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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Albert King's Last Intentional Album For Stax, February 13, 2004
This album appeared one year after "Ill Play The Blues For You". It became his last LP for the Stax label. His next, now released as "The Blues Don't Change", became a compilation of single tracks he did at the end of the Stax era (much like "Born Under A Bad Sign" was a compilation of his first tracks). Albert was at the height of his playing ability and he had achieved some fame and influence as a Blues player (finally). Like B.B. King in "The Thrill is Gone", Albert had a string section included in a cut. Not just strings mind you, the Memphis Symphony Orchestra!
That is on "Flat Tire" a self-penned talking blues he excelled in (witness "Cold Feet"). He later appeared on Memphis TV with the Memphis Symphony and did several of his hits including "Personal Manager", the first Bluesman to do this, often this is overlooked. This should be released on DVD!! This LP has many different styles and tempos on it. It sounds the way for the era of funk music and disco of the 1970s. It again shows the adaptablity and creativity of the Blues. Unlike his most creative LP: "I'll Play The Blues For You", this one is tight, perhaps a bit over produced for blues and less experimental, more commercial. However, it doesn't just emulate the previous grooves in "Ill Play the Blues".....it tried to take the blues to the era of seventies style music. The tracks are great! Forget the dated (even then!!!!) title track. This minor key gem has a fabluous groove to it with soulful solos and the 1970's trademark: "I Wanna Get Down". Playing On Me is a straight soul blues that could have been a single. Little Milton is upstaged with this tune "Walking The Back Streets and Crying" written by Sandy Jones who wrote Albert first Stax hit "Laundromat Blues". This is a highlight in Albert's career. The tune has also been recorded by Otis Rush as a tribute to Albert. "'Til My Back Ain't Got No Bone" is a great talking blues modernized for the seventies.(Little)Jimmy King did a good version of this on his "Live At Monterrey" set. "I Can't Hear Nothing But The Blues" was actually written (originally) by Howlin' Wolf's guitarist Hubert Sumlin. Albert's solo is powerful and one of the best of his career and it is in the high register, something he did not do much. Compare this with the tune "Finger On The Trigger" side on the CD "Funky London". It was an out-take with the same groove! "Travelin Man" is an underrated King tune. It is short. but says a lot. It was designed as a dance tune and probably a single. The other big highlight of this set is the reworking of "Crosscut Saw" is Al Jackson on drums. It is worth the price of this CD for this track alone! The guitar in this masterpiece is the best Albert ever attained and his solos are more than awesome! Just listen to the controlled bending- that's where Hendrix got inspired and SRV tried to do (Many say SRV was the best Albert emulator, but he never did this!!!!) "That's What the Blues Is All About" is a commercial (pop) blues that was a single (very successful, too). It features a 1970s style soul groove and some interesting lyrics. This is a must have CD for blues lovers. It is interesting that when a Stax subsidiary in Europe put out remastered reissues of some Stax stuff they put out this one instead of "I'll Play The Blues"....this says something. Get this recording. How about the cover photo. Albert with a 1970s Fender Strat like Hendrix played, maple neck, too. This just invites you to hear something different!
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by Albert King 
