Customer Reviews

King King

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I had the pleasure of seeing the Red Devils open
for John Lee Hooker in Los Angeles (1992). Our jaws hit the
floor. I ran out and bought the audio tape (1992).
I wore that out and then purchased another. The harmonica
playing is outstanding! A fine example of dynamics in a
blues band. A must have.

Being a musician in 2 blues based bands, I'm rather hard on reviews!! A harp-player friend of mine gave me this cd 10 years ago and it is still in my top 5 cd's!! This is just a blistering set, most notably, singer/harp player deluxe, Mr.Lester Butler!! Not as technically advanced of a harp player as Rod Piazza or Rick Estrin, but this guy could blow down a brick wall!! It sounds like he also sings through his harp mic!! Awesome! This is the album that made me a serious blues harp fan!! RAW RAW RAW!!!!!!! Ya-Man!!!

I'm amazed that this band remained unknown in the states, therefore a summary;
This band was very popular in de early nineties in Holland. It was such a shame that they broke up (1994) nearly a year after their breakthrough (in europe). After a cd single; "blackwater roll" (again produced by Rick Rubin) Bill Bateman en Paul Size stepped out of the band. Lester Butler always returned for many occasions since he was a god in Holland. In 1997 he made a new record with a new band; 13. This is also a great (punk) blues cd. In 1998 Lester died; O.D. I am still missing the gigs, i never saw a man so possessed with the blues like he was. In Holland there are still Lester Butler tributes now and than.
About King King; hearing it is believing it, just buy it! You'll never find a better blues cd.

I first picked up this album because I recognized the drummer from the Blasters on the record jacket. About that same time I was learning to play the harp and was totally blown away by Lester Butler. I lost my first copy and bought another. Found the first one and gave it to a friend. Bought a third copy and gave to another harp playing friend. Got my car stolen with my original copy and then bought a fourth. If I loose this one I will buy it again, it is that good. It's a shame this moment in time will never be reproduced, but then that's the magic of this album. I regret never seeing Lester Butler. RIP Lester.

This cd is the best interpretation of the days of the Red Devils at the King King.... I was there on many occasions. The singer reminded me of Eric Burdon and the 19 year old guitar player (at that time) made the crowd stand up and applaud. I never understood blues until the moment they made soundwaves as I watched from 6 ft. away. With the black walls and Chinese light fixtures barely illuminating the exhaust duct crawling on the ceiling that was hand painted like a new year dragon, It all came together at that moment. So much has changed sinse then. There will never be another band quite like this one. If you like to collect special moments in history this one is for you.

I came across this album by accident. I saw it in a cut out bin at a local record shop and just decided to buy it. Man! I'm glad I did. This record is simply the best blues I've heard in a long time. It's raw energy with some of the best grooves I've heard. No one player in the band really stands out as a totally great, but the combination of all them together is awsome.

I sweated I rocked I grooved...it was like being there in person...almost...I played this cd seven times in a row...its too cool...its too hot...these guys have it down...if howling wolf had been white...this is what he wld have sounded like...the band cooks, rocks solid in a blues groove that makes me want to get up and dance naked on the table tops...or at least move back to hollywood so I cld go see them live...bob

Distortion, in-your-face harp, swaggering guitars drunkenly weaving, a juiced and rowdy crowd... what more do you want from your blues? None of that "virtuoso" musicianship that, frankly, has a tough time propping up a whole album anyway. More like journeymen artists who've heard more than one last call... and translate it perfectly onto this CD. Question is; what's happened to these guys since 1992?

I still remember when the proprietor of Jim's Records in Pittsburgh told me, "You've got to hear this cd; it's like Little Walter meets the Ramones!" I took his word for it, bought it, and was totally blown away. All these years later, it still blows me away. As has been mentioned in previous reviews, there are blues harp players out there that may be better technicians or more virtuosic, but for pure power, intensity, and passion, Lester Butler is in a class by himself. This goes for his vocals as well. The best music is played at the edge, and these guys were definitely way out there on the edge. If you like your blues loud and raw, there was no band that delivered like the Red Devils. I own hundreds of cds, many of them blues cds, but if I were limited to just five, this would be one of them. It's a tragedy that Lester Butler left us so early, but at least we've got this superb testament to his greatness.

I bought this CD by chance years ago in a record shop in the Bon Accord Centre in Aberdeen, and I've gone back to it again and again. The great harmonica player Lester Butler drives everything along, Paul Size plays guitar, man it's just a great album, no question about it. There are one or two clips of the band playing in Holland on youtube, check them out. Also check out the Lester Butler Tribute Band, they play every now and again & I keep trying to shoot across to Holland & catch them live. Sadly Lester was killed at 38 years old. But his music is loved by a lot of people. I'm one of them. A fantastic blues album.