Buddy Guy’s Legends [Chicago] Alive

As Blues lovers know: there is only one place in the world to experience the finest Blues seven nights a week, enjoy southern Cajun soul food, and behold a major archive of Blues memorabilia. That joint is in Chicago, of course: Buddy Guy’s Legends at 700 S. Wabash!  A mecca for the Blues.

¤ An excerpt from Guy’s autobiographical book: «When I Left Home: My Story«

My life is pretty simple. If I’m off the road and not getting ready to go off to New York or New Delhi, I’ll spend my day shopping and cooking. Maybe the kids will come over. Maybe I’ll eat alone. At 2 p.m. I’ll take me a good long nap. After dinner I’ll get in my SUV and see that I’ve put some 200,000 miles on the thing. If it’s low on gas, I’ll take the time to drive over to Indiana where gas is a couple of cents cheaper. I’ll remember that one of my first jobs off the farm was in Baton Rouge pumping gas. Back then the average sale was $1. Today it’ll cost me $120 to fill the tank. Ain’t complaining — just saying I’ve seen some changes in these many years I’ve been running this race.

Around 7:30 I’ll head into Chicago. My club, Legends, sits on the corner of Wabash and Balbo, right across from the huge Hilton Hotel on the south end of the Loop. It’s a big club that can hold up to five hundred people, and I’m pleased to say that I own the building that houses it. I go in and take a seat on a stool in the back. I say hello to the men and women who work there. Two of my daughters run the place, and they’re usually upstairs going over the books. Occasionally a customer will recognize me, but to most everyone I’m just a guy at the bar. That’s how I like it. I don’t need no attention tonight — I’m not playing, I’m just kicking back. I’m feeling good that I got a place to go at night and that Chicago still has a club where you can hear the blues. Live blues every night. Can’t tell you how that warms this old man’s heart.

Funny thing about the blues: you play ‘em cause you got ‘em. But when you play ‘em, you lose ‘em. If you hear ‘em — if you let the music get into your soul — you also lose ‘em. The blues chase the blues away. The true blues feeling is so strong that you forget everything else — even your own blues.

So tonight I’m thinking about how the blues change you and how they changed me. Thinking about how I followed the blues ever since I was a young child. Followed the blues from a plantation way out in the middle of nowhere to the knife-and-gun concrete jungle of Chicago. The blues took my life and turned it upside down. Had me going places and doing things that, when I look back, seem crazy. The blues turned me wild. They brought out something in me I didn’t even know was there.

So here I am — a seventy-five-year-old man sitting on a bar stool in a blues club, trying to figure out exactly how I got here. Any way you look at it, it’s a helluva story.

♦  Volume  # 1  ↓

GEORGE BAZE

•  Poker Game of Life

Nobody wants to lose – Everybody wants to win . . . But the poker game of life is the hardest one to win

•  Red Rooster

The little red rooster is on the prowl!

If you see my little red rooster, please drag him home . . .
There ain’t no peace in the barnyard, since the little red rooster been gone

The dogs begin to bark, and the hound begin to howl . . .
Ooh watch out strange kind people, ‘cause little red rooster is on the prowl

PISTOL PETE & RON HYTOWER

•  I’m Ready

I’m ready, ready as a man can be . . .  Now I’m ready for you, I hope you’re ready for me

I got an axe handle pistol on a graveyard frame That shoot tombstone bullets, wearin’ balls and chain
I’m drinkin’ TNT, I’m smokin’ dynamite – I hope some screwball start a fight
‘Cause I’m ready, ready as anybody can be – I’m ready for you, I hope you’re ready for me

All you pretty little chicks with your pretty little hair – I know you feels like I ain’t nowhere
But stop what your doin’ baby come overhere – I’ll prove to you baby, that I ain’t no square

Because I’m ready, ready as a man can be . . . Now I’m ready for you, I hope you’re ready for me

I been drinkin’ gin like never before – I feel so good, I want you to know
One more drink, I wish you would – I takes a whole lotta lovin’ to make me feel good
‘Cause I’m ready, ready as anybody can be – Now I’m ready for you, I hope you’re ready for me

•  Yonder Comes A Man

Look over yonder’s wall, hand me down my walking cane . . . I got myself a woman and yonder comes your man

LONNIE BROOKS

•  Trading Post      /      •  Blues with a feeling

HUBERT SUMLIN   [1931-2011]

•  Hey Baby

…don’t wear your dress so tight – Yes, come on in my house, little girl, we won’t fight

I love you baby – I love you with all my mind – Come on in my house, we won’t fight…

•  I do the best I can.

JUNIOR WELLS   [1934-1998]

•  Got My Mojo Working

Got my mojo working, but it just don’t work on you . . .

I need help so bad till I don’t know what to do

I’m going down to Louisiana just to get me a mojo hand . . .

I’m gonna teach these women here just how to love that man

Got my mojo working . . . (got my mojo working . . .)

Got my mojo working, but it just don’t work on you

•  I Wish I Knew Then What I Know Now

JAMES HARMAN

•  Ooh Baby

Oh darling, you know that I love you – Oh babe, you know I do …I’d give everything baby just to get right up next to you

Oh baby, you know that I need you – want you – love you – oh baby, baby by my side – Right up at my side!

When you love I  [ . . . ?] you baby – lasting long long time. Yeah!

Whoa! Baby I know – ooh … love is so […?]

Darling, you know that I need you . . .

MAGIC SLIM   [1937-2013]

•  Two Sides To Every Story

There are two sides to every story – you know there are two sides to every plan

There are two sides to every woman – Don’t forget, and two sides to every man

There are two sides to the court case – two sides to the plea

There are two sides to the stinger, little girl, and two sides to the bee

There are two sides to you lovin’ baby – Lord, you know, tell your story no  […?] for me

There are two sides to the [. . . ?] – There are two sides to the coin

There are two sides to your escape, baby, just like there are two sides to your return

These two sides that just confuse, Lord, till you don’t know what you’re doin’

You don’t know

♦  Volume #2:

Featuring performances from Magic Slim, Mike Morgan & The Crawl, James Harman, Fenton Robinson, Maria Muldaur, John Katke, John Studebaker & The Nighthawks, Lonnie Brooks & Son and the Travelling Blues  ↓

(The audience was not very inspired that night: can’t seem to tune in with Magic Slim, who pretends not to notice and keeps on with a great show . . .)

•  Mustang Sally  

Mustang Sally – Guess you better slow that mustang down
Mustang Sally, now baby – Guess you better slow that mustang down
You’ve been running all over town
Oh, I guess you gotta put your flat feet on the ground

All you wanna do is ride around Sally . . .    (ride, Sally, ride . . .)
One of these early mornings I’m gonna be wiping those weepin’ eyes, yeah

I brought you a brand new mustang – It was a nineteen sixty five
Now you comin’ around to signify a woman – Girl, you won’t, you won’t let me ride
Mustang Sally, now baby   (Sally, now baby)
Guess you better slow that Mustang down, alright
You’ve been running all over town
I’m gonna have to put your flat feet on the ground

All you wanna do is ride around Sally  . . .  (ride, Sally, ride . . .)
One of these early mornings I’m gonna be wiping those weepin’ eyes, yeah

She’s gonna be walkin’ . . .

One of these mornings, somebody will have to buy another car to ride

One of these mornings I’m gonna watch you weep at night

•  I Love Ya Baby

•  You Don’t Know How Much I Love You

•  Baby Please Don’t Go

Baby, please don’t go . . .  Baby, please don’t go, down to New Orleans – You know I love you so

Before I be your dog . . .  I get you way’d out here, and let you walk alone

Turn your lamp down low . . .  I beg you all night long, baby, please don’t go

You brought me way down here . . . ‘bout to Rolling Forks, you treat me like a dog

Baby, please don’t go . . .  Baby, please don’t go, back the New Orleans – I beg you all night long

Before I be your dog . . .  I get you way’d out here, and let you walk alone

You know your man down gone . . .  To the country farm, with all the shackles on

•  Jim Beans

•  Just A Little Bit

I don’t want it babe, I just want a little bit
No, I don’t want it babe, I just want a little bit
Just the eenie-winie bit, just the eenie-winie bit of your love

Turn your lamp down low and found your sleep in your kiss
Turn your lamp down low, you know I can’t resist
Just the eenie-winie bit, just the eenie-winie bit of your love

•  So Long

So long, so long – oh how I hate to see you go . . .
And the way  I will miss you – I guess you’ll never know

We’ve been together so long, to have to separate this way . . .
I’m gonna let you go on baby – I know you’re coming back home some day

•  Please Send Me Someone To Love 

I lay awake each night to find that the whole wide world is in a great big nasty funky mess of messy trouble!
And I answer, What people you know that the answer that my God gave to me  [. . . ‘?]

He said, Maria, you know if men don’t put an end, our all history is hostility, selfishness and shame, hate,

hate and greed gonna put this whole old world in a flame.

What a shame!

Because, just because I’m in all this misery

You know, I don’t beg for no sympathy

You know I don’t need nobody sympathy
But if it is not asking too much
Please send me someone to love 

Oh Lord, I’m begging you with tears in my eyes

Please, Got to help me – Lord – need

Please … you know there ain’t no home no moan abouit sometimes

Please send me someone to love 

•  Cajun Moon

When you want your man and you find him gone, just like the wind
Don’t trouble your mind young man whatever you do  ‘cause cajun moon took him from you

 

Cajun moon, where does your power lie as you roam across the southern sky
You took my man away too soon – What have you done, cajun moon

 

When daylight fades, the night comes on – You can hear the silence of this song
Don’t trouble your mind whatever you do – ‘cause cajun moon is gonna get to you

•  I Got My Mojo Working

Got my mojo working, but it just won’t work on you . . .
I wanna love you so bad till I don’t know what to do

I’m going down to Louisiana to get me a mojo hand . . .
I’m gonna have all you women right here at my command

 

Got my mojo working, but it just won’t work on you . . .
I wanna love you so bad till I don’t know what to do

I got a gypsy woman givin’ me advice . . .
I got some red hot tips I got to keep on ice

Got my mojo working  –  Got my mojo working  –  Got my mojo working   ….

But it – uh uh – just won’t work on you

•  Rockin’ & Reelin’

•  Losing Hand.

•  She’s a Witch

•  Something You Got

Something you got, baby  –  Make me work all day
Something you got, baby  –  Hey, make me pray all my day

Something you got, love  –  You oughta know
My, my …  oh, oh   –   I love you so

Something you got, baby  –  Make me work all night
Something you got, baby  –  Make me feel all right

Something you got, love  –  You oughta know
I said my, my … oh, oh   –   I love you so

•  C C Rider  [Travelling Blues]

… • …

♦  Volume # 3

• Keb’ Mo‘:     Anybody seen my girl   +   Love Blues

• Billy Branch & the Sons of Blues:    Blue Bird Blues   +   I’m a Man.

• Robert Ward  [1938-2008]:      (You Make My) Blood Run Cold    +    If You Leave Me.

•  Earl King  [1934-2003]:      Things That I Used To Do

•  Clarence Holliman:     Your Love Is Real.

•  Carol Fran & Clarence Holliman:     You Got Me Runnin’.

•  Lonnie Brooks:      Mojo Hand     +     Using Me.

•  Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers:    Mellow Down Easy.

•  The Mighty Flyers:     Blues Around Lunchtime.

•  George Baze:     Sweet Home Chicago.

•  Travelling Blues:    Early in the Morning.

[ . . .  lyrics  .  .  .]

•  Keb’ Mo’:  Anybody seen my girl

None of my business gettin’ all of my concern

Tried to put out the fire, oh but the flames still burn

And as she pleases, she comes and goes

She’s got the wind in her hair

She never ceases to hurt me so, does she really care?
Is she ever comin’ home?  Is she ever gonna phone?

Another night alone
Has anybody seen my girl?  Anybody seen my woman?

California, Tennessee,  send my baby  home to me

Where am I goin’ or what am I gonna do?

Well I know, I’m not crazy, I’m just hooked on you

So go on and use me endlessly, could you let me know

When you need me, hold me close and, baby, don’t let go
Are you ever comin’ home?  Are you ever gonna phone?

Another night alone. Oh yeah
Has anybody seen my girl?  Anybody seen my woman?

California, Tennessee,  send my baby, home to me
Anybody seen my girl? Has anybody seen my woman?

California, Tennessee,  send my baby home to me

Home to me

•  Love Blues

Well, I love the way you love me an’ I love the way you comb your hair …

But if it was left up to me babe you would never get to go nowhere

Hey sweet mama – Baby don’t you go too far …’

cause I wanna know where you is every minute who you’re with and where you are

Hey baby… you know I just can’t leave you alone

Hey sweet mamma, sweet mammma, little baby, you know I just can’t leave you alone

‘cause I love you so much baby – love you jus’ like  a dog loves a bone

Umm

… • …

• Billy Branch & the Sons of Blues:   Blue Bird Blues.

•  I’m a Man

I’m a man   –  I’m a full grown man
I’m a man   –  I’m a natural born lovers man
I’m a man   –  I’m a rollin’ stone
I’m a man   –  I’m a hoochie coochie man

… • …

•   Robert Ward  [1938-2008]:    You Make My Blood Run Cold.

Your Love Is Amazing / If You Leave Me.

Love is amazing – My love and your love is amazing
you for me, me for you baby – we can do anything that we wanna do.
If you leave me – If you leave me – I will surely surely surely die.

Baby your love is a real  feeling
Press your sweet love to mine
You break my heart baby – Woah Every second we’re apart

If you leave me – If you leave me – I will surely surely surely die

 

Love oh love is amazing
Keep on trying to tell ya’ll that love is amazing

You for me and me for everybody – we can do anything that we wanna do

If you leave me – If you leave me – I will surely surely surley die

Don’t leave me baby – Stay with me my love
Love is amazing – everywhere I’ve gone
I love you baby – never put my love on ice.

… • …

•  Earl King  [1934-2003]:  Things That I Used To Do

The things that I used to do Lord, I won’t do no more
The things that I used to do, Lord, I won’t do no more
I used to set and hold your hand, baby
And I cried cried begging you not to go
I would search all night for you, baby – Lord, and my search would always end in vain
I would search all night for you, baby – Lord, and my search would always end in vain
But I knew all along, darling
That you was hid out, hid out with your other man

I’m going to send you back to your mother, baby – Lord, and I’m going back to my family too
I’m going to send you back to your mother, baby – Lord, and I’m going back to my family too
‘Cause nothing I do that please you, baby
Lord, I just can’t get along with you

… • …

•  Lonnie Brooks:   You’re Using Me (a.k.a. ‘All My Money Back’)

You kiss me and you hug me and feild me for a drink – You took all my money before I can do anything

You’re using me – you’re using me – If you don’t do something about that, I want all my money back

I bought you a new car – Buyin’ pretty clothes, I saw you round that guy down the road

You’re using me – you’re using me – If you don’t do something about that, I want all my money back

You took all my money , you left me flat broke – You didn’t leave me enough money to buy a half a good coat

You’re using me – you’re using me – If you don’t do something about that, I want all my money back

•  Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers:    Mellow Down Easy.

You jump, jump, here  –  You jump, jump, there
You jump, jump, jump,  everywhere
Then you mellow down easy  –  Mellow down easy
You mellow down easy when you really wanna blow your top

You shake, shake, here  –  You shake, shake, there
You shake, shake, shake,  everywhere
Then you mellow down easy  –  Mellow down easy
You mellow down easy when you really wanna blow your top

You wiggle, wiggle, here  –  You wiggle, wiggle, there
You wiggle, wiggle, wiggle,  everywhere
Then you mellow down easy  –  Mellow down easy
You mellow down easy when you really wanna blow your top

… • …

•  George Baze:     Sweet Home Chicago.

• Son Seals  [1942-2004]:      Baby Please

I‘m on my knees  [. . . ?]  baby please . . .

So baby please – baby please – come back to me

Cause I’m alone – And all day long I think of you . . .

Baby please – baby please – come back to me

 

I’m alone – And all day long I’m thinking of you . . .

So baby please – baby please – come back to me

I sit and cry – said, all day long I sing the blues . . .

So baby please – baby please – come back to me

– Move On Down The Line.

• Keb’ Mo’  

– Kind-Hearted Woman

I got a kind hearted woman – Do anything in this world for me
I got a kind hearted woman – Do anything in this world for me
But these evil-hearted women – Man, they will not let me be
I love my baby – My baby don’t love me
I love my baby, oooh – My baby don’t love me
But I really love that woman – Can’t stand to leave her be

 

– Ain’t Got No Woman

•  Maria Muldaur:      – I’m a Woman      /      – Without a Friend like You

• Billy Branch & the sons of the blues:     – Don’t let the green grass fool you.     /     – Sweet Home Chicago.

•  Robert Ward  [1938-2008] :     – Somethin´for Nothin´

•  Carol Fran & Clarence Hollimon:     – Keep You Hand On Your Heart.

• Howard & the White Boys:     – I Wanna Know.

•  James Harman:     – Drink You Off My Mind.      /      – I Got News For You.

•  John Studebaker & the Hawks:     – Boogie Walk.

•  Rod Piazza & the Mighty Flyers:     Midnight Blues.

•  [Tavelling Blues]  Motherless Children.