Customer Reviews

Lost Sessions

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Well since John Mayall has just had his 70th birthday concert released on DVD Blues fans should be interested his highly original and unusual teaming with the late great Albert King. The set was recorded at Wolfman Jack's home studio in L.A. in just one day August 20, 1971 and features a line up that was to become part of Mayall's Jazz-Fusion ideas in the 1970s.

This LP is very different. Albert plays with no effects, feedback or sustain. It's just plain straight ahead Blues. He also sings in mostly guitar keys instead of his usual Jazz keys. Mayall contributes all of the song's frameworks and King wrote the lyrics- mostly from his other songs and his expansive knowledge of old blues lyrics from Johnson, Brown, Robert Nighthawk, Elmore James, and many more!

This album was discovered in the Stax vaults when their tape collections were handed over to Fantasy Records in the 1980s. It was never released because it didn't sound like Stax, or the Blues at the time. There are many great tunes on this collection, but "Sun Gone Down-takes 1 & 2" have to be at the top. A great slow blues- one of King's best. "Brand New Razor" is my second favourite tune. It really jumps! "Money Lovin Woman" showcases King's famous talking blues ability. In fact the whole set is really great, different and interesting. I was surprised that in the recording of the set "Jammin with the Blues Greats" in the early 1980s Mayall and King played together again. It is curious that they didn't do one of these tunes.

Whether you're a fan of Albert King or just enjoy listening to the blues every now and then, you will definitely appreciate this album. This version of the album is a 2002 reissue of the original release and was 24-bit remastered in Europe to produce the best sound possible from the original tapes. Albert plays totally raw and unplugged here - no effects or feedback, just straight-up picking and fiddling. The disc opens with an upbeat energetic jam. It's really a jam and feels like a jam - Albert does some great picking here and trades solos with John Mayall on the piano. From the beginning, you have a good feeling like the rest of the CD is going to be just as great. Fortunately, the rest of the CD is indeed great. Albert sounds like he's filled with joy throughout the record, singing, squeezing his trademark high-notes out of his guitar, yelling "woooo!", and encouraging other band members to burn up a good solo! The backing band is very strong. The drummer and bass player deserve special mention, as they were especially key in creating the neat somewhat funky ambiance that this record delivers. Every tune is great, and every tune is very different in style of delivery from Albert's usual classics. It's kind of like taking Albert's style and his playing and singing and putting it in the center of a completely different band with its own understanding of modern blues. John Mayall and his band are to thank for that. Some tracks have this funky-jazzy feel, which combined with Albert's style created seriously awesome blues sound. Some tracks are closer to Albert's home base. The sound is definitely very different from any other Albert King album I've heard over time. Every track is strong, and there's none that I don't like. My particular favorites are perhaps the first track, which is a funky jazzy blues jam, and the last track, which is closer to Albert's home base - slow blues with heavy-duty, tense rhythm. Packed with John Mayall's backing on the organ, the last track features Albert delivering one is his intense trademark solos that should please not only a blues lover but an Albert King purist, too.

Highly recommended.

This CD release of a joint effort between the great Albert King & the legendary 'Father Of The British Blues' John Mayall is a
true crown jewel that belongs in every fan's collection of both artists. This session was recorded in August of '71 and until '87
remained unreleased. Sound funny? Well' the story is that the original master tapes were nowhere to be... until some years ago.
King's backup band consists of the musicians Mayall was using at the time of his mid '70s Jazz Blues Fusion period. Mayall
produced this material and the interplay between all the players is on fire throughout! Mayall's production is on the light side and
gives King the Room To Move with the stinging git solos he lets rip. Throughout King's vocals are 'right on' and very Soulful.
Highlights: "She Won't Gimmie No Lovin'," "Cold In Hand," & "Sun Gone Down (take #1 & #2)". Extensive liner notes on the
recording session are included and all the material has been been Digitally Remastered.

Well this is just one of those records that makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck. The guitar playing is amazing and King's voice great. If you have not heard much blues before lisen to this and you will be hooked for life. The highlight for me is the guitar palying on Down The Road I Go,and Stop Lying. I only have one question why did it take so long to bring this great musical work to the needing public. And where would we be in music with out the great John Mayall.

I'm in heaven and feelin' allright. This is the best blues i've ever heard.

Anyone who is reading this, or any other review of this cd must already be familiar with the two artist recorded here and thus they need no introduction,

so without further ado I can safely say that this is a great cd, two of the greatest blues musicians doing what they do best, and they do not dissapoint, Im sure it will be a great addition to your collection, OR a great first in your new blues library!

IF YOU'RE ONE OF "Shaq's, Blues Reviewer's" loyal fans, you will already know, that Albert King is my all-time favorite electric blues guitarist's. So if I say something negative about him, it has to be true! I know I'm not supposed to mention other people's reviews, but, they either are not listening to the same CD, or their standards are awful low. Before I wrote this review, I took inventory of my Albert King CD's, and I have "TEN"! This is not the one that I would recommend for someone just getting interested in Albert, but once you become a true believer in Albert's greatness, you may want to fill out your collection with it. So to reiterate, my earlier comments, those other people either have really low standards, or they don't know Albert King! This CD was recorded in 1971, and originally released in 1986. The sound is not of the highest quality. Albert is loved by Shaq (Obviously not from this CD!) for his "STRING BENDING", REVERBERATING SOUND! On this CD he sounds like he's playing in a deserted office. There is also, none of the famous "energy" that also made Albert famous! Do yourself a favor, and read Shaq's other reviews, and buy some of Albert King's classic recordings first. !