Bring 'Em In

by Buddy Guy

Product Description:

Personnel: Buddy Guy (vocals, guitar); John Mayer (vocals, guitar); Anthony Hamilton, Tracy Chapman, Bernie Worrell (vocals); Keb' Mo', Keith Richards, Danny Kootch, Carlos Santana (guitar); Robert Randolph (pedal steel guitar); Jim Horn (flute, baritone saxophone); Andrew Love (tenor saxophone); Ben Cauley (trumpet); Jack Hale (trombone); Willie Weeks (bass guitar); Steve Jordan (drums, background vocals).

Recording information: Fantasy Studios, Berkeley, California; Fuzzbox, San Francisco, CA; Brooklyn Recording, Brooklyn, New York (2005).

Buddy Guy's 2005 release, BRING 'EM IN, has--for better and worse--all the trappings of a "music's elder statesman" album. In the tradition of seasoned professionals entering the glorious autumn of their careers, Buddy Guy has invited lots of guests to play on a record filled with well-worn chestnuts. With the exception of one tune by Guy ("What Kind of Woman is This"), the majority of the set comprises R&B classics by Isaac Hayes, Curtis Mayfield, Bill Withers, Wilson Pickett, and Eddie Floyd.

John Mayer appears on Otis Redding's "I've Got Dreams to Remember," which fits nicely alongside an even-handed treatment of "Ain't No Sunshine" with Tracy Chapman. Keith Richards and Carlos Santana show up to chop heads with Guy on Keb Mo's "The Price You Gotta Pay" and Screamin' Jay Hawkins's "I Put A Spell on You," respectively. The overall feel of the album is exceedingly comfortable and safe, yet Guy still plays and sings with a great deal of vitality, proving that his induction into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame was no accident.