💿 ALBUM REVIEW: Junior Wells & Buddy Guy – New York City Blues – Live 1978 (CD)

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Can’t tell you how excited I am to get this new live release from Jr. Wells and Budddy Guy.  Recorded Live in NYC the release opens with Cleo’s Back, a funky instrumental led by Douglas Fagen on sax and anchored by Kenny Ray grinding it out on bass and Merle Perkins sounding snappy on drums. Buddy breaks away with real nice guitar solo and and you know it’s going to be a special night. Ray lays in a really nice bass line for The Thrill Is Gone and Guy lays down an electrifying intro. Junior Wells take center stage and his vocals are rich and enveloping. Exceptional, deep deep blues, How Blue Can You Get, starts real low with light drum and bass but with Guy creeping in with explosive riffs that will curl your hair! Front and center, Guy has the crowd (and me) mesmerized with his awe expiring vocals and deep well of guitar riffs. Never one to mince words and always talking to the audience you get the full Buddy Guy experience. I’ve probably seen Buddy at least 8 times and he always blows me away.  Fagen’s heavy footed bass and single handed snaps are perfect to highlight Guy’s emotional vocal bursts. I listen to him talk the story and I can see him smiling with his gold tooth shining, and oh when he rails that Stratocaster it’s pure bliss. Amazing! Another monster track, Help Me is one of my all time favorite blues tracks. Wells starts the track off with trademark harmonica riffs and belts out the blues with rock solid bass lines by Ray. The mix on this release is pretty incredible and it feels like Wells’ harmonica is in the room. Buddy starts his lead down low and slow but you know the frenzy is building. 

Fagen lays in a real nice sax solo driving the groove even deeper ’til Wells takes over for the dynamic conclusion. Very nice. Wells vocals on Ships On The Ocean backed up by his exceptional harp tone leading into his classic, Someday Baby really sets a romping pace. Early In The Morning is another terrific entry with Wells on lead vocal and harmonica. His harp work is exceptional and Perkins really shines on drums. Trademark track, Juke, really rocks it and Wells is harping out. Wrapping the release is a short instrumental jam that leaves you wanting more.  

Bman’s Verdict This may be the best album you hear this year. Just saying. They ain’t making any more like this. Exceptional!!

Label: Cleopatra  Released: 7/17/2026