Buddy Guy's newest album, Ain't Done With The Blues, was released his 89th birthday. with a smorgasbord of 18 numbers. There have been hints that it will be his last set of recordings, but as good as he still sounds I'm not counting him out for a future album just yet.

Produced by long-time collaborator Tom Hambridge, Ain't Done With The Blues includes many special guests showing up on various cuts. Instead of pushing Buddy aside, these contributors are there to pay homage and support this icon of the blues on their respective appearances. It's quite a reputable list of guests, including Christone "Kingfish" Ingram, Joe Walsh, Joe Bonamassa, Peter Frampton, and Blind Boys of Alabama.

Two of the numbers are Guy's short tributes to blues legends that inspired him, with the opening cut being, "Hooker Thing," on which he plays a few lines of John Lee Hooker's "Boogie Chillen." That leads into his own autobiographical thing, "Been There Done That," as he sings about working in the cotton fields and driving a tractor early in his life. Former Allman Brother pianist Chuck Leavell contributes very nice B3 organ and Wurlitzer piano.

Kevin McKendree shows up on piano on the mid-tempo shuffle, "Blues Chase The Blues Away," before Guy takes it to New Orleans on the urban funky number, "Where U At?" He sings about dirty rice, Congo Square, Mardi Gras beads, and other Crescent City topics, while Ingram joins in on both vocals and electric guitar and Leavell adds the requisite piano accompaniment.

Guy shows plenty of emotion in his voice on the slow tune, "Blues On Top," also laying down tasty guitar licks, before picking up the tempo on Guitar Slim's "I Got Sumpin' For You." Joe Walsh comes in on vocals and slide guitar on the single from the album, "How Blues Is That," as they both sing about typical facets of blues life, such as pawnshop loans that can't be paid back and only being able to afford to eat at all-night diners.

Bonamassa joins the band on the very slow gospel-influenced blues, "Dry Stick," as Guy relays a lesson he learned from his mama to always keep dry wood around for a wet day. Frampton joins in on vocals and guitar on the mid-tempo blues shuffle, "It Keeps Me Young," with Guy's message here being that playing the Chicago blues at a very loud volume has kept him young.

Leavell stars on piano on the late night blues, "Love On A Budget," starting with a slow tempo before later picking up the pace. "Jesus Loves The Sinner" opens with a slow, ethereal vibe before the Blind Boys of Alabama come in on vocals, giving the reminder that while Jesus loves the sinner he hates the sin.

It's all Buddy's show the rest of the way, with no additional celebrity guests, singing about inflation on the up-tempo blues "Upside Down," before paying tribute to another of his idols, Lightnin' Hopkins, on "One From Lightnin'."

Guy gives us his own powerful history lesson on the slow, snaky blues, "I Don't Forget," as he reminds us about slavery, not being allowed in segregated swimming pools, and especially the potent vocal line "... I've still got scars across my memories ..." Incredible song, just really incredible.

We're back in New Orleans for a very fine cover of Earl King's classic, "Trick Bag," one that I never tire of hearing. Guy doesn't stray too far from the original yet his personality still comes out. "Swamp Poker" is a swampy mid-tempo blues, with Leavell doing it on the Wurlitzer.

Buddy's show his soul side con the slow ballad "Send Me Some Loving," originally Little Richard's B-side to his 1957 mega hit "Lucille." Guy shows that he's still got the pipes to handle this one.

Closing this superbly wonderful album is a frantic version of J.B. Lenoir's "Talk To Your Daughter," with Guy again belying his age with the powerful vocals needed for this blues stomper.

One note to add is that the booklet accompanying this album has the full session info for each cut, including which guitar Guy was playing on each session.

I'm out of words to describe the importance and brilliance of this album. It's an essential purchase, and when Buddy Guy says "Ain't Done With The Blues," we can hope that's true and there will be more to come as he heads into his 90's next year.

--- Bill Mitchell