Blues at Sunrise: Live at Montreux

Performer: Albert King
Producer: Danny Kopelson
Distributor: Fantasy (distributor)

Notes: Personnel: Albert King (vocals, guitar); Don Kinsey (guitar); Rick Watson (tenor saxophone); Norville Hodges, Wilbur Tompson (trumpet); James Washington (organ); Bill Rennie (bass); Sam King (drums). Recorded live at the Montreux Jazz Festival, Switzerland on July 1, 1973. Includes liner notes by Lee Hildebrand. Personnel: Albert King (vocals, guitar). Unknown Contributor Roles: Bill Rennie; Donald Kinsey; James Washington; Norval D. Hodges; Wilbur Thompson; Rick Watson; Sam King. Albert King's affiliation with Stax Records was an auspicious one. Though King worked in a traditional blues metier, the groovy R&B sound of the label influenced his recordings (the backing band on his original Stax sessions was none other than Booker T. and the M.G.'s). The result--a smooth, organ-flavored soul take on King's deep-fried electric blues--was a hit with soul, rock, and blues fans alike. That recipe is heard to perfect effect on this live set, recorded at the Montreux Jazz festival in 1973. The driving opener, "Don't Burn Down the Bridge ('Cause You Might Wanna Come Back Across"), gives the listener notice of what's to come, King's blues-drenched vocals and blistering leads supported by a fine backing band (including a tenor sax player and two trumpets). The musicians do not disappoint the festival crowd; takes on Ray Charles's "I Believe to My Soul" and Don Nix's funky "For the Love of a Woman" alternate with King originals "Roadhouse Blues" and the wrenching "Blues at Sunrise." Naturally, King's playing is in the forefront throughout, and that is a great thing indeed.

Albert King is one of the most important post-war blues guitarists. His influence was even more profoundly felt in the rock world than in blues, though he earned iconic stature in both. His unusual style came from playing pickless, upside-down, and left-handed, and from his preference for attack, tone, and volume over speed. King was also one of the first blues players to enter the R&B world, recording on Stax with Booker T. & the MG's.

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