Richard E. Berg-Andersson's BLUES favorites

Junior Wells (1934-1998)(vocals, blues harmonica)

MESSIN' WITH THE KID (Anthology: 1957-1963) Flyright FLYCD 03 (Anglo-French Import CD)

with: Syl Johnson, Earl Hooker, Lacey Gibson (guitars); Dave Myers (electric bass); Willie Dixon (acoustic bass); Jack Myers (bass); Eugene Lounge, Fred Below, Harold Tidwell, Gil Day (drums); Jarrett Gibson (tenor sax); Donald Hankins (bari sax); Lafayette Leake, Johnny Jones (piano); John Walker (piano, organ); Billy Emerson (organ)
"Basically, this anthology is made up of the stuff Junior recorded for labels such as Delmark and Profile, all under the auspices of Mel London"

BEST OF THE VANGUARD YEARS (Anthology: 1965-1969) Vanguard 79508-2

with: Buddy Guy (guitar); Walter Beasley (rhythm guitar); Jack Myers, Leroy Stewart (bass); Fred Below, Little Al (drums)
"Only one cut on this anthology is from Junior's later album COMING AT YOU (see below)... the bulk of this collection is a healthy chunk from Junior's 1965 LP IT'S MY LIFE, BABY! and his subsequent work on producer Samuel Charters' 1966 CHICAGO/THE BLUES/TODAY! series of records"

YOU'RE TUFF ENOUGH: The Blue Rock Studio Recordings (Collection: 1968) Mercury 314 558 551-2

"Junior Wells' attempt at a more soulful musical persona, this record evidently created much controversy among Blues purists- yet I actually don't really hear any significant difference between Junior's work herein and his Vanguard recordings both before and after!... then again, I've never pretended to be much of a Blues purist myself!! (to quote James Brown: "you ain't too sharp... it ain't just Soul, it's Rhythm & Blues")

COMING AT YOU (LP:1969) Vanguard 79262-2

with: Buddy Guy (lead guitar); Walter Williams (rhythm guitar); Tom Crawford (bass); Levi Warren (drums); Douglas Fagan (tenor sax); Clark Terry, Wallace Davenport, Jimmy Owens (trumpets); Tom McIntosh (trombone)

BUDDY GUY & JUNIOR WELLS PLAY THE BLUES (LP:1970-1972) Rhino (Atlantic/Atco ReMasters) R2 70299

with: Buddy Guy (vocals, lead guitar); Eric Clapton, J. Geils (rhythm guitar); Carl Radle, Leroy Stewart, Danny Klein (bass); Jim Gordon, Roosevelt Shaw, Stephen Bladd (drums); Dr. John [=Mac Rebennack], Mike Utley, Seth Justman (piano); Magic Dick (harmonica); Juke Joint Jimmy (foot tapping)
"A classic- albeit rather odd- release... the original sessions (under the auspices of Eric Clapton, hot off recording his DEREK AND THE DOMINOES and subduedly playing rhythm guitar to his idol Buddy Guy's lead) did not yield quite enough material for a full LP, forcing Buddy Guy ( sans Junior) to record with the J. Geils Band nearly two years later in order to fill out the record... however, most musicians I would come to know back in the day- whether in my hometown of Madison, New Jersey or up in Boston while I attended B.U.- told me they first heard (if not heard of) Junior Wells through this recording, hence its inclusion in this Blues discography"

BUDDY GUY & JUNIOR WELLS LIVE AT MONTREUX (LP:1977) Evidence ECD 2 6002-2

with: Buddy Guy (lead guitar, vocals); Jimmy Johnson (rhythm guitar); Dave Myers (bass); Odie Payne (drums)
"A 1997 Compact Disc re-release of a Disques Black and Blue album previously only available in Europe"