Albums That Deserve Another Listen

Junior Wells - It's My Life, Baby (Vanguard VSD-79231)

Tracks:

01. It's My Life, Baby

02. It's So Sad to Be Lonely

03. Country Girl

04. You Lied to Me

05. Stormy Monday Blues

06. Shake It Baby

07. Checking on My Baby

08. Early in the Morning

09. (I Got a) Stomach Ache

10. Look How Baby

11. Slow, Slow

12. Everything's Going to Be Alright

Live performances from Pepper's Lounge on the South Side Chicago 1966.

Without doubt my favorite Junior Wells & Buddy Guy album. Initial reviews were not particularly favorable, but I loved it from the first note to the last and played it over and over. To my ears Junior and Buddy never sounded better, in particular I loved the slow grinding blues numbers on this album, with Buddy Guy's stinging clean-note runs. The choice of songs was brilliant. The musicianship was top shelf. The inclusion of the live recordings from Pepper's Lounge added raw earthiness to the album. All in all an utter classic. Mid-1960s Chicago blues doesn't get better than this.

Reviews:

Although It's My Life, Baby was decent mid-'60s electric Chicago blues, coming so soon after Junior Wells' 1965 classic Hoodoo Man Blues - one of the greatest blues LPs ever - it was something of a disappointment. Wells' chief right-hand man for Hoodoo Man Blues, guitarist Buddy Guy, was still on board for these recordings, but the band arrangements weren't quite as tight. More crucially, the material wasn't as good or innovative, giving far more weight to slow blues with standard progressions, and relatively little attention to the funk-soul-Latin influences that had supplied several of Hoodoo Man Blues' finest moments. Finally, the decision to mix studio recordings with live tracks (recorded at Pepper's Lounge in Chicago) could be questioned, as it lent the record an inconsistency, particularly as different bands were used live and in the studio. Taken on its own terms, however, it's certainly respectable, at times revving up the energy for an infectious bounce. "Country Girl," for instance, stands in peppy contrast to the relatively sleepy slow tunes; "Shake It Baby" revives some of the soul feeling of the Hoodoo Man Blues sessions; and "I Got A Stomach Ache" is funky in a silly but fun way. (Richie Unterberger)

It's My Life, Baby is a rockin' Chicago blues release by one of the most memorable duos in the music's history. It's not just Junior Wells and Buddy guy shining here, though, because this album has some fantastic drumwork from the great Fred Below. This album is half live, mixing studio recordings with performances from Pepper’s Lounge on Chicago's South Side. Junior and Buddy are in top form here, and the crowd banter (complete with the "ka-ching" of a cash register) enhances the experience. An effort which leaves little to be desired for blues fans, this album comes easily recommended. (JazzLoser)

It's My Life, Baby captured the Junior Wells-Buddy Guy team in great form, both in the studio and live at Pepper's Lounge on 43rd Street. This album tends a bit more towards slow blues, including a rare example of Wells' chromatic harmonica playing on 'Slow, Slow,' but there are fine uptempo pieces, including the blues-funk workout 'Stomach Ache,' which Vanguard even released as a single, and 'Checking on My Baby.' The backup musicians this time around include Leroy Stewart on bass, Fred Below and Little Al on drums, and a second guitarist, Walter Beasley. Two additional tracks from the Pepper's date were later released on Wells' Best of the Vanguard Years CD. Recorded in Chicago, 1966. Released on LP as Vanguard VRS-9231 (mono) and VSD-79231 (stereo) in 1966; on CD as Vanguard VMD-73120 in 1988/1990. (Jim O'Neal)

Gritty blues realism mixing studio sides with tough "live' recordings from Peppers Lounge on Chicago's South Side. Buddy Guy on blood-vessel busting guitar solos. Produced by Sam Charters. (Ace Records)

https://pixeldrain.com/u/RmzGfJL8