Pleading the Blues

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Pleading the Blues - Wikipedia

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Pleading the Blues

Studio album by

Junior Wells

Released

1979

Recorded

October 31, 1979

Studio

Condorcet, Toulouse, France

Genre

Blues, Chicago blues

Length

38:53 (LP)
47:49 (CD)

Label

Isabel^[1]
Evidence

Producer

Didier Tricard

Junior Wells chronology

Play the Blues
(1972)

Pleading the Blues
(1979)

Going Back
(1981)

Alternative cover

The 1993 CD release cover

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[2]
MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide	^[3]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings	^[4]

Pleading the Blues is an album by Chicago blues harp player Junior Wells.^[5]^[6]^[7]

Background and recording

The first collaboration of Junior Wells and his long-time friend Buddy Guy dated back to the early 60s. Their first album Hoodoo Man Blues was recorded in 1965. They entered into the Condorcet Studios in Toulouse, France on October 31, 1979, when Buddy Guy was pleased to record an album with the French producer, Didier Tricard. To release those recordings, Tricard founded a new label; which was named Isabel by Buddy Guy, in honor of his mother. They recorded 13 songs for two different albums only in one day. One of them was released as a Buddy Guy album titled The Blues Giant, the other one was released as a Junior Wells album, titled Pleading the Blues. Junior Wells played only on his album, but the other musicians are the same on both albums. Buddy Guy and his younger brother Phil Guy played guitars, J. W. Williams played bass, and Ray "Killer" Allison drums. All lead guitars played by Buddy Guy, except "Cut Out the Lights" and the first lead of "I Smell Something" by Phil Guy.

Releases

It was originally released on the French label Isabel in 1979, titled Pleading the Blues. It was first released on CD by Isabel in 1990, including a bonus track. It was first released in the U.S. in 1993, on CD by Evidence, but with alternate track order.

Track listing

All tracks written by Junior Wells, except where noted

"Pleading the Blues" – 7:36
"It Hurts Me Too" (Hudson Whittaker a.k.a. Tampa Red) – 4:20
"Cut Out The Lights" – 7:40
"Just for My Baby" – 4:06
"Quit Teasing My Baby" – 4:24
"I'll Take Care of You" (Brook Benton) – 6:45
"Take Your Time Baby" – 4:02

CD bonus track

"I Smell Something" – 8:56

Personnel

Junior Wells – harmonica, vocals
Buddy Guy – guitars
Phil Guy – guitars
J.W. Williams – bass
Ray Allison – drums

References

^ KRAMPERT, PETER (March 23, 2016). The Encyclopedia of the Harmonica. Mel Bay Publications. ISBN 9781619115774 – via Google Books.
^ "Pleading the Blues". AllMusic. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
^ MusicHound Blues: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1998. p. 396.
^ Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. p. 695. ISBN 978-0-140-51384-4.
^ "Listen to Buddy Guy and Junior Wells Bring Their Signature Funky Blues to New York in 1978". pastemagazine.com. January 10, 2018.
^ Deriso, Nick (June 29, 2006). "Junior Wells - Pleading the Blues (1979)".
^ Herzhaft, Gérard (July 16, 1992). Encyclopedia of the Blues-2nd (p). University of Arkansas Press. ISBN 9781610751391 – via Google Books.

v t e Junior Wells
Studio albums	Hoodoo Man Blues (1965) Pleading the Blues (1979) Alone & Acoustic (with Buddy Guy, 1991) Everybody's Gettin' Some (1995) Come On in This House (1996)
Live albums	Live Recording at Yuhbin-Chokin Hall (with Buddy Guy, 1975) Live at Theresa's 1975
Compilations	Chicago/The Blues/Today! (1966)
Songs	"Early in the Morning" (1954) "Messin' with the Kid" (1960) "It Hurts Me Too" (1962) "Good Morning, School Girl" (1965) "Hey Lawdy Mama" (1965) "Look on Yonder Wall" (1965) "You Don't Love Me" (1965)

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