Albert Live In Chicago Ten Years After "Live Wire"!
Perry Celestino | Tahmoor, NSW Australia | 10/23/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Well this had been an interesting year for Albert King fans. The new "Live 69" and "Blues from the Road" are new and rereleases of some interesting work. This CD has an unique history. The original set was recorded for Tomato Records in 1978 and a couple of cuts were released as "I'll Play the Blues For You" on Tomato which had one side a John Lee Hooker set. When I originally heard this record I thought the guitar sound was unique. As a guitarist, I always wanted to hear the entire set and wondered if it had been recorded. After King's death old material was starting to be released and in 1995 this set was released by Charly Records in the UK. This CD contains that entire recording plus interview insights as bonus tracks. It is a great collectible for Blues fans. The live set is great and shows Albert at the beginning of his "grumpy years" (read liner notes by Dan Forte on the Funky London Stax CD!!). When he played in Australia in 1990 he pulled the bass player's guitar chord out of the bass in MID-SONG! So, it's not surprizing that he says things in "Blues At Sunrise"! However, the quality of his playing is great and the sound of his guitar, with the start of his phaser guitar sound of the 1970s-1980s, is really interesting. The instrument is more in front in the sound than any other recording he ever made!! So, who cares about the horns! They were incidental in most of his live performances (He didn't like to pay much money to his musicians, anyway!)The tunes are great and is extended tune "Baby Please Come Back To Me" was the first time this song was released. This CD is enjoyable and the notes are good, the interviews are interesting, especially his insights into sleeping in a house with holes in the roof!!! Get this CD for the tone of the guitar!"
Listen Up!
thestaxman | Jackson, MS United States | 04/23/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Oh why oh why are there so many bad horn sections in the world? If one wants to hear the greatness of an Albert King record, he should turn to something recorded at Stax Records with The Memphis Horns and Booker T. & the MGs featuring drummer and King producer Al Jackson or his later Stax work with members of The Bar-Kays and The Isaac Hayes Movement. Those records are THE best example of urban Blues. Live Albert King albums tend to have a competent band trying to keep up with the Blues master. This features a competent band with a horn section that leaves a lot to be desired. And there are live outings by the King that came out better than this one.This CD is called Talkin' Blues because it mixes in pieces of an entertaining, though not enlightening, interview with the late Mr. King. Not only is the interview entertaining, so is King Albert. At one point, halfway through "Blues At Sunrise", the listener hears loud feedback from the amplifiers. To which King shouts out, "Somebody stop those mikes from hollering! I've been trying to tell y'all for forty-five minutes!" And then, as if answering his own request, he rips another great solo out of his faithful "Lucy". If any other performer had done this, I'd have screamed unprofessionalism. But when he does it, you can't help but laugh out loud. The 6'7" monster was a fighter, and demanded perfectionism. Which again makes me question the not-so-great horns.This album certainly does have its moments. One is "The Very Thought Of You", a record he cut at Stax that was highlighted by Booker T. Jones's terrific piano, and actually had King just crooning without playing Lucy. Well, he does play on it this time, and his solo is amazing. It helps that the band and the horns arguably do better here at this climax than anywhere else on the album. Also, if you know and like King's "Blues Power", the ten minute plus explosion from the album Blues Power/Live Wire, you'll no doubt love his workout on the album's closer "Please Come Back To Me".There are a lot of other Albert King albums that should be sought out before this one. But if you are a fan, I would definitely recommend this. In 1978, King was at his rip-roaring best."
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1