Albert King - Stax Profiles (2006) Stax + Mini Booklet - Rare Blues (FLAC)

One of my fave blues Guitarists is our Albert. Born in 1923 in Mississippi & passed in memphis in 1992 he was up there with BB King & Freddie King (not related) as one of the most influential blues guitarists of the 1950s and 1960s. A recording artist since the late 1940s, he enjoyed his biggest commercial successes while signed to the Stax label.. With a whopping 40 albums and nearly 70 45,s to his credit he sold out venues where ever he performed. As part of the Stax Profiles series, blues guitarist Albert is spotlighted with material recorded in the late '60s and early '70s for the Memphis based label. Since this midline compilation only contains 11 cuts, it's easy to dwell on what was left off. For instance, where is "Laundromat Blues," "Cross Cut Saw," "The Hunter," "Blues Power," "Phone Booth," or "Personal Manager"? Gathering the hits wasn't what Fantasy Records executive and Albert King fanatic Bill Belmont had in mind when selecting these tracks. Although previously released, a few of these cuts are slightly different or expanded, such as the full length "I'll Play the Blues for You, Pts. 1-2" backed by the Bar-Kays, a live version of "Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong" recorded at the Fillmore Auditorium in 1968 and "She Caught the Katy and Left Me a Mule to Ride," a track popularized by the Blues Brothers, who introduced it to a younger audience. Without a doubt, the main jewel of this set is the previously unreleased version of "Born Under a Bad Sign" recorded on December 6, 1983, and featuring King disciple and then up-and-coming guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan. For whatever reason, this version was left off the King/Vaughan collaboration In Session. Mighty fine Blues all the same!

AMM

                                                                        The Tasters!