Frequently Bought Together
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Editorial Reviews
Playing his signature Gibson Flying V upside-down without restringing it, the legendary lefty became one of the most influential guitarists in the history of the blues. Now, his unique sound is captured in all its glory in this incendiary live concert. Songs include "Born Under a Bad Sign," "The Very Thought of You," "Summertime," and many more. 57 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; interview.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
Well it is absolutely about darn time a DVD was released dealing exclusively with the single greatest and most influential Blues guitarist of all time. This DVD certainly has its limitations. It was filmed in 1980 and the wonders of technology haven't done much to improve the audio or visual quality. It is also disappointingly skimpy. Just fifty-eight minutes and that includes pieces of an interview. When I saw the track listing, I was thrilled to see "Summertime". I could hear King's haunting guitar on the standard, and my mouth began to water. Unfortunately, Albert sat this one out, and it is just his band doing a nice, but predictable Jazz version.
Imperfections aside, if you know Albert King's work, you are invariably a fan, and so this DVD is an essential buy. There's plenty of good camera work showing King's giant paws working the frets and choking the you know what out of Lucy, the Gibson Flying V guitar that Albert calls, "My honey". We hear his signature tune "Born Under a Bad Sign" (I still haven't heard a version that wasn't just a little better than decent without King's Stax Records compadres Booker T. & the MGs backing him up) and the standard "The Very Thought of You", which shows that the deep voiced Blues giant was also one heck of a soulful singer, and that though Jimi Hendrix and Stevie Ray Vaughn could almost match his power, they never came close to his tastefulness and touch.
King definitely provides great highlights, not only with his playing, but with his always perfectly timed "Woooooooos!" and "Yeahhhhs!". Those moments are great examples of Albert King style Blues. Orgasmic bursts of joy that could instantly cure the bluest man's blues.
Usually depicted as a gruff giant, King comes across more as a lovable teddy bear in the snippets of the interview. I found him to be truly endearing as he chuckles at things he just said. The interview, though pretty skimpy as well, and also the closing number make everything worth while. He does a wonderful version of "As the Years Go Passing By". And as they pass on by, the world will never see his equal. Every year I hear of a new guy on the scene who is being hailed as the heir apparent, but there will never be another Albert King.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
The picture quality is better than the sound quality, when I first heard this was coming out I couldn't wait to see it. I was somewhat disappointed by it, but it does have some good points. I thought his vocals were great, there were also a a lot of good solos. And I also thought the other guitar player with Albert was fantastic, Albert gave him plenty of room which was great. This man is quite a guitar player, but there is a better DVD of Albert out there, (Ohne Filter) which was recorded live in Germany. This was recorded about six months before Albert passed, it was his last European tour (1992). This is very hard to find, if you can find a copy you will be more than pleased. I bought a burned copy from Europe which turned out to be excellent quality.
14 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I have been a long time fan of Albert from the late 1960s post release of his Filmore Live wire/Blues Power set; have all his CDs and been fortunate enough to see him perform live before his death. Sadly, this hacked DVD of a Swedish TV live show including an interview is a big disappointment and not the man at his best.
1. The show has been edited around (as evidenced by Albert's state of dress and level of sweat) so is not the original running order it seems.
2. The highspots are when Albert lets fly on his solos (his fingering and left handed style caught very well on camera) but his West Coast support band is at best perfunctory and a second guitarist who is sadly not in his league which waters down the intensity of the show - highspots are "Born under a Bad Sign" and the Elmore Jame song "The sky is crying" and the first interview when he covers his early days of struggle pre-Stax success.
3. Lowspots are the band's (without Albert) rendition of Summertime and the final track overlapped with a second interview, plus the overall set listing is not all of Albert's best.
While one suspects Albert's video recording legacy is not great one hopes that better examples of this great bluesman can be traced and released (rumours his CD released Montreux shows were videotaped abound and paired with his Wattstax show would be a killer DVD).
1. The show has been edited around (as evidenced by Albert's state of dress and level of sweat) so is not the original running order it seems.
2. The highspots are when Albert lets fly on his solos (his fingering and left handed style caught very well on camera) but his West Coast support band is at best perfunctory and a second guitarist who is sadly not in his league which waters down the intensity of the show - highspots are "Born under a Bad Sign" and the Elmore Jame song "The sky is crying" and the first interview when he covers his early days of struggle pre-Stax success.
3. Lowspots are the band's (without Albert) rendition of Summertime and the final track overlapped with a second interview, plus the overall set listing is not all of Albert's best.
While one suspects Albert's video recording legacy is not great one hopes that better examples of this great bluesman can be traced and released (rumours his CD released Montreux shows were videotaped abound and paired with his Wattstax show would be a killer DVD).
Most Recent Customer Reviews
A True Mississippi Delta Master Bluesman, with a hugh backing band,...
Albert King was born in the Mississippi Delta, in the town of Indianola, back in the 1920's, and died in Memphis during 1992. Read more
Published on March 6, 2010 by Gary Covington
Albert King ROCKS out the BLUES!
This is one really good DVD from one of the all time GREAT Blues legends. Albert King ROCKS out the Blues. Long live the BLUES!!
Published on September 22, 2009 by B. klatt
Not great
As a Albert King fan, I found this DVD lacking. The video is poor, the song selection not great, the audio bad.
Published on September 4, 2007 by Allen Wyler
At Least It's Albert King
I bought this DVD because I love Albert King. Otherwise I would give it 3 stars. It's short - about 1 hour - and he's only playing for about 40 minutes. Read more
Published on March 2, 2006 by Munga Man
A nice package...
...not in the same class as some of some new productions (such as some of Santana recent video) but of its time it is excellent. Read more
Published on April 1, 2005 by sir_isaac_newton
ALBERT'S FANS: DONT MISS THIS TREASURE !!!
I CALL MYSELF ONE OF THE MOST CRAZIEST ALBERT KING FAN WORLDWIDE.
AS A COLLECTOR AND ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE ALBERT KING TRIBUTE BAND IN ARGENTINA , THE FACT TO HAVE THE... Read more
AS A COLLECTOR AND ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE ALBERT KING TRIBUTE BAND IN ARGENTINA , THE FACT TO HAVE THE... Read more
Published on March 4, 2004 by GUSTAVO RUBINSZTEIN
A Rare Look At The Blues Guitar Innovator!
Well I have been an Albert King fan since he released "King Of The Blues Guitar" when I was in college. Read more
Published on February 21, 2004 by Perry Celestino
Not his best performance but is still the King playing.
I love Albert King and I got this DVD the moment I've seen it.
I'm a bit disappointed thought.
Sound quality is not very good, especially in the first songs. Read more
I'm a bit disappointed thought.
Sound quality is not very good, especially in the first songs. Read more
Published on February 16, 2004
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
Look for Similar Items by Subject
|
