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Freddie King - The Best of Freddie King: The Shelter Records Years
- "The Best of Freddie King" is a great collection to have from the King of guitar boogie.
King stayed below the radar as far as mainstream blues guitarists go. In the 1970s, however, he was well known among recording artists, most importantly Leon Russell. Russell's work on piano is especially important in many of these compositions. He is also the producer, writer, and arranger of many of these songs.
"Five Long Years" is a bottomless down and out blues tune. The heartache and fustration can be heard in the talk-like tone of King's guitar rap. In "Palace of the King," you can hear Russell's soulful influence along with King's guitar dynamics, creating an explosive formula.
King was a Texas born blues guitarist. Texas was a breeding ground for blues guitar players even before the birth of rock and roll. In 1970, King teamed up with Russell at Shelter Records and was already known on the Texas blues circuit as a ferocious lead blues player.
The attractive part of these songs is the combination of electric guitar and piano, walking hand in hand. In "Big Legged Woman," you can hear the guitar and piano almost talking to each other.
Some of his soulful guitar work can be heard on "Same Old Blues," a crying melody with churchlike background harmony. In "Me and My Guitar," King talks about his special appreciation for the instrument. It's always there for him, especially when he's alone.
By the early '70s, King acquired the respect of Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page as well as Stevie Ray Vaughn and brother Jimmy Vaughn, both brothers of Texas. However, King's life on the road and bad eating habits eventually took thier toll on his health. He passed away at age 42 in 1976 with a legacy of blues left behind him.
Reviewer: Stefan Julian
new
Reviewer's Rating: 9.5
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Reader's Votes: 0
Added: 24-Jun-2009
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