Top tracks — play these first
-
→
Pleading The Blues Start here — The title track serves as a powerful opener, featuring expressive guitar work that exemplifies Guy's mastery of blending emotion with technical prowess.
-
→
It Hurts Me Too — This rendition captures a deep sense of sorrow through its lyrical content and haunting melodies, showcasing Guy’s ability to convey raw emotion.
-
→
I'll Take Care Of You — Guy's soulful interpretation transforms this classic into a personal anthem, illustrating his capacity to connect deeply with listeners through heartfelt delivery.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases strong guitar work and emotional vocals, rooted in classic blues structures.
What we noticed
- The album opens with a title track that features a prominent guitar solo, establishing the raw sound that characterizes the record.
- Each song typically follows a traditional twelve-bar blues structure, allowing for extended instrumental breaks and improvisation.
- Composition 25% of the score
-
7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
-
8/10
- Durability 25% of the score
-
6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
-
7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
-
5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady soulful storytelling experience
- raw emotional guitar expressions
- for evening relaxation
- intimate moments of reflection
Maybe skip if you
- seeking fast-paced excitement
- prefer upbeat party vibes
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Revived interest in traditional Chicago blues, establishing Guy's reputation.
- Career context
- Released in 1979, Pleading the Blues marked Buddy Guy's return to the studio after a brief hiatus following his 1974 album, Live at Newport. At this point in his career, Guy was establishing himself as a key figure in the blues revival movement and transitioning from relative obscurity to greater recognition within the genre.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Albert King· Freddie King· Johnny Winter
Tracklist
- 1 Pleading The Blues Start here 7:36
- 2 It Hurts Me Too 4:20
- 3 Cut Out The Lights 7:40
- 4 Just For My Baby 4:06
- 5 Quit Teasing My Baby 4:24
- 6 I'll Take Care Of You 6:45
- 7 Take Your Time Baby 4:02
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
Sync your library
Everything you track here works immediately — no account needed. Create one when you want to sync across devices.