Craft Recordings and Bluesville Records didn’t waste any time kicking off 2025. They’ve already dropped two heavyweight blues reissues—Mississippi John Hurt and Lonnie Johnson with Elmer Snowden—that absolutely annihilate the beat-up copies sitting in my collection. These pressings sound cleaner and more dynamic than anything I’ve heard in years, and the collaboration between the two labels is clearly paying off. Trust me, you’re going to want these in your stack, and if you don’t, I don’t know what to tell you.
But wait, there’s more. The dynamic duo is back at it with two more blues essentials: Buddy Guy’s 1968 This Is Buddy Guy!, a scorching live debut, and Mr. Scrapper’s Blues, the 1962 comeback album from the one and only Scrapper Blackwell. Both are set to drop on May 16, with pre-orders available now — Craft Recordings was very kind to send me two advance copies.
These aren’t your average reissues. We’re talking 180-gram vinyl pressed at Quality Record Pressings (QRP), all-analog mastering by Grammy-nominated Matthew Lutthans (The Mastering Lab), and jackets that actually look like they care about their own existence. Each comes with an obi strip featuring new notes by Grammy-winning producer Scott Billington. For those still clinging to digital, don’t worry—you can stream or download the remastered albums in hi-res or standard formats.
If you missed the first round, get ready to be schooled again. These are blues records that deserve your attention—and if they don’t, I’ve got nothing for you.
Buddy Guy — This Is Buddy Guy!
Buddy Guy. Eight-time Grammy winner. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee. The guy’s been at it for over seven decades, influencing everyone from Jimi Hendrix to Eric Clapton, and his reputation as one of the best guitarists of all time is hard to argue with.
This Is Buddy Guy! was recorded live in 1968 at New Orleans House in Berkeley, CA, capturing the raw energy of Guy’s performance. The set features a mix of originals like the laid-back “I Had a Dream Last Night” and the funk-driven “24 Hours of the Day,” along with well-chosen covers like Little Willie John’s “Fever” and Eddie Floyd’s “Knock on Wood.” The band, including sax players A.C. Reed and Bobby Fields, is tight, but it’s Guy’s guitar and vocals that really stand out.
The pressing quality here is excellent. The vinyl is clean, with no static issues, and comes in a high-quality sleeve that actually keeps the record in good shape. The sound is forward, with a lot of clarity and bite. Buddy’s guitar cuts through sharply, and his vocals come across cleanly, with the mic positioning really drawing you in. This isn’t the kind of album you can just throw on and relax to—it demands attention. The clarity in the sound means you’ll catch every note, every phrase, and it definitely keeps you engaged from start to finish.
Craft and Bluesville made a smart move with these releases—these are essential picks for anyone looking to start building a blues collection. Buddy Guy is a legend, and This Is Buddy Guy! is a solid place to jump in for anyone who wants to hear the man at his peak. It’s a live recording that showcases his raw talent, from the guitar work to the soulful vocals, and it’s definitely one of the best entry points into his catalog.
Scrapper Blackwell — Mr. Scrapper’s Blues
Scrapper Blackwell, the self-taught guitarist from Indiana, wasn’t exactly a household name, but he was a seriously talented musician whose unique blend of jazz and blues influenced the electric Chicago blues sound that came later. Known for his precise single-note picking, Blackwell teamed up with pianist Leroy Carr in the mid-1920s, and the duo quickly gained a following, recording over 100 sides, including the massive hit “How Long, How Long Blues.” After Carr’s death in 1935, Blackwell disappeared from the scene, though his solo tracks like “Kokomo Blues” had already left their mark.
In the late ’50s, with the folk-blues revival in full swing, Blackwell returned to the spotlight and recorded a solo album for Prestige’s Bluesville imprint in 1961. The intimate session, captured in Indianapolis, featured Blackwell on guitar and vocals, revisiting some of his best-known songs, including “Blues Before Sunrise” and the instrumental “‘A’ Blues,” plus a couple of piano-driven tracks like “Little Girl Blues.” Tragically, just as his comeback was gaining steam, Blackwell was murdered in a random mugging in 1962—just before the album’s release.
Though his life was cut short, his influence continued to echo through blues, rock, and folk artists for years to come. Scrapper Blackwell’s Mr. Scrapper’s Blues isn’t just an album—it’s a reminder that sometimes, the best blues come from those who aren’t household names. The recording quality is solid, though since I’ve never heard the original pressing, I can’t speak to how it compares. That said, the music itself is what steals the show here.
Take “Nobody Knows You When You’re Down and Out,” for example. It hits differently than the more recent, polished covers—it’s raw, stripped back, and undeniably authentic. Blackwell’s guitar work is fluid, his picking always on point. But it’s “A’ Blues” that stands out as something almost hypnotic. His pacing and one-note picking create a mesmerizing rhythm that you could lose yourself in for hours. If you’ve never heard it before, this might just become the standard for the track.
And then there’s “Little Girl Blues.” Some might laugh at my comparison, but there’s something about Blackwell’s jazz piano skills here that gives me serious Mose Allison vibes. The track has this smoky, introspective feel that makes you want to lean back, drink in hand, gazing through the haze at that one person across the room who—let’s be honest—you’re not taking home to meet your mother. The beauty of it is in the details, in the pacing, in the quiet confidence that Blackwell exudes throughout. If you’re new to him, this album might just be the perfect introduction to a man who was, and still is, criminally under appreciated.
Related Reading:
Anton Johnson Sr.
May 12, 2025 at 7:51 pm
Not a big Buddy Guy fan but just listened to the second one on Qobuz. Definitely worth getting. Appreciate the heads up on that album.
Ian White
May 12, 2025 at 10:48 pm
The Scrapper Blackwell is a beter album. Been listening to it as I travel all day. Music is calmer and his single note picking is just superb.
IW