Buddy Guy, Junior Mance & Junior Wells – Buddy and the Juniors [Stereo] (Verve Acoustic Sounds Series Edition)

(AAA) — Lacquers cut from the original analog master tapes by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab at Blue Heaven Studios.

Buddy Guy, Junior Mance & Junior Wells — Buddy and the Juniors

Acoustic Sounds Series reissues from Verve/Universal Music Enterprises!

Monthly releases highlighting the world's most historic and best jazz records!

Mastered by Matthew Lutthans from the original analog tapes

180-gram LP pressed at Quality Record Pressings!

Stoughton Printing gatefold old-style tip-on jackets

Series supervised by Chad Kassem CEO of Acoustic Sounds

One of Chicago blues' most dynamic duos, Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, together with the talented pianist Junior Mance on the sensational Buddy and the Juniors. Originally issued in 1970 by Blue Thumb Records and deservedly back in print, Buddy and the Juniors came about when then-fledgling producer Michael Cuscuna (and future jazz-producing legend) tried to rustle up some dough to finish a Buddy Guy project for Vanguard (the label refused to pay for the star's plane ticket to a mixing session) by booking a fast cheap date with the two Juniors.

The fix? Throw Buddy into a studio with two certified masters: Junior Wells on harmonica and vocals (the original blues troublemaker), and Junior Mance, a jazz-blues pianist whose left hand could probably fix a broken transmission. On December 18, 1969, they hit record, and Buddy and the Juniors was born — gritty, raw, acoustic, and completely unforgettable.

Highlights of this essential album are the immortal "Hoochie Coochie Man," "Five Long Years," "Rock Me Mama," "Ain't No Need" and "Buddy's Blues." On "Hoochie Coochie Man," Buddy's guitar testifies, Junior Wells preaches, and you feel every syllable in your spine. Likewise, on "Rock Me Mama," Wells gets raunchy, Buddy gets riffy, and you'll be nodding along involuntarily.

This is a vinyl LP reissue unmatched. Mastering by Matthew Lutthans at The Mastering Lab from the original analog tape, and pressed on 180-gram vinyl at Quality Record Pressings! Plus it's housed in a Stoughton Printing Old Style Tip-On gatefold jacket

Because this wasn't about perfect takes — it was about truth — Buddy and the Juniors is a historic must-have for your album collection. You've got a bluesman at the top of his game (Buddy), a harmonica player who could blow the paint off the walls (Wells), and a pianist with jazz chops deep enough to keep it all grooving (Mance). They weren't aiming for a hit — they were just telling stories. And that honesty? You can hear it in every note. It's raw, it's rootsy, and it swings — and that makes it a must-have for anyone who loves the soul at the heart of the genre.

(Above description from AcousticSounds.com)