The world famed blues team gets back to its roots with a set of rare acoustic recordings cut in France in 1981. "A revelation...unrelentingly entertaining"--PULSE "A treasure"--MUSICIAN
Buddy Guy, Vocals *, 6- and12-String Guitar Junior Wells, Vocals #, Harmonica Produced by Didier Tricard Recorded May 15, 1981 at Sysmo Studio, Paris, France Cover photo by Peter Amft
Buddy Guy, Vocals *, 6- and12-String Guitar Junior Wells, Vocals #, Harmonica
Produced by Didier Tricard Recorded May 15, 1981 at Sysmo Studio, Paris, France Cover photo by Peter Amft Back cover photos by Paul Natkin/Photo Reserve Cover design by Matt Minde Originally issued in France on Isabel Records 900.510 under the title Going Back Additional material for North American release chosen by Bruce Iglauer Mastered by Dr. Toby Mountain at Northeastern Digital, Southborough, MA Photographed harmonica courtesy Lee Oskar Harmonicas Photographed guitar courtesy Andy Aledort
Special thanks to I.M.L. (representing Guild Guitars in France) and National Music of Paris Very special thanks to Marty Salzman and Scott Cameron
Liner Notes
BUDDY GUY AND JUNIOR WELLS are doubtlessly the best known duo in contemporary blues. Buddy is a groundbreaking, fiery electric blues guitarist and Junior is one of Chicago blues' master harmonica stylists. Both have been recording since the 1950s, and their best records are amongst the cream of modern blues recordings. They have toured all over the world, playing loud, tough, electric Chicago blues, accompanied by hot and hard rhythm sections.
In 1981, Buddy and Junior spent a day in a studio in Paris, in the midst of a European tour, getting back to their roots. Instead of their usual electric guitar and amplified harmonica, both played acoustic instruments. Instead of accompaniment by a full band, they were accompanied only by each other.
The results were an hour of intimate, relaxed blues, with many of the lyrics improvised on the spot. Together they paid homage to the Deep South acoustic blues tradition from which their contemporary music sprang, and to some of the bluesmen who inspired them. Buddy offered three originals and three John Lee Hooker classics. Junior sang two originals and paid tribute to his mentor, Muddy Waters, performing one of Muddy's own songs and two traditional Delta blues that were Waters' favorites. They played and sang acoustic versions of songs that had been made famous as electric blues by Jimmy Reed, Jimmy Rogers and Ricky Allen.
We at Alligator Records are very pleased to finally make these wonderful, very personal recordings available in North America. In addition to the songs which appeared on the original French release, Isabel Records has provided five previously unissued performances for our re-release.
"Damn good news for the blues…compelling originals and traditional standards performed in the raw Delta style Guy and Wells gew up with" - ROLLING STONE
"A revelation...unrelentingly entertaining" - PULSE
Track Name
Duration
1
Give Me My Coat And Shoes *
Author/Publisher: Guy, Editions Black & Blue admin. by Eyeball Music, BMI
3:15
2
Big Boat [Buddy And Junior's Thing] #
Author/Publisher: Wells, Editions Black & Blue admin. by Eyeball Music, BMI
5:13
3
Sweet Black Girl*
Author/Publisher: Guy, Editions Black & Blue admin. by Eyeball Music, BMI
3:34
4
Diggin' My Potatoes
Author/Publisher: Sunny Joe, MCA Music, BMI
4:28
5
Don't Leave Me *
Author/Publisher: Guy, Editions Black & Blue admin. by Eyeball Music, BMI
3:42
6
Rollin' And Tumblin'#
Author/Publisher: Traditional, Public Domain
4:33
7
I'm In The Mood
Author/Publisher: Hooker & Bessman, La Cienega Music, BMI
3:22
8
High Heel Sneakers *#
Author/Publisher: Higginbotham, Lily Pond Music c/o MPL Music, BMI
4:55
9
Wrong Doing Woman #
Author/Publisher: Wells, Editions Black & Blue admin. by Eyeball Music, BMI
2:58
10
Cut You Loose
Author/Publisher: London, Publisher Unknown
4:39
11
Sally Mae
Author/Publisher: Hooker & Bessman, La Cienega Music, BMI