Genre: blues
Rating: *** (3 stars)
Title: Texas Cannonball
Company: Shelter
Catalog: SW 8913
Year: 1972
Country/State: Texas
Grade (cover/record): VG/VG
Comments: --
Available: 1
GEMM catalog ID: 4420
Price: $10.00
Cost: $66.00
As the owner of quite a few Freddie King LPs, I'll readily admit that he never really made a great impression on me. A gifted, but rather pedestrian bluesman ... On the other hand, having spotted this album at a yard sale, I'll admit that the thought of King teaming up with Leon Russell sounded promising.
1972's "Texas Cannonball" was King's sophomore release for Leon Russell's Shelter Records. Produced by Russell and backed by an all-star cast of sessions players (see the listing above), the album offered up a surprisingly mainstream collection of rock-oriented material. Probably more out of habit than anything, 'Reconsider Baby' and 'Can't Trust Your Neighbor' provided the requisite blues moves. Elsewhere, exemplified by material such as 'Big Legged Woman', a nice cover of Bill Wither's 'Ain't No Sunshine' and 'Me and My Guitar' King came off as a surprisingly accomplished rocker. He's got a great voice (I think he was about 60 when he recorded this set) and the man could play guitar - check out his moves on the blazing 'I'd Rather Be Blind'. The only real disappointments are a misguided bluesy reinterpretation of CCR's 'Lodi' (entitled 'Lowdown in Lodi') and the absence of any King originals.
"Texas
Cannonball" track listing:
(side 1)
1.) Lowdown
in Lodi (John Fogerty) - 3:06
2.) Reconsider Baby (Leon Fulson) - 3:57
3.) Big Legged Woman (Tolbert) - 3:52
4.) Me and My Guitar (Leon Russell - Blackwell) - 4:02
5.) I'd Rather Be Blind (Leon Russell) - 3:45
(side 2)
1.) Can't
Trust Your Neighbor (Isaac Hayes - David Porter) - 4:00
2.) You Were Wrong (Hill) - 3:45
3.) How Many More Years (Howlin' Wolf Burnett) - 3:25
4.) Ain't No Sunshine (Bill Withers) - 3:15
5.) The Sky Is Crying (Elmore James - Robinson) - 3:24