[5][6][7] The first collaboration of Junior Wells and his long-time friend Buddy Guy dated back to the early 60s.

They entered into the Condorcet Studios in Toulouse, France on October 31, 1979, when Buddy Guy was pleased to record an album with the French producer, Didier Tricard.

To release those recordings, Tricard founded a new label; which was named Isabel by Buddy Guy, in honor of his mother.

One of them was released as a Buddy Guy album titled The Blues Giant, the other one was released as a Junior Wells album, titled Pleading the Blues.

It was originally released on the French label Isabel in 1979, titled Pleading the Blues.