CD Review
Albert King
More Big Blues
(Ace (2001) 827)
22 tracks, 62 minutes.
by Craig Ruskey
Review date: December 2003
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"Keeping the Blues Alive Award" Achievement for Blues on the Internet Presented by The Blues Foundation
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Many fans of Stevie Ray Vaughan will have at least a brief understanding of his major influences, and of all of them, Albert King could easily have been the biggest factor in how the young Texan approached guitar playing. Of the 'Three Kings' (Albert, Freddy, and B.B.) Albert's tone should be the most identifiable. He played guitar left-handed, but also played upside-down, meaning his Flying V was strung for a right-hander. It's this combination that allowed him to develop a blistering attack and part of what set him apart from his namesakes and other contemporaries. The 22 tracks on More Big Blues might not show Albert as the completely matured musician he would become at Stax in the mid-1960s, but they definitely show that even in his formative stages, he had already landed a trademark sound and style which he would carry until his death. These recordings for Bobbin date from 1959 into 1963 and without two disdainful pop tracks (Had You Told It Like It Was/This Funny Feeling), the addition of some previously unissued gems proves a major score. From the opening guitar notes in What Can I Do To Change Your Mind, it's clear that King was in full control and knew exactly what he was after. His ringing style explodes on the slow blues cuts including Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong, Ooh-Ee Baby and others, and uptempo pieces alike, Let's Have A Natural Ball, I Walked All Night Long, I've Made Nights By Myself. A few instrumentals are tossed into the mix and while Albert made use of far fewer notes than many, there's no wasted space in any of the tracks. The music breathes as empty spots are filled with an intense vibrato, and for every emotion his guitar playing captured, his voice conveyed those same feelings. For anyone interested in one of the most dynamic electric blues players ever, More Big Blues should be high on your list of items to look for. As usual, Ace guru Ray Topping adds great liner notes and session information, while sonics are ridiculously good from start to finish. Not to be missed. www.acerecords.co.uk
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