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REVIEWS

Buddy Guy—The Blues Don't Lie—Sony Music ASIN :
B0B9C9223B
Buddy Guy's latest album blasts off with the funky ‘I Let My Guitar

Do The Talking’ with its wah-wah guitar and brass and Buddy's
strong vocals sounding like a much younger man than his 86
years. The album is again produced by Tom Hambridge (who also
plays drums and helped write the songs) with guests including
Mavis Staples, James Taylor, Elvis Costello, Bobby Rush and Jason

Isbell. The title track is a poignant story of life's tribulations with
name checks for Junior Wells and Sonny Boy Williamson and 'The
World Needs Love' is a slow blues with wailing blues lead guitar from Buddy and excellent piano

from Reese Wynans.

Mavis Staples is the first of the guests to step up with 'We Go Back' as she shares the vocals with
Buddy describing the events of the 1960s when "the blues was everywhere", then it's Elvis
Costello (?) on 'Symptoms of Love' a fun, funky rocker and then James Taylor helps out on

'Follow the Money'. 'What's Wrong with That' is a funk fest with Bobby Rush—Bobby came to
Chicago about the same time as Buddy in the early 60s but later went back down South—and
the playout features Bobby's harp. Jason Isbell joins Buddy for 'Gunsmoke Blues' a heartfelt

song advocating gun control and the final guest Wendy Moten joins Buddy for the rocking
'House Party'.

The guests add a bit of variety to the album but in truth Buddy doesn't really need them - 'Well

Enough Alone' starts off as a nice almost country blues with just Buddy's guitar before the band
join in and it turns into a modern day Chicago blues classic that reminded me of the songs of
Willie Dixon. 'Sweet Thing' and 'Rabbit Blood' are also slow blues that evoke some of Buddy's
1960s Chicago blues, while 'Back Door Scratching' is definitely a modern 21st century blues and

'Last Call’ is a jazzy song.

However, the final track (there are 16 tracks here!) sees Buddy playing traditional blues with a
lovely acoustic version of Slim Harpo's 'King Bee'. Like its predecessor 'The Blues is Alive and

Well' this album is excellent, I can't believe how good Buddy's vocals are throughout and his
guitar playing also hits the spot. Tom Hambridge's production is also perfect with just the right
balance between the traditional blues and more modern modes, similarly the songs reflect on
both serious weighty issues and also more playful innuendos.

Ladies and gentlemen I think we have here the Blues Album of the Year!

Graham Harrison