Albert King: Born Under A Bad Sign (180g, Mono) Vinyl LP

Want to hear where the late great Stevie Ray Vaughan, arguably the greatest blues guitarist ever, got his primary inspiration in developing his style? Here it is folks...this album, released in 1967, when 13-year-old Vaughan's style was still in its formative stages, is pretty much the basis of SRV's toolbox, particularly "Personal Manager" and "Laundromat Blues", with King's groundbreaking super-bend stylings all delivered with impeccable taste and use of dynamics! Albert King was no "blueshredder" by any means...he was more interested in squeezing as much emotion out of every note possible, and SQUEEZE them he did! The rock-solid backing of the equally legendary Stax house band plus the Memphis Horns add a rock-solid backing for King. My favorite part of the whole album is toward the end of King's burning solo in "Personal Manager" when he's bending the crap out of the strings, and a band member "whoops" in encouragement in the background...classic! I'm not sure who it was...I'm guessing Al Jackson, Jr...whoever it was obviously just knocked out by King's playing...I mean, who else was playing like that back then? Everybody in the studio must have been really digging it, for sure!The slower ballads on this album are a stark departure from King's down-n-dirty blues guitar vehicles, but I suppose the producer was interested in showing all sides of King's abilities as a performer, and he indeed croons with the best of 'em on these more relaxing tracks. I actually really enjoy his vocal performance on "The Very Thought Of You"...he sounds like Nat King Cole at the beginning of it, and his strong vibrato really shines throughout on that track...you'd be surprised how versatile Mr. King is!Anyway, just an awesome record, and the sound quality is superb, especially for being 35 years old (when this re-master was released). INDiSPENSABLE for blues guitar fans!!

Albert King is a blues master and "Born Under a Bad Sign" is one of his most prominent achievements.On this album the band consisted of all top-notch musicians a few of which would rise to stardom. There was Steve Cropper on guitar[Blues Bros.],Booker T and Isacc Hayes(Shaft)-keyboards, Donald "Duck" Dunn on bass, Al Jackson Jr on drums , and those Memphis Horns rounding it out. Booker T. and Donald" Duck" Dunn recently did work with Neil Young and toured with CSNY on their 2000 reunion tour.When you listen to this collection of songs you get an uncanny sense of deja vu. Like you've heard a snippet of a song somewhere before.For instance, "The Hunter" when King is singing " I've got you in the site of my love gun", immediately I recognized that line; However ,I remember it as Robert Plant bellowing it from "How Many More Times" off Led Zepplin's 1969 debut release. Or the style that Albert King had of talking in the songs. For instance "Crosscut Saw" he says "Now watch this" before breaking into a hot lead like he was going to do a trick and trying to get your attention. It made me think of Jimi when he would say "Move over rover, and let Jimi take over". And his guitar playing is profound,laying down a foundation for guitar greats like Jimi Hendrix to build their stellar style upon. It was with great insight that Bill Graham, the founder of the FILLMORE EAST and FILLMORE WEST had Albert King billed with the psychedelic San Francisco bands and white blues bands rising out of England in the late 1960's. Groups like the Yardbirds ,Cream [Eric Clapton] ,Led Zepplin [Jimmy Page], The Jeff Beck group, John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers. Albert King is quilted throughout the blues we know today making his contribution legendary. If you love the blues I strongly recommend "Born Under a Bad Sign" as a worthy addition to your collection.

This cd is "ultra" in every way. Sound is clear, zero defects, full bodied and a joy to hear.Highly recommended!

This CD has already cemented its pedigree in the american musical scene - irregardless to what I might say - this is a classic on every level, and in every way - from the band ( Booker T plus Dunn et al and Memphis horns)... this is a CD (music) that should be studied and analyzed by all students of the american music forms for its brevity, its impact, its arrangements, its pizzazz, its songs,. The CD release I have demonstrates it all - it sounds great, is inspiring, the playing/tone is strong, the arranements sparse and supportive without seemingly lacking (arrangement is often mistakenly misunderstood - some add too much - but not here), the sound is clear, concise and inspiring. Plus, Albert could play, couldn't he? In the welter of uninspiring, unimaginative and downright boring musical offerings that abound (to feed the industry machine), too often true inspiration and musicianship seem lost - not in this case, however....but anyone who listens to this CD already gets that - and without apology and/or any mental gyrations required to make a silk purse our of a sows ear...no pork products mar the day in this masterpiece. I only wonder why and how it took me so long to get acquainted with this incredible effort.

Many decades ago I attended "Chicago-fest" at Navy Pier. I was a young teen about 4 hours early for the rock band I had come to see. I was just walking around wondering what to do when my friends and I decided to check out the next show which had a big line of very enthusiastic people.An old black man came on stage with a guitar he introduced us to named Lucille.My perception of rock and the relationship it has with blues was forever changed that day. My friends and I stood there, jaw dropped, watching this old man blow us away on this guitar.Since then I have been a huge fan of the blues and this album (yep, still call them albums) is incredible. If you are a young person who loves guitar-based rock and want to understand where rock came from, this is a perfect introduction. If you're further on in life and you don't have many blues albums, this would be an excellent addition to your collection.

My first record review:MY personal opinion why imperfect but five stars out of fiveAlbert King - Born Under A Bad Sign, 1967, Stereo,Sundazed LP 5031, 180gr VinylFantastic Record - i can highly recommend …But first:I woke up this morning, being up late, it was 1 p.m.,checked the seals on the records wrappings, original hologram, teaser sticker. Still didn't realise what I have bought. Considered it as the rerelease from some past 2 years or so.I took the innersleeve with the record out of the cover. The cover seemed not to be glued very good but intact. The record comes in the innersleeve from only white paper with nice round edges but no antistatic foil.Even the record label is kind of vintage.Mmh? The record is dusty and seems to carry some age on its shoulders. Dust, fabrics and grains on it. I only wiped it off and took a listen. My orthophone-red needle takes its way through the first grooves. Some light crackles and static is heard. Slightly wobbling like a steamboat, the needle gets through the grooves. (Yes the record is a slightly warped and the drilling is not exactly centered to the grooves.But instead of disappointment, it delivers a perfect listening experience of an album which has 50 plus years endured since been first released. It seems to enrich the sound, that it has some patina and is not 100% perfect. Then I checked the codes "Sundazed LP 5031", discogs said it is the 1998 issue, this date is written on the cover also. It might be 20 years old, but I got it this week from amazon after I waited a long time for delivery. I don't know if it is freshly pressed ever since then, or if it is that old. It seemed and looked that old.After I wiped the record with a softbrush more careful a view more times and played it for second time, with a fresh needle cleaning having done to the turntable (a Dual 530 cs which I bought new 30 years ago and freshed up last year), the static in the grooves is getting more in the background and the sound is so rich and satisfying, so authentic, so steamblowing dark and warm, forceful between a rocket and a steamtractor with a lot of pressure. With this record you still can play with the "bass and treble" settings of your amp, because ist not in that kind, that modern reissues sometimes have: "Loudness built in, megabass, no hisses". It is more like the records in the old days, carried over time, but complete new. It accompanies the content so well.You can really feel the perfect play between the record, the content and the turntable.I recorded it immediately with our tapedeck from the eighties to keep that moment.Highly recommendation for Sundazed LP 5031 if you look for vintage music like back in the days in the very best way.

Anyone wishing to start a blues collection should have this album as it is one of the cornerstones of the genre.More a collection of singles than an album, it contains some of Albert Kings greatest tracks and because these songs were designed for Radio, there is no excess or padding.The only word of caution is that some of the songs have a very smooth sound which may not appeal to those who like their blues a little rougher round the edges (think early John Lee Hooker)Highlights - the whole albumSpecial mention goes to "Oh Pretty Woman" which has a backing track that really drives the song along.The title track is an all time classic and "The Hunter" & "Laundromat Blues" are exceptionalThe final track on the album is a stunning rendition of "The Very Thought Of You" it is a complete departure from the other tracks and I like the fact the only guitar solo is in the introduction.All tracks are played impeccably and kings smooth voice compliments the sound.This is one of the all-time great blues albums and is thoroughly recommended

This 1967 release by Albert King is one of the essential albums for any blues fan.All the tracks on this album are available on a 2CD Albert King Greatest Hits release but this is the original album and the original song order.Several tracks from this album have become standards. Kansas City is the Lieber/Stoller classic; Born Under A Bad Sign was covered by Cream in 1968; The Hunter was covered by both Free and Bob Seger in the early 1970s; Personal Manager and Oh, Pretty Woman have been covered by Gary Moore (among others); Laundromat Blues was covered by Rory Gallagher and so on.The album was recorded at the Stax Records studio in Memphis with many of the great musicians in the Stax house band backing King. Backing musicians include Steve Cropper on guitar, Isaac Hayes and Booker T. Jones (of Booker T & the M.G.'s fame) on piano, Donald Dunn n bass, Al jackson jr on drums.Overall, one of the best blues albums ever recorded. It's also one of the most influential blues albums of any era. This is a classic; if you're a blues fan, you need to have this album in your collection.

Classic blues album . Great vinyl pressing

Great songs and immense guitar playing Albert King is one of the blues giants