mail: daniel_fjall@hotmail.com
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live at the electric ballroom
Live At The Electric Ballroom, 1974 Originally recorded in 1974, only two years before Freddie King died, and released in 1996 as an archive release on the Black Top label. After a couple of acoustic numbers recorded at a radio show and some half interesting interviews, the concert begins. Freddie, being one of the most influential electric blues guitarists, shows that he still got what it takes and puts on a great, energetic show having the crowd going wild. He plays intense solos and sings with an impressive ease, but yet a presence and soul that is anything but deniable, and at the same time paying tribute to other blues artists belonging to the same generation or even older ones. Mentioning BB King and Bessie Smith during the slow and grabbing “Ain’t No Business”, performing songs by the infamous Robert Johnson and the splendid slide guitarist Elmore James. Since Freddie King always add his own personal touch and mark to each and every song here, the recording refrains from being just another generic lessons of blues history. The band is amazingly tight throughout and sometimes when given the opportunity to shine individually, the members proves themselves as excellent lead players too. Especially the two keyboard players Lewis Stephens and Alvin Hemphill possesses great skills. However, the star of the show is without a doubt King himself. When hearing this version of the instrumental “Hideaway” it becomes clear why people like Eric Clapton was so stunned by the man’s playing. Try to sit back and enjoy this album that also has an excellent sound quality. You won’t be able to. You got to stand up, dance and clap your hands! Great band, great song selection and a fantastic artist.
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