Velvet Bulldozer born under a bad sign ...
1. Born Under A Bad Sign 2:47
2. Crosscut Saw 2:35
3. Kansas City
2:33 4. Oh, Pretty Woman 2:48
5. Down Do not Bother Me 2:10
6. The Hunter 2:45
7. I Almost Lost My Mind 3:30
8. Personal Manager
4:31 9. Laundromat Blues 3:21
10. As The Years Go Passing By 3:48
11. The Very Thought Of You 3:46
After his first album "The Big Blues" appeared in 1961, it will take 5 years to Albert King is again signed a record label. This little journey through the desert rose is finally at Stax Records famous Memphis Soul label as the bulldozer velvet leases its favor.
The choice of Stax Records was wise in many respects because at that time Albert King was still an unknown quantity to almost white audience. And if the past it had been successful in near the black audience, he had turned his back on Blues overwhelmingly in favor of a soul music more suited to helping a generation to assert his rights in an America in social and cultural upheaval. With
"Born Under A Bad Sign" Albert King tint his Soul Blues with a touch, thanks and with the help of the elite musicians of Stax Records: Steve Cropper (Guitar), Booker T. Jones (Piano), Isaac Hayes (Piano), Donald "Duck" Dunn (Bass), Al Jackson Jr. (Drums) and the brass section of The Memphis Horn. The album was recorded sessions spanning from March 1966 to June 1967.
From the intro to the song title "Born Under A Bad Sign" the power of this group is felt. A horn section to boot a riff Blues became legendary supported by a flawless rhythm section. The old King has only to put his paw staff through his guitar playing is so characteristic of short sentences consisting of bends and heartbreaking.
Note however that the album makes great to compositions almost exclusively signed by the musicians of Stax Records once again demonstrated the willingness Albert King to innovate and to accept his Blues by the new generation. The album is also an opportunity for King to assume fully its qualities as a vocalist if not the boot and the power of a BB King's voice is as moving as suggested by his homage to the great crooners that are "I Almost Lost My Mind" , "As The Years Go Passing By" and "The Very Thought Of You" .
To the surprise of Albert King are whites and more particularly the English who will be the renowned album through again more or less successful. The list is long but we can cite the English group Cream to resume "Born Under A Bad Sign" on his album "Wheels of Fire" and will use the King's solo on "Crosscut Saw" as central to their composition "Strange Brew" from the album "Disraeli Gears" . For his part Free resume "The Hunter" and the group Led Zeppelin resume that some steps of this title on the title "How Many More Times" their first studio album.
And on the other hand his attempt to seduce the audience Soul successful as evidenced by the impressive list of album he will sign with Stax Records thereafter (12 album) and the climax of his popularity is near the black audience participation in concert in 1973 celebrating the 7th anniversary of the riots of Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles (see documentary Wattstax).
(1923-1992)
