Buddy Guy
Heavy Love
Silvertone
A fine album of heavy, guitar-based blues from one of the few living legends in the world of genuine, Chicago-based guitar blues. Since I knew very little about Buddy Guy, I decided to check out his Web site (www.buddyguys.com) and educate myself before attempting writing this review.
I found out that Buddy Guy has rubbed elbows and switchblade knives with the originals like Howlin’ Wolf, Muddy Waters, Sonny Boy Williamson, et al. Other blues musicians about which I possess but a rudimentary knowledge of. Which is kind of criminal since these musicians (along with Chuck Berry) were the heroes of the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, and all the rest of the British blues bands of the 1960’s. Buddy Guy has won several Grammys as well.
Now that I am sufficiently up to speed with Buddy Guy, let’s look at the album. Looks like a typical CD, rectangular in shape, opening it up, the CD itself is black and white polka-dots. (Guffaw!) the man has style, I’ll say that! OK! Song-wise, there are eleven rocking blues numbers, including a cover of Z.Z. Top’s “I Need You Tonight.” “Had A Bad Night” and “Let Me Show You How” are new songs that rock well. But my favorite is the hard and heavy Willie Dixon tune “I Just Want To Make Love To You” that served to turn on many a hard rock band from the Stones to Foghat. Silvertone Records, 137-139 W. 25th Street, New York, NY 10001-7200
