Born Under a Bad Sign [Stax]

• Artist: Albert King
• Rating:
• Release Date: 1967
• Total Time: 34:19
• Genre: Blues

Review

Albert King recorded a lot in the early '60s, including some classic sides, but they never quite hit the mark. They never gained a large audience, nor did they really capture the ferocity of his single-string leads. Then he signed with Stax in 1966 and recorded a number of sessions with the house band, Booker T. & the MG's, and everything just clicked. The MG's gave King supple Southern support, providing an excellent contrast to his tightly wound lead guitar, allowing to him to unleash a torrent of blistering guitar runs that were profoundly influential, not just in blues, but in rock & roll (witness Eric Clapton's unabashed copping of King throughout Cream's Disraeli Gears). Initially, these sessions were just released as singles, but they were soon compiled as King's Stax debut, Born Under a Bad Sign. Certainly, the concentration of singles gives the album a consistency -- these were songs devised to get attention -- but, years later, it's astounding how strong this catalog of songs is: "Born Under a Bad Sign," "Crosscut Saw," "Oh Pretty Woman," "The Hunter," "Personal Manager," and "Laundromat Blues" form the very foundation of Albert King's musical identity and legacy. Few blues albums are this on a cut-by-cut level; the songs are exceptional and the performances are rich, from King's dynamic playing to the Southern funk of the MG's. It was immediately influential at the time and, over the years, it has only grown in stature as one of the very greatest electric blues albums of all time. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Born Under a Bad Sign (Lyrics)	Booker T. Jones, William Bell	Albert King	(2:47)
Crosscut Saw (Lyrics)	R. B. Ford, R.G. Ford	Albert King	(2:35)
Kansas City (Lyrics)	Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller, Richard Rodgers	Albert King	(2:33)
Oh, Pretty Woman (Lyrics)	A.C. Williams	Albert King	(2:48)
Down Don't Bother Me	Albert King	Albert King	(2:10)
The Hunter	Al Jackson, Jr., Booker T. Jones, Donald "Duck" Dunn, Steve Cropper, Junior Wells	Albert King	(2:45)
I Almost Lost My Mind (Lyrics)	Ivory Joe Hunter	Albert King	(3:30)
Personal Manager	David Porter, Albert King	Albert King	(4:31)
Laundromat Blues (Lyrics)	Sandie Jones, Sandy Jones	Albert King	(3:21)
As the Years Go Passing By (Lyrics)	Albert King, Deadric Malone	Albert King	(3:48)
The Very Thought of You	Ray Noble	Albert King	(3:46)

Credits

Loring Eutemey (Cover Design), Albert King (Guitar), Donald "Duck" Dunn (Bass), Booker T. Jones (Piano), George Horn (Remastering), The Memphis Horns (Horn), Jim Stewart (Producer), Joe Arnold (Horn), Isaac Hayes (Piano), Steve Cropper (Guitar), Albert King (Vocals), Wayne Jackson (Horn), Deanie Parker (Liner Notes), Andrew Love (Horn), Jim Marshall (Photography), Al Jackson, Jr. (Drums), Michael Point (Liner Notes)