Junior Wells Featuring Buddy Guy Pleading The Blues

180 Gram Vinyl! Re-mastering by Ray Staff at Air Mastering! Pressed at Pallas in Germany!
Five stars are just not enough for this great material, harp playing and that man Buddy Guy on guitar supported by his brother. Gems one and all. If you are a fan of one or both it is a must.
Recorded on Halloween night in 1979, this pairs up Wells and Guy in a fashion that hasn't been heard since Hoodoo Man Blues, their first, and best collaboration. Solid backing by The Philip Guy band (Buddy's brother) makes this album a rare treat.
"Wells and Guy would produce some of the most unabashed and deeply cool West Side blues recordings. There's the gentle blues shuffle of "It Hurts Me Too," made famous by Elmore James. There's the electric-blues muscle of the title tune. Finally, as a bonus track, there's the funky, clearly James Brown-influenced "I Smell Something." This is a fine recording - and certainly one of Junior's best little-known releases." - Nick DeRiso, Something Else! Reviews
The year was 1959. The occasion was a blues competition ('Battle of the Blues') at the Blue Flame Club in Chicago. A young harmonica player named Junior Wells — who had started in Muddy Waters' band in 1952 as a replacement for Little Walter Jacobs — probably didn't expect to end up in second place. After all, he had already surpassed both Otis Rush and Magic Sam. But then it was the turn of this thin young guy from Louisiana with his flying fingers – Buddy Guy, who made it to first place. At the height of his murderous solo, Guy threw his guitar into the air and caught it again on his neck - with just one hand. While he slid through his fingers, Buddy created a kind of full-toned sigh with his guitar. The crowd was going crazy. It was the beginning of a wonderful friendship.
With this chance encounter, more than a partnership began. This early and deep respect carried over to a relationship that in a way enhanced Well's early recordings by working with one of the most important people in the blues field. Wells and Guy have produced some of the most intrepid and really cool West Side Blues recordings.
This album, recorded in 1979 for the French label Isabel, is a counterpart to Guy's recording "Blues Giant" from the same year. One of the highlights is the gentle blues "It Hurts Me Too", made famous by Elmore James. Then there is the powerful electric blues of the title track and last but not least as a bonus track the funky, clearly influenced by James Brown "I Smell Something".
This is a wonderful recording – certainly one of Wells' best lesser-known releases.

Features:

• 180 Gram Vinyl
• Pressed at Pallas in Germany
• Re-mastering by Ray Staff at Air Mastering, Lyndhurst Hall, London

Musicians:

• Junior Wells, harmonica, vocals
• Buddy Guy, lead guitar
• Phil Guy, rhythm guitar
• J. Williams, bass
• Ray Allison, drums

Selections:

Side A
1. Pleading the Blues
2. It Hurts Me Too
3. Cut Out the Lights
Side B
1. Just For My Baby
2. Quit Teasing My Baby
3. I'll Take Care Of You
4. Take Your Time Baby