Live: The Real Deal

The album was produced by Guy and Eddie Kramer.[5] It was recorded over four shows at Buddy Guy's Legends and Irving Plaza.[6][7] Guy was backed by G. E. Smith and the Saturday Night Live Band, including the horn section.[8][9] Johnnie Johnson played piano on the album.[10] Guy regretted that the band had not rehearsed more.[11]

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[12]
Edmonton Journal	[13]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[14]
MusicHound Folk: The Essential Album Guide	[5]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings	[7]
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette	[15]
(The New) Rolling Stone Album Guide	[16]

The San Diego Union-Tribune wrote that "Guy's guitar and vocals pierce and scintillate, and no one better understands the tension between supercharged guitar runs and a primal blues beat."[17] The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted that "there's a run about halfway through his classic 13-minute version of 'I've Got News for You' where his guitar approaches the point of spontaneous combustion."[15] The Wall Street Journal determined that "the backing group ... is a more than competent unit, but, as cues are missed and cliches abound, it's clear they hadn't had much opportunity to rehearse with Guy."[18] The Edmonton Journal stated that "this take of 'Sweet Black Angel' has some genuine tenderness."[13] The Independent opined that, "unlike some bluesmen, he never forgets that he is playing for an audience, not just for himself."[19]

AllMusic wrote: "No outrageous rock-based solos or Cream/Hendrix/Stevie Ray homages; this is the Buddy Guy album that purists have salivated for the last quarter century or so."[12] MusicHound Folk: The Essential Album Guide panned the "pompous" G. E. Smith.[5]