Albert King – The Big Blues – Soul Jam Records 600884

Arguably one of the most influential blues guitarists and singers of the 1950s and 1960s, like his peers B.B. King and Freddie King (both not related), he began recording in the later part of the 1940s.  But it wasn’t until he signed with the famed Stax Records label that Albert King achieved his greatest commercial success beginning in 1966 right up through 1974.

The Big Blues originally saw the light of day in 1963 as a King Records release, and the original 12 cuts served as a textbook on the King blues approach.  Pointed, stinging guitar, assured vocals, cooking horns, and dynamic songwriting set the stage for announcing the powerful combination that fashioned King’s blues format. 

As a titan of blues music, King’s blues style has swayed the careers of artists and bands including Cream, Paul Rodgers, Jimi Hendrix, Mick Taylor, Albert Collins, Mike Bloomfield, Joe Walsh, Derek Trucks, Warren Haynes, Eric Clapton, Robert Cray, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and John Mayer, among so many others.  It’s easy to see why, as King’s searing leads were packed with emotional effect.  And, as King was able to establish himself on the San Francisco rock club circuit with the popular bands of that time, young folks who were unaware of his competencies were often awestruck at his musical clout and command, including the fledgling rock musicians upon whose bills he was often appearing as a lower-tier act.

This great set of blues has been reissued many times over the years, with Soul Jam’s remastered presentation being offered in 2016.  Unlike the 1963 King Records outing, this collection is 20 cuts deep, and has the benefit of a 16-page CD booklet that includes very comprehensive liner notes, exciting rare photographs, and much more.

Many of King’s blues that he became well-known for are here, including “Let’s Have A Natural Ball,” “I Get Evil,” “I Walked All Night Long,” “Don’t Throw Your Love On Me So Strong,” “I’ve Made Nights By Myself,” “Blues At Sunrise,” and “Got To Be Some Changes Made,”; there isn’t, however, a throw away cut to be found.

In the late 1980s when King appeared at the Chicago Blues Festival, I clearly remember unashamedly rising to my feet and yelling when King launched into perhaps his best-known work, “Born Under A Bad Side.”  King’s blues power was not low voltage; it was a force of nature, and I completely felt it that evening.

This CD belongs on the shelves of your blues collection. 

Essential blues right here!