Search - Al King :: It's Rough Out Here

An Extremely Enjoyable Album

Mark K. Mcdonough | Reston, VA USA | 06/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I heard a couple of tracks from this album on a blues radio show and immediately went out and bought it. It's now one of the Blues albums I listen to most often. According to the liner notes, Al King's story is that he was burned by the record biz as a young man and wanted nothing else to do with it after that. For many years, he played in neighborhood clubs in Oakland, CA and boy I wish I'd known about him when I lived out in that area.



There are no guitar fireworks, shrieks, or wails here. The tone is slow, warm, and relaxed. King has a mellow, sly and expressive voice and his lyrics are direct and often funny. He and his band work together like they'd known each other for decades (which likely they had). It's just delightful music in every way. I am eternally grateful to the small label that captured this music (Al King died shortly after the record was made). Every time I listen to it, I wonder how many other wonderful artists there are out there who decided not to bother with the greased pole of the music business."

The Best I've heard in a long time.

Mark K. Mcdonough | 05/30/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Everybody will love this CD if you like the blues or not please give this a listen."