Watch Yourself

Watch Yourself (2018 release of classic material) serves as a definitive showcase of Buddy Guy's formative years and his revolutionary approach to the electric guitar. While released in 2018, the collection focuses on the high-energy, short-form tracks that established Guy as the bridge between traditional Chicago blues and the psychedelic rock of the late 60s. The album is characterized by its brevity - most tracks clock in under three minutes - contrasted sharply by the closing epic 'Stone Crazy,' which allows Guy to explore his signature long-form improvisational style. His influence on Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton is audible in every distorted bend and aggressive vocal cue. Critically, this material is viewed as the peak of the West Side sound, prioritizing emotional intensity and technical flash over the more rigid structures of South Side blues. It remains a vital reference point for the evolution of the electric guitar as a lead instrument.