Release Date: November 1, 1991.
Recording Time: 59 minutes.
Recording Date: May 15, 1981.
Release Info: ALCD 4802, CD, Album, Reissue, Stereo.
Alone & Acoustic is an album by Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, released in 1991. It was recorded in 1981, in Paris, France, while the two were touring. The album has sold more than 100,000 copies. Along with Damn Right, I've Got the Blues, it marked a return to commercial success for Guy.
The album was produced by Didier Tricard. Guy played acoustic Guild guitars and Wells played harmonica; they both sang. Guy wrote three of the songs, including the opening "Give Me My Coat and Shoes". Ten tracks were originally released via an import album.
Rolling Stone called Alone & Acoustic "reflective and subdued," writing that "a warm spontaneity runs through the album." Robert Christgau praised ""High Heel Sneakers" and "Give Me My Coat and Shoes". The Orlando Sentinel determined that Guy's playing "on 12-and six-string acoustics is uncomplicated but as awesome as any daredevil run he has played on his Stratocaster." The Chicago Tribune thought that "the extroverted Guy now sounds like a soft, lyrical Mississippi bluesman virtually singing to himself … Wells remains a strong, dramatic, post-Muddy Waters singer, but the intimacy of the setting leads to his widening his already impressive dynamic range." AllMusic wrote that "this is acoustic street-corner blues at its best, performed with incredible expressiveness, ease, and joy."
* * * * *
The classic pairing of Buddy Guy and Junior Wells has been captured many times on vinyl, cassette, and disc over the years, but rarely with such intimacy and subtle, restrained energy as on this wonderful collection. Buddy Guy plays mostly 12 string guitar, and Junior laces his signature lines through the songs, engaging Guy in the kind of musical dialogue that only old friends can have. This is acoustic street-corner blues at its best, performed with incredible expressiveness, ease, and joy. One gets the feeling these two are just sitting down for a friendly jam session on a Saturday afternoon, and when things get loose, their laughter flows almost as freely as the music. Guy really shines on some of these tracks, his guitar lines fast, smooth, percussive, and seemingly effortless. Wells, always tasteful, plays counterpoint to Guy in the classic style and sings with honesty and conviction. What resulted is some absolutely fantastic music. ~ David Lavin
Credits: Design (Cover Design), Cover (Cover Design) - Matt Minde; Harmonica - Junior Wells; Liner Notes - Bruce Iglauer; Liner Notes, Compiled By (Additional Material Chosen For North American Release) - Bruce Iglauer; Mastered By - Dr. Toby Mountain; Photography By (Back Cover) - Paul Natkin; Photography By (Cover Photo) - Peter Amft; Producer - Didier Tricard; Twelve-String Guitar, Guitar (Six String) - Buddy Guy; Vocals - Buddy Guy (tracks: 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14 to 15.2), Junior Wells (tracks: 2, 4, 6, 8 to 10, 12, 13, 15.1, 15.2).
Tracklist:
- 01. Give Me My Coat And Shoes (Written-By - Buddy Guy) [3:15]
- 02. Big Boat (Buddy And Junior's Thing) (Written-By - Junior Wells) [5:13]
- 03. Sweet Black Girl (Written-By - Buddy Guy) [3:34]
- 04. Diggin' My Potatoes (Written-By - Sunny Joe) [4:28]
- 05. Don't Leave Me (Written-By - Buddy Guy) [3:42]
- 06. Rollin' And Tumblin' (Written-By - Traditional) [4:33]
- 07. I'm In The Mood (Written-By - Bernard Besman, John Lee Hooker) [3:22]
- 08. High Heel Sneakers (Written-By - Robert Higginbotham) [4:55]
- 09. Wrong Doing Woman (Written-By - Junior Wells) [2:58]
- 10. Cut You Loose (Written-By - Mel London) [4:39]
- 11. Sally Mae (Written-By - Bernard Besman, John Lee Hooker) [2:30]
- 12. Catfish Blues (Written-By - Traditional) [3:34]
- 13. My Home's In The Delta (Written-By - McKinley Morganfield) [3:05]
- 14. Boogie Chillen (Written-By - Bernard Besman, John Lee Hooker) [3:59]
- Medley: [5:43]
- 15.1. Baby What You Want Me To Do (Written-By - Jimmy Reed)
- 15.2. That's Allright (Written-By - James A. Lane)
Tracks 1 to 3, 5, 9 published by Editions Black & Blue admin. by Eyeball Music, BMI
Track 4 published by MCA Music, BMI
Tracks 6, 12 Public Domain
Tracks 7, 11, 14 published by La Cienega Music, BMI
Track 8 published by Lily Pond Music c/o MPL Music, BMI
Track 10 publisher unknown
Track 13 published by Watertoons Music/Arc Music, BMI
Track 15.1 published by Conrad Music, BM
Track 15.2 published by Arc Music, BMI