Search - Buddy Guy :: Can't Quit the Blues (W/Dvd)

Can't Quit watching "Buddy Live"

Stephen Anthony | Boston, MA | 11/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This package is advertised as a Boxed Set that includes a bonus DVD. For casual Buddy fans this may ring true, but for die hard Buddy fans it's all about the DVD. The documentary is the best ever about Buddy and His life. With extensive live footage throughout, you will sit in a state of awe as the "BEST GUITARIST" ever, frantically expels doses of raw emotion both vocally and with his guitar. The collection of songs on the CD's are great,but the price of the box set would be worth it, even if only the DVD was included. He's that moving "LIVE"."

A Must Have For Buddy Guy Fans.

John Kellogg | Greeley, CO. USA | 12/28/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, this box set is not perfect, mainly for what was left out of it, but if you judge it for what they did put in it, I think the only conclusion you can come to is that it's a tremendous success.



Buddy Guy's career is going on 50 years, so for there to be only 13 tracks devoted to the first 25 years or so of his career is indeed leaving a lot out, but Silvertone has done a good job of cherry-picking the highlights of that era, including two tracks from Hoodoo Man Blues, on which Guy was a sideman to Junior Wells. Two discs would have been more appropriate for this pre-Silvertone work, but what has been crammed onto one disc does touch on the highlights of that time period.



The remaining two discs cover his Silvertone work, but again, there is nary a scrap of fat to be found. This is all prime Buddy Guy, rippling with electricity and raw emotion. For completists, there are a few unreleased tracks scattered throughout, and you know what? They're all good enough to make you wonder why they weren't released.



The DVD is very well produced, and for those who may have all of Guy's albums, this is what sells the box set. First, you get a 90 minute documentary featuring a very casual and relaxed Buddy Guy talking about everything from growing up in Louisiana, to seeing his first electric guitar, to the sight of a streaking Junior Wells. The interview is intertwined with performance footage (most of which can be seen in total in the concert footage section of the DVD).



In addition, the DVD has a section of complete live performances, the best of which probably being Buddy with Junior Wells at the 1974 Montreux Jazz Festival. Those who have heard the Guy/Wells album "Drinkin' TNT 'n' Smokin' Dynamite" will recognize the performances, and the added visuals only heighten the experience. Again, several phases of Guy's career are touched on, as a sideman with Wells, as a solo electric performer, and even as an acoustic performer.



And presentation-wise, everything is top-notch. The package unfolds to reveal a thick, glossy booklet that features information on all of the tracks included (date it was recorded, date it was released, what album it appeared on, who played on the track, etc.), great photos, and a well-written essay on Mr. Guy.



For a Buddy Guy fan, there's nothing not to like here. Sure, more pre-Silvertone material would have been greatly appreciated, but it's also tough to dismiss the prime material that has been included. Can't Quit the Blues is a fine box set that can be enjoyed by both hardcore fans of Buddy Guy, as well as casual fans of his music."

This Buddy Guy DVD is a Must!

Perry Celestino | Tahmoor, NSW Australia | 04/15/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Boxed Set is an excellent overview of Buddy Guy's career. It is well presented and has a comprehensive song selection but the absolute highlight is the DVD. Like Albert King, early B.B. King and just about everyone else, material on these legends is scarce! The DVD contains eleven performances from different stages of Guy's career. The first two are from Montreux in 1974 with Junior Wells, Pinetop Perkins and Bill Wyman on Bass. This is a must because this set is not longer available in the States. Junior also plays his chromatic harp, in the style of Little Walter, on "Ten Years Ago" and they also do a slow version of Junior's "Hoodoo Man Blues" (a title, interestingly which came from a Louis Jordan tune). It is fantastic. Buddy plays through a solid state Japanese-made amp for the first time (they were the Montreux House Amps that year)and it has quite an unsual sound. It is similar to the one he had playing through the Leslie Speakers when his amp blew up while recording on Junior's original "Hoodoo Man" LP(1962). These two numbers remind me of seeing Buddy in NY in 1967 by himself (Jr and the Band didn't show up)he just carried on and played out the door of the Cafe Au GoGo with his long lead, just like in "Drownin' On Dry Land" in this set.



"Messin' with the Kid" and "Come On This House" are also gems from Montreux in 1978. On the first two tunes in 1974 they were essentially backing Muddy Waters (as they did in the 1950s) but here they are stars in their own right after the release of their early 1970s hit LP. It is great and features "Fast Fingers" Jimmy Dawkins on second Guitar (his only ever early video clip as far as I know! He is also featured on the recent Delmark release "Tail Dragger"). He plays a better solo on "Messin' With The Kid" than Buddy!



"Sweet Little Angel", a Robert Nighthawk hit and B.B. King tune recorded many times (B.B.'s most famous version: "Live At The Regal")has been done many times by Buddy too. This one is done at Montreux in 1992. I like his version on the "Real Deal" DVD with the SNL Band. This however, is also a strong version.



"Damn Right, I Got The Blues" is from Buddy's comeback period commencing in the early 1990s when there was a short Blues Revival period following the death of SRV. We are still at Montreux in 1998 and the band cooks for this performance. It is great.



"Drowning On Dry Land", "Tramp",and "Mustang Sally" are from Montreux again in 2002. It is important to note that these are NOT the performances issued last year with the Carlos Santana package. These are good, but in all honesty, the band on the Santana set is much better, for one thing the keyboardist from Otis Rush's band is magnificent. Buddy does the Buddy thing at the end and sings without a mike when it fails.



The final two performances are acoustic, something he has added to his shows since the middle 1990s. The performance of "What I'd Say", since Ray Charles has died, is particularly interesting. The solo acoustic "Louise McGhee" from 2004 closes the set.



The 75 minute documentary with this DVD is also a must to see. OK, most of it we have heard many times over the years on other releases, about going to Chicago (he remembers the day in September), and meeting Muddy Waters who fed him and so on. This is all well done and presented and you can watch this many times. The snippets of performances are what really shines here. "Red House" with Joe Satriani is cool and the clips of him (I think it's at Antones!!! In Dallas!) of "The Things I Used to Do" and others we wish they would release that whole set!!!!



Interesting final note: this DVD like so many Blues DVDs in the last 5 years or so (AFBF 3 Vols; Albert King in Sweden and more)was produced by Janie Hendrix and Experience Hendrix Productions. Janie Hendrix is not Jimi's daughter if you are interested. Jimi's father Al remarried and Janie was his stepdaughter from his second marriage.



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