tracks one after another.

Guy went on to record several albums overseas, particually in Europe, and for Vanguard in the States, but most are uneven and only a CD on the Alligator label called "Stone Crazy"(Not the Chess track) recorded in Paris in 1979 is worth seeking out.

Finally, Guy has made several albums for the Silvertone label with great success but i find them hard going, although their is a "Best of" available on Silvertone so maybe you could sample his work on this label on this disc.?

Buddy guy is a classic case of a brilliant singer, and guitarist who never really found blues superstardom, when he should have, but stick with the "Chess" sides and you are in for a real treat.