You Are Quite Correct Sir

It could be argued that Damn Right, I've Got The Blues, made several decades into an illustrious career, is the first real Buddy Guy album and perhaps to this day still the best. Although acknowledged by white blues rock musicians as a major influence and inspiration, record companies had been careless in their recording of him with too many time constraints and novelty crossover attempts. The often indisciplined and erratic live performances hadn't helped the cause either. But finally with this album, the resources were made available to record an extended and thought through project of undistilled Chicago blues in state of the art sound. There are the obligatory guest appearances from such as Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck and both contribute characteristic solos to the two tracks they appear on but the spotlight is firmly on Guy and his mainly white backing band who offer tight and funky support. Neil Hubbard's guitar contributions are more important than those of the two superstars since they underpin the sound and allow Buddy Guy the freedom to demonstrate his genius. The piano of Pete Wingfield and soulful organ of the erstwhile Wynder K Frog ( Mick Weaver ) are also important and Little Feat's Richie Hayward makes the ideal drummer. But the album is rightly and firmly Buddy Guy's. His underrated voice is allowed to show how heartfelt and interpretative it can be but the real joy is to have a document of the blistering electric guitar tradition of which he is now one of the last remaining true exponents.