The last few years have been just remarkable for a number of seriously mature (as they used to say, superannuated) artists who have been getting the respect and opportunities they deserve to put out excellent new music. Willie Nelson, David Crosby, and Mavis Staples all come to mind as having recently put out remarkable new work late in life. Last year John Mayall, at 88, put out a beautiful new album.
And then there’s Buddy Guy. At 86 years old, Buddy stomps all over this expansive two-disc set that just came out late in 2022. The songs are mostly by producer Tom Hambridge, Guy’s partner for five albums, and like his last one, it’s filled with guest stars. Ordinarily, I find guest stars to be an annoying distraction when you’re dealing with a legend like Buddy Guy, but Hambridge puts them to best use, so they only contribute, never take over. A duet with Mavis Staples is so real and true and filled with love. Another with Bobby Rush is in the old blues tradition, and just sounds like two greats having fun. The other guests just do what they do and don’t get in the way.
There isn’t a dull moment or a song that should have been left off, and Buddy opens the last side showing Lennon and McCartney how “I’ve Got A Feeling” should always have been done.
And I have to add a personal note here, because I just found out that the recording engineer on this is none other than Ducky Carlisle, an important part of the Syracuse music scene back when we were young and the drummer on the only record that I ever designed a cover for. We’ll get to that story someday, if I ever get through to the letter ‘O’ in this project.
