Albert King

King Of The Blues Guitar (Stax '69) Rating: A
As a lefty 300 pound African American who played a righty Gibson Flying V (well before metal guys made that model commonplace) backwards, Albert King was bound to stand out from the crowd. Throw in some fine songs and typically stellar support from Booker T. and the M.G.'s and the Memphis Horns, and it's little wonder that King's Stax debut, Born Under A Bad Sign, is considered a classic. Still, as Albert Goldman writes in the liner notes to this compilation, which contains every song from Born Under A Bad Sign as well as 6 others from his '66-'68 prime: "The most fascinating feature of these recordings is Albert King's guitar playing, which sets a new standard for purity of style; no pick, few notes and every phrase a statement." Indeed, King had a spare, economical style and a talent for note bending that was truly unique, and there's not a single wasted note among these 17 songs, which fly by in a concise 52 minutes (the cd is generous but not too generous as many cds are these days). Cool lyrics like "I been down so long you know down don't bother me" ("Down Don't Bother Me") and "if it wasn't for bad luck, you know I wouldn't have no luck at all" ("Born Under A Bad Sign," later covered by Cream and many others) add to the experience as well, while the sass and attitude of "The Hunter" would make Kiss proud. Though not especially distinctive, King had a strong, supple voice, and the Stax connection makes sexy songs such as "Funk Shun," "Personal Manager," "As The Years Go Passing By," and "You Sure Drive A Hard Bargain" as much "soul" as "blues" music. And I'm not sure if it is, but "The Very Thought Of You" sure sounds like a pop standard, and "I Almost Lost My Mind" also sees King crooning in the guise of a pop balladeer, though this time he adds his customary cutting guitar as well. Still, King is at his bluesy best on harder-edged songs such as "Laundromat Blues," "Oh, Pretty Woman" (not the Roy Orbison song), "Crosscut Saw," "Cold Feet," and "I Love Lucy," the latter a love letter not to Lucille Ball or his significant other but to his guitar. Alas, for whatever reason, despite this enormous man's immense influence on the likes of Eric Clapton, Michael Bloomfield, and Jimi Hendrix (another lefty who played a righty guitar backwards), King has faded from public consciousness somewhat (apparently he doesn't even warrant an entry in the latest Rolling Stone Album Guide, presumably to make room for Vanilla Ice and Rob Sheffield's brilliantly incisive review of Pink Floyd's Animals: "all songs about pigs are lame"). Still, that's precisely why I wrote this review, and why you should buy this first-rate compilation right away, as few albums are as aptly titled as this one.

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