by Mott the Dog
***** 5 Star Rating
If you like the Blues then go out and buy this album.
Albert King never got the mass recognition he deserved;
he always seemed to be in the shadow of B.B. King. But Blues guitarists,
especially those who discovered electric blues in the sixties, idolized
him; to them he was the master. Eric Clapton freely admits to being
heavily influenced by Albert King, recording Kings “Born Under A Bad
Sign” with Cream, and still playing it live today.
The innovative television program ‘In Session’ was
recorded in Canada and allowed a pairing of two musicians who, although
similar in style, never had the chance to actually play together.
Albert King wasn’t sure whom it was he’d been
booked to jam with, although his manager had persuaded him to turn up as
he assured him that he did in fact know this hotshot guitar slinger. On
arrival Albert recognized the 29-year-old Texan immediately, not as the
young guitar star Stevie Ray Vaughan (Stevie had just played on David
Bowies “Lets Dance” album), but as “Little Stevie” the skinny kid
who’d been coming around - and eventually sitting in – every time
Albert passed through Austin Texas.
Stevie idolised Albert. Even before he was in his
teens, Stevie had been captivated by the Mississippi born guitar mashes
uniqueness, the torrid tone, incisive phrasing, even the rocket like shape
of Albert’s instrument. The boy had other musical heroes, most notably
older brother Jimmie Vaughan, as well as Lonnie Mack and Jimi Hendrix. But
it was Albert’s influence that would remain the most pervasive through
out Stevie’s career.
So this ‘In Session’ jam was a true meeting of two
guitar greats. It is the only known recording of Albert King and Stevie
Ray Vaughan performing together.
It’s long overdue commercial release stands as a
fitting tribute to the genius of two of the greatest musicians ever to
have played the electric guitar.
Of the seven songs they belt out six are staple Albert
King live show regulars starting out with a savage version of “Call It
Stormy Monday” and reaching spectacular heights when both guitarists go
into orbit during the fifteen minute blues workout of “Blues At
Sunrise”. It fair makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up.
The 60-year-old Albert ruled over the proceedings like
a benevolent father retaining control while allowing his quest loads of
solo space in which he displays his awesome power over the electric
guitar.
The interplay between the two blues masters is
uncannily empathetic, and Albert’s fans will find special pleasure in
hearing him play rhythm parts at such length while allowing Stevie to go
supersonic all over the songs.
The only non Albert King song is when Albert teases
Stevie Ray Vaughan into playing “Pride And Joy” where the master lays
down a barnstorming solo on his prot้g้s song.
Sensibly the Fantasy record label who have released
this great work have left it whole and included the banter between songs
where Albert often lays pearls of Wisdom to Stevie. I won’t ruin it by
spilling the beans, get hold of this album and find out yourself.
Albert was in a sense passing the torch to Stevie as he
was only to ever record one more album, “I’m In a Phone Booth Baby”.
Although he stayed out on the road until his death from a massive heart
attack in Memphis on December 21, 1992, Albert was 69 and had enjoyed a
full life in the Blues.
Stevie wasn’t as fortunate. At the height of his
career, on August 27, 1990, he was killed in a helicopter crash at Alpine
Valley Wisconsin. He was only 35.
The album is a fine tribute to both men.
Musicians
Albert King – electric guitar, vocals
Stevie Ray Vaughan – electric guitar, vocals
Tony Llorens – piano, organ
Gus Thornton – bass
Michael Llorens – drums
Track Listing
1. Call It Stormy Monday
2. Old Times
3. Pride And Joy
4. Ask Me No Questions
5. Pep Talk
6. Blues At Sunrise
7. Turn It Over
8. Overall Junction
9. Match Box Blues
10. Who Is Stevie?
11. Don’t Lie To Me
The book commences with the origins of man (very
similar to a biblical Genesis) introducing the concept of the supreme god
Shiva, the Almighty and Creator of the universe. Shiva created two chief
races on earth - the “good” being mankind and the “evil” being the
giants. The monkeys side with mankind. Also introduced at the beginning
are the hermit class, the repository of learning. The world has heavens,
earth, an underground world and a world beneath the water, and it is
within this framework that the thrilling epic is set.
Ali’s bravado and bluster dominate the screen; people
gravitate towards him almost instinctively, whether in the ring or on a
Harlem street corner. Yet they hide more substantive personality traits,
of which the public had only fleeting knowledge. Smith tackles these
deeper traits with sublime confidence, bolstered by the similarities
between his personality and Ali’s.
Mott’s
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