Freddie King – King Of The Blues – EMI/Shelter E2 34973

In late December, 2022, I reviewed a superb collection of King’s astounding mid-1960s instrumental classics that he recorded for King Records out of Cincinnati.  Without question, those sides have well stood the test of time, and their individual and collective influence continue to be felt by countless guitarists across many musical genres.  The strength of those cuts is nothing short of astounding.

Here we find a diverse yet astonishing two-CD compilation with songs dating to the 1971-1972 period recorded for the Shelter Records label that was owned by American songwriter and artist Leon Russell, plus some previously unissued sides.  Now, some King purists balk at the more rock-oriented nature of these tunes, as backing him on these Shelter Records selections were rock music sidemen.  Plus, these same King purists will complain that King was resigned here to not only blues items (mostly covers), but soul and rock tunes, as well.  Quite frankly, those purists’ complaints would fall on deaf ears with this critic.

For this reviewer, the beauty of a King performance from this period and forward in his career until his death in 1976 was his fiery effort to excite the younger crowds.  They came to his shows and music via his association with certain rock luminaries that had him as the opening act on their shows.    

To that end, this compilation delivers on showcasing King’s startling guitar acuity and fury, but also his confident, potent, and passionate vocal style.  King’s vocals were ardent and dazzling in their approach, and proved to be the perfect pairing with his dramatic, powerful guitar competencies being highlighted in this exciting later period of his career. 

As essential as King’s instrumentals for King Records were in the early phase of his vocation, these songs are as equally compelling, also helping mold musicians everywhere with his incendiary guitar aptitudes, but also via his affirming vocals.  The pairing was undeniably exciting and influential.

King’s ability to realize that as great as the initial phase of his career was in creating enduring blues instrumental standards, he firmly embraced the questionable visions of Russell’s Shelter Records project, made it his own, left his unique imprints across various genres of music the project presented, and then fully supported it with his late period “live” performances.

Based on how well these outings have held up over the years, and how the later years Freddie King spoke to a new generation of avid enthusiasts, this collection is deemed essential without any qualifications whatsoever.

Below are the running orders of the two CDs in this tremendous collection.

Song Titles

CD #1

• Same Old Blues
• Dust My Broom
• Worried Life Blues
• Five Long Years
• Key To The Highway
• Going Down
• Living On The Highway
• Walking By Myself
• Tore Down
• Palace Of The King
• Lowdown In Lodi
• Reconsider Baby
• Big Legged Woman
• Me And My Guitar
• I’d Rather Be Blind
• Can’t Trust Your Neighbor
• You Was Wrong
• How Many More Years

CD #2

• Woman Across The River
• Hoochie Coochie Man
• Danger Zone
• Boogie Man
• Leave My Woman Alone
• Just A Little Bit
• Yonder Wall
• Help Me Through The Day
• I’m Ready
• Trouble In Mind
• You Don’t Have To Go
• Please Send Me Someone To Love
• Gimme Some Lovin’
• Love Her With A Felling
• Boogie Fuck (previously unreleased)
• It Hurts Me Too (previously unreleased)
• Something You Got (previously unreleased)
• Ain’t No Big Deal On You (previously unreleased)
• I Just Want To Make Love To You (previously unreleased)
• Hide Away (previously unreleased)