Buddy Guy's Living Proof-BMA's album of the year

Posted by: Max Bass on 07 May 2011

Buddy Guy's"Living Proof" recording awarded album of the year at last night's Blues Music Awards show in Memphis, Tennessee. For those that may not know, the BMA's are the Blues industry's equivalent of the Grammys, but with substance. Many top blues artists are in town that weekend for the show as well as playing in the clubs along Beale St. It's a great weekend for any music fan, especially the blues fan.

I wanted to recommend this album in the 2010 best albums thread, but the forum change over occurred and everything was half cocked . . . . Anyway, a very belated best blues album nod to a very accessible, very enjoyable recording. The duo with B.B. King is worth the price of admission alone, I think you will not be dissapointed. And the production/sound is excellent . . . congrats to Buddy Guy!

Other winners include Derek Trucks, Solomon Burke, Charlie Musselwhite . . . you can check out the full list of winners here: http://www.blues.org/#

Best, Max

Posted on: 07 May 2011 by Gale 401

Max,

I think its been a very long time coming,That sounds like a few words to a good song

The man deserves it big time imo.

Posted on: 09 May 2011 by mlauner

As good as this recording is, it cannot hold a candle to his live performances.Possibly the finest living blues guitar player!

Posted on: 09 May 2011 by fred simon

I love Buddy Guy ... coincidently, I just got the 3-CD set of Chicago Blues Today, recorded almost 50 years ago. For anyone who digs Chicago blues, this is a must: a young Buddy Guy, Junior Walker, Otis Rush, J. B. Hutto, Otis Spann, and other pioneers of the Chicago scene. Just $17 on Amazon ... one of the best bangs for your buck around!

Posted on: 13 May 2011 by ewemon

Have to say it isn't one of my favourite Buddy discs. I have hardly played it since I bought it.

Posted on: 15 May 2011 by Max Bass

Hi ewemon, nice to see you around. Would be most interested to hear your recommendations for Buddy Guy. The one that imediately comes to mind is "West Side Soul" but he is a sidemen on that one.

I usually don't buy current music, so when this one was suggested I liked it because it stays grounded in the blues tradition and forms, and moves if forward some. If you're a guitar player, you gotta love the amazing guitar work Buddy is doing at . . . 74? The production is really good on this, it's got a live, open, dynamic sound, as well as some sweet rawness. There's some good songs on the disc . . . I really like the duet with BB King.

Posted on: 15 May 2011 by Max Bass

Originally Posted by fred simon:

3-CD set of Chicago Blues Today, recorded almost 50 years ago. For anyone who digs Chicago blues, this is a must: a young Buddy Guy, Junior Walker, Otis Rush, J. B. Hutto, Otis Spann, and other pioneers of the Chicago scene . . . .

Hi Fred-

This is a really good collection of west side Chicago blues. I'm glad you mentioned it. My two favorite sets being James Cotton, "Cotton Crop Blues" and "Rocket 88" absolute killers! The other being Otis Rush. Also, how about the picture of a young Jimmy Hendrix holding a vinyl copy of Chicago Blues Today in the record store?!

Max

Posted on: 15 May 2011 by fred simon

Originally Posted by Max Bass:

Originally Posted by fred simon:

Hi Fred-

Max

"Call what you want, but I call it messin' with the Kid!"

Jimi Hendrix learned a lot from these masters ... his Red House on Hendrix In The West is one of the greatest blues performances I've ever heard.

Speaking of which, have you ever heard Variations On A Theme: Red House ... ? From at least 15 years ago, released as an educational CD with booklet by the Hal Leonard music publishing house, it features six different live performances of Red House by Hendrix, and a studio version by John Lee Hooker. All the Hendrix performances are great, especially one recorded at Albert Hall on February 24, 1969.