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Alone & Acoustic

{{Infobox album

| name = Alone & Acoustic

| type = studio

| artist = Buddy Guy & Junior Wells

| cover = Alone & Acoustic.jpg

| alt =

| released = 1991

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre = Blues

| length =

| label = Alligator{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=cV5xDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA157|title=Bitten by the Blues: The Alligator Records Story|first1=Bruce|last1=Iglauer|first2=Patrick A.|last2=Roberts|date=October 19, 2018|publisher=University of Chicago Press|via=Google Books}}

| producer = Didier Tricard

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

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}}

Alone & Acoustic is an album by the blues musicians Buddy Guy and Junior Wells, released in 1991.{{cite news |last1=Heim |first1=Chris |title=Buddy Guy and Junior Wells 'Alone & Acoustic' |work=Chicago Tribune |date=15 Nov 1991 |location=Friday |page=P}}{{cite news |last1=Means |first1=Sean P. |title=CHRISTMAS TREATS, BLUES AND AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE TO A CULT FIGURE |work=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=22 Dec 1991 |page=E9}} It was recorded in 1981, in Paris, France, while the two were touring.{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Jim |title=ENTERTAINMENT |work=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette |date=December 15, 1991 |page=J5}}

The album has sold more than 100,000 copies. Along with Damn Right, I've Got the Blues, it marked a return to commercial success for Guy.

Production

The album was produced by Didier Tricard. Guy played acoustic Guild guitars and Wells played harmonica; they both sang.{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=John |title=ALLIGATOR CELEBRATES WITH SOME HOT STUFF |work=The Lewiston Tribune |date=November 29, 1991 |location=Northwest}}{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lRFlAwAAQBAJ&pg=PA326|title=The Original Guitar Hero and the Power of Music: The Legendary Lonnie Johnson, Music, and Civil Rights|first=Dean|last=Alger|date=April 15, 2014|publisher=University of North Texas Press|via=Google Books}} Guy wrote three of the songs, including the opening "Give Me My Coat and Shoes". Ten tracks were originally released via an import album.

Critical reception

{{album ratings

|rev1 = AllMusic

|rev1score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/alone-acoustic-mw0000677150|title=Alone & Acoustic - Buddy Guy, Junior Wells | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|via=www.allmusic.com}}

|rev2 = Calgary Herald

|rev2score = A{{cite news |last1=Wagamese |first1=Richard |title=RECENT RELEASES |work=Calgary Herald |date=24 Nov 1991 |page=C6}}

|rev3 = Chicago Tribune

|rev3score = {{rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news |last1=Litwiler |first1=John |title=Rave recordings |work=Chicago Tribune |date=5 Dec 1991 |location=Tempo |page=6}}

|rev4 = Robert Christgau

|rev4score = {{Rating-Christgau|hm1}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.robertchristgau.com/get_album.php?id=483|title=Robert Christgau: Album: Buddy Guy & Junior Wells: Alone and Acoustic|website=www.robertchristgau.com}}

|rev5 = The Encyclopedia of Popular Music

|rev5score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite book |last1=Larkin |first1=Colin |title=The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |date=2006 |publisher=MUZE |volume=4 |page=49}}

|rev6 = MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide

|rev6score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite book |title=MusicHound R&B: The Essential Album Guide |date=1998 |publisher=Visible Ink Press |page=244}}

|rev7 = Orlando Sentinel

|rev7score = {{rating|3|5}}{{cite news |last1=Gettelman |first1=Parry |title=Buddy Guy & Junior Wells, Alone & Acoustic |work=Orlando Sentinel |date=24 Jan 1992 |location=Calendar |page=8}}

|rev8 = The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings

|rev8score = {{rating|3.5|4}}{{cite book |title=The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings |date=2006 |publisher=Penguin Books |page=234}}

|rev9 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide

|rev9score = {{rating|3.5|5}}{{cite book |title=The Rolling Stone Album Guide |date=1992 |publisher=Random House |page=296}}

|rev10 = Syracuse Herald American

|rev10score = {{rating|3.5|4}}{{cite news |last1=Bourke |first1=Brian G. |title=BLUES MUSICIANS RETURNING TO THE LIMELIGHT |work=Syracuse Herald American |date=December 1, 1991 |location=Stars |page=27}}

}}

Rolling Stone called Alone & Acoustic "reflective and subdued," writing that "a warm spontaneity runs through the album."{{cite journal |last1=Santelli |first1=Robert |title=Recordings – Damn Right, I've Got the Blues by Buddy Guy/Alone and Acoustic by Buddy Guy and Junior Wells |journal=Rolling Stone |date=Feb 6, 1992 |issue=623 |page=79}} Robert Christgau praised ""High Heel Sneakers" and "Give Me My Coat and Shoes".

The Orlando Sentinel determined that Guy's playing "on 12-and six-string acoustics is uncomplicated but as awesome as any daredevil run he has played on his Stratocaster." The Chicago Tribune thought that "the extroverted Guy now sounds like a soft, lyrical Mississippi bluesman virtually singing to himself … Wells remains a strong, dramatic, post-Muddy Waters singer, but the intimacy of the setting leads to his widening his already impressive dynamic range."

AllMusic wrote that "this is acoustic street-corner blues at its best, performed with incredible expressiveness, ease, and joy."

Track listing

  1. "Give Me My Coat and Shoes" - 3:49
  2. "Big Boat (Buddy and Junior's Thing)" - 5:13
  3. "Sweet Black Girl" (Wells) - 3:32
  4. "Diggin' My Potatoes" - 4:28
  5. "Don't Leave Me" (Wells) - 3:43
  6. "Rollin' and Tumblin'" - 4:33
  7. "I'm in the Mood" - 3:22
  8. "High Heel Sneakers" - 4:56
  9. "Wrong Doing Woman" - 3:00
  10. "Cut You Loose" - 4:03
  11. "Sally Mae" - 2:30
  12. "Catfish Blues" - 3:33
  13. "My Home's in the Delta" - 3:05
  14. "Boogie Chillen" - 4:00
  15. "Medley: Baby What You Want Me to Do/That's Allright" - 5:44

References

{{reflist}}

{{Junior Wells}}

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Category:Buddy Guy albums

Category:Junior Wells albums

Category:1991 albums

Category:Alligator Records albums

{{DEFAULTSORT:Alone and Acoustic}}