Born in Leona, Texas, Collins was a distant relative of Lightnin' Hopkins and grew up learning about music and playing guitar. His family moved to Houston, Texas when he was seven. Throughout the 1940s and 1950s, he absorbed the blues sounds and styles from Texas, Mississippi and Chicago. His style would soon envelop these sounds.
He formed his first band in 1952 and two years later was the headliner at several blues clubs in Houston. By the late 1950s Collins began using Fender Telecasters. He later chose a "maple-cap" 1966 Custom Fender Telecaster with a Gibson PAF humbucker in the neck position and a 100 watt RMS silverfaced 1970s Fender Quad Reverb combo as his main equipment, and developed a unique sound featuring minor tunings, sustained notes and an "attack" fingerstyle. He also frequently used a capo on his guitar, particularly on the 5th, 7th, and 9th frets. He primarily favored an "open F-minor" tuning (low to high: F-C-F-Ab-C-F).
Collins began recording in 1960 and released singles, including many instrumentals such as the million selling "Frosty". In the spring of 1965 he moved to Kansas City, Missouri and made a name for himself.
Many of Kansas City's recording studios had closed by the mid 1960s. Unable to record, Collins moved to California in 1967. He settled in San Francisco and played many of the venues popular with the counter-culture. In early 1969 after playing a concert with Canned Heat, members of this band introduced him to Liberty Records. In appreciation, part of the title of Collins’ first record for United Artists - "Love Can Be Found Anywhere (Even In A Guitar)/Trash Talkin'" - was taken from the lyrics of "Refried Hockey Boogie". Collins signed and released his first album on Imperial Records, a sister label, in 1968.
Collins remained in California for another five years, and was popular on double-billed shows at The Fillmore and the Winterland. Collins moved back to Texas in 1973 and formed a new band. He was signed to Alligator Records in 1978 and recorded and released Ice Pickin'. He would record seven more albums with the label, before being signed to Point Blank Records in 1990.
Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Collins toured the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan. He was becoming a popular blues musician and was an influence for Coco Montoya, Robert Cray, Gary Moore, Debbie Davies, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jonny Lang, Susan Tedeschi, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, John Mayer and Frank Zappa.
In 1983, when he won the W. C. Handy Award for his album Don't Lose Your Cool, which won the award for best blues album of the year. In 1985, he shared a Grammy for the album Showdown!, which he recorded with Robert Cray and Johnny Copeland. The following year his solo release Cold Snap was also nominated for a Grammy. In 1987, John Zorn enlisted him to play lead guitar in a suite he had composed especially for him, entitled "Two-Lane Highway," on Zorn's album Spillane.
Alongside George Thorogood and the Destroyers and Bo Diddley, Collins performed at Live Aid in 1985, playing "Who Do You Love?", "The Sky Is Crying" and "Madison Blues", at Philadelphia's JFK Stadium. He was the only black blues artist to appear.
Collins was invited to play at the 'Legends Of Guitar Festival' concerts in Seville, Spain at the Expo in 1992, where amongst others, he played "Iceman", the title track from his final studio album.
He made his last visit to London, England in March 1993.
After falling ill at a show in Switzerland in late July 1993, he was diagnosed in mid August with lung cancer which had metastasized to his liver, with an expected survival time of four months. Parts of his last album, Live '92/'93, were recorded at shows that September; he died shortly afterwards, in November at the age of 61. He was survived by his wife, Gwendolyn and father, Andy Thomas. He is interred at the Davis Memorial Park, Las Vegas, Nevada.
Collins will be remembered not only for the quantity of quality blues music that he put out throughout his career that has inspired so many other blues musicians, but also for his legendary live performances, where he would frequently come down from the stage and mingle with the audience whilst still playing. This practice was illustrated in Collins' uncredited cameo appearance in the film Adventures in Babysitting. He insisted to Elisabeth Shue that "nobody leaves here without singin' the blues", forcing the children to improvise a song before escaping.
Another instance of Collins' humorous stage presence was recounted in the film documentary, Antones: Austin's Home of the Blues. Collins left the building, still plugged in and playing. Several minutes after Collins returned to the stage, a pizza delivery man came in and gave Collins the pizza he had just ordered when he left the building. Collins had gone to Milto's Pizza & Pasta through an adjoining alley and ordered while he was still playing.
Master Charge
Albert Collins Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
That I got her the other day,
I owe five hundred dollars
That's just for yesterday.
I said,
"Honey, here's a present go out and shop around.
Get a couple of dresses and browse around
She did just what I told her,
Bought one, two or three
Then came home looking silly
Making goo-goo eyes at me.
[Chorus: x3]
Master Charge
Master Charge
A Bank of America Card
I said, "Did you get your dresses?"
She said, "Yes, one or two,
But I had to get me some shoes and I needed
Some jewelry too."
She had $200 dresses
That I could have made and I can't sowe!
Fifty Dollars pair of shoes
And I thought you so and so.
I said, "What about the jewelry?"
As calmly as I could.
She said, "Honey, you'll love them. They're pure African wood."
[Chorus: x3]
Let's charge it!
Let's charge it!
She said, "They were $200 and I paid
One and a half!"
I just didn't believe it,
I was so mad I had to laugh.
I could see it in my mind
On a horse like Paul Revere
I check my mail box
'Cause these bills keep coming here.
[Chorus: x3]
Charge it!
Let's charge it!
Let's charge it!
The lyrics of Albert Collins's song "Master Charge" tell a story of a man whose wife has recently obtained a Bank of America credit card, leaving him with a $500 debt after just one day. He had given his wife the card as a gift, telling her to buy a few dresses and look around downtown. When she returns home, he is disappointed to see she has spent frivolously on expensive dresses, shoes, and jewelry. The chorus of the song praises the power of Master Charge (another name for Bank of America's credit card) and humorously depicts the singer's frustration at the growing debt.
The song critiques the idea of consumerism and the ability of credit cards to create a false sense of financial security. The singer's experience with Master Charge is not unique, and many people have experienced the shock and stress of high credit card debt. The song speaks to the ease with which credit cards allow people to spend beyond their means, and how quickly one can become overwhelmed by debt.
Line by Line Meaning
My wife has a charge card
My spouse has a credit card
That I got her the other day,
I recently obtained it for her
I owe five hundred dollars
I have a debt of $500
That's just for yesterday.
That amount is only from one day
I said,
I spoke
"Honey, here's a present go out and shop around.
"My dear, please use this gift to go shopping
Get a couple of dresses and browse around Downtown."
Buy two dresses and look at other things in the city center
She did just what I told her,
She followed my instructions
Bought one, two or three
She purchased one, two, or possibly three dresses
Then came home looking silly
She came back appearing foolish
Making goo-goo eyes at me.
She fluttered her eyelashes and acted coy
Master Charge
Credit card brand called Master Charge/Bank of America Card
Master Charge
Credit card brand called Master Charge/Bank of America Card
A Bank of America Card
Bank of America credit card
I said, "Did you get your dresses?"
I inquired, "Did you buy the dresses?"
She said, "Yes, one or two,
She replied, "Yes, one or two dresses,
But I had to get me some shoes and I needed
But I also required some shoes and
Some jewelry too."
Some accessories as well."
She had $200 dresses
Her dresses cost $200 each
That I could have made and I can't soe!
That I could have created and I don't know how to sew!
Fifty Dollars pair of shoes
Her shoes cost $50
And I thought you so and so.
And I thought you [expletive].
I said, "What about the jewelry?"
I asked, "What about the accessories?"
As calmly as I could.
I attempted to remain composed.
She said, "Honey, you'll love them. They're pure African wood."
She stated, "You will adore them. They are made of authentic African wood."
Let's charge it!
Let us put the purchase on the credit card!
Let's charge it!
Let us put the purchase on the credit card!
She said, "They were $200 and I paid
She exclaimed, "They cost $200 and I paid
One and a half!"
One hundred and fifty dollars!"
I just didn't believe it,
I did not think it was true
I was so mad I had to laugh.
I was furious, but I chuckled in disbelief.
I could see it in my mind
I envisioned it in my thoughts
On a horse like Paul Revere
Like the famous American patriot Paul Revere rode
I check my mail box
I examine my mailbox
'Cause these bills keep coming here.
Because these bills continue to arrive.
Charge it!
Put it on the credit card!
Let's charge it!
We should charge it!
Let's charge it!
We should put it on the credit card!
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Exceleration Music Partners, LLC
Written by: COLLINS, GWENDOLYN LOUISE, GWENDOLYN LOUISE COLLINS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
D. Grant
what a career...1940's to the 1990's !
I was so blessed to see he & his 3 or 4 piece band rock the Rainbow Bistro in Ottawa, Canada more than once or twice in less than 10 years back in the 80's.
I would study all musicians on the stage, how they played, the groove and vibe they would set, always noticed just how much fun they were all having.
I would watch & learn taking it all in as they played 2 hr sets in a small club in a small northern town during the middle of a Canadian winter .... or in the thick of a Canadian heatwave mid summer. Fond memories of some shows going past 2am and the crowd would always want more!
Halfway through the show Albert would enlist a roadie to follow him while he mingled while paying into the crowd. The roadie unravelling a 300 ft spool of guitar cable as he walked through the club & out onto the city streets below - 2 floors down, chatting with passerbys on the street & playing the tastiest licks & chords, smiling & grinning the entire time .... he was the real deal, a people person first & foremost.
My buddy worked for a local Ottawa University radio station (ckcu) and actually managed to 'book' an impromptu interview with Albert between sets one time. It took place in a tiny 'green room' under the stairs at the Rainbow. I was fortunate enough to tag along for the interview. I'll never forget how he opened the door to his 'break room/green room' and easily invited us in to chat with him while he changed his strings & tuned up.
He greeted us at the door of the tiny room with, "Hey fellas, come on in & have a seat. Ya'll want to axe me some questions for a radio show?" no security, no attitude, all smiles and SUPER friendly. Amazing, thanks for the hospitality Albert, in both your music & your genuine personality.
1SirGrandMasterMrKINGRobertMichael CrofootGod1
Dear Class, Albert Collins & his Band have done & been so much good for music & regarding music, the Blues, Jazz, Albert's mastery of the telecastery, etc. lol.
So, it's good news to hear them playing so good, ....Albert & the Band made up for it in the end with Albert's explanation, Class, the truth about things, but just one thing concerns me in this song. Albert teaches about money & wealth, & lots of things in life actually, he loves to jam out the Universe to harmonious great music, but in the lyrics he states something to the effect of he bought nice dresses for his good Wife, and "she came home lookin' silly", sigh..which disturbs me, Class. It makes me feel like something's wrong, maybe some war of man
vswoman going on or another love battle etc. The things we all go through out here in love & Romance & Marriage & chastity.Especially when the actual "truth" of girls & women is as 100% totally proved, proven, verified, evidenced, & Documented now on our Internet in the Palin for President & Pelosi for President Campaigns always, regardless of all always at School, rather their "natural intelligence" regarding life, money, & wealth, and their natural longevity, at this time in our history if not just always, and tendency to have a longer average lifespan than males & men, in the USA (Region), & potentially Universally, but scientifically so, my peoples. Girls love life a lot, they may be and actually are somewhat "the Custodians of life, & involved regarding life", as child-bearing peoples.
So basically it's contrary Albert's lyrics, because it's way more likely for males & men to screw up about money than it is girls & women, most peoples on average. Our Science is reliable, and there's also more than just science in life, but science is reliable always. So is Albert actually, lol.
So, we just have to be careful because Sarah Palin & Nancy Pelosi are not/would not be happy about it, Albert Collins has done lots of good work at School for America, tons of it, he loves America a lot.
Both Mrs. Sarah Palin Mam & Mrs. Nancy Pelosi Mam have worked tirelessly & totally successfully at & regarding America's finance, ratifying bill after bill in the community's best interest, awarding the American peoples stimulus checks & other benefits & rewards, and as always, regardless of all always..........being totally strong about & regarding "all life", with natural intelligence regarding things, that guys don't apparently seem to have, most guys anyway.
Yet Mr. Albert Collins' good Wife still lives & exists in an untouchable state & place, that cannot ever be changed....a pretty innocent flower girl, in a pretty dress, in a memory and an innocent place that is made of light, where she is happy. Her chastity..and all girls' chastity cannot be broken, the girls are so tough about life & love, Romance, Marriage, Chastity, friendship, partnership, fidelity, honor, Grace, loyalty, faithfulness, trust, and the Majesty of love, all the things of love, that it's their nature, their natural state, their "unchangeable state".
Class, the girls are in my Teaching of 10 Commandment Way, just like light..they are so strong & healthy & oriented that we know not to look too long or we will go blind, lol.
Albert & his Band did great, these $200 dresses are worth, well....we all think way more than $200, we start with "100% totally infinitely, specifically to the highest order of magnitude priceless always, regardless of all always, with even just 1 life that goes into a dress such as from a cotton tree person, let alone all the other peoples that go into one dress, the flowers, the peoples". It's heavy but we have to defend all from & regarding the ancient man
vswoman war deal, always, regardless of all always man.Our Campaign Slogan in the Palin for President & Pelosi for President Campaigns is still: 1) Equality 2) Sexual Equality &3) Equal potential in & regarding all & all things, under God, always, regardless of all always.
But also includes all of our work regarding girls & women, and Palin & Pelosi's total success healing up America's financial disaster, to a great degree. They did great for us, & remember Palin & Pelosi are both Angels & GRADUATES at our School 1 "Count to ten" - Martial Art School (c)1, Patented(1) now, and 10th Degree - Whitebelts now, always, regardless of all always, so they are both therefore Universal in nature. So they work on a Universal level, including all their work for America.
Mike Ashton
One of the best blues guitarist that ever lived.
HawkBit
why doesn't music sound like this anymore? bring back the blues!!!! rip albert.
evil pickle
Its because musicians are to worried about perfection and playing from the mind and not the heart mistakes should happen it makes human ,real stop trying to copy note for note and be original.
Terrormilk
I really cant tell how humans ended up from the blues to what music is today. It says a lot about society man..
羅倫斯
I second that!
Philip Gerrish
this guy plays with no pick, invented his own style, one of the most creative musicians ever, and dammit he has FUN playing and it's contagious, love this guy!!
Trank Serrano
Albert Collings good good good good good
GeorgiaBoy1961
I was lucky-enough to see Albert Collins and the Icebreakers live, up-close and personal maybe a dozen times in the late 1970s & 1980s right up to the early 90s. Many of those shows in small clubs. Albert and the band were simply amazing. Albert never forgot his fans and always put on a great show. Never coasted; always played his heart out. And his bands were always so tight and funky. Oh man, yes those were some very good times... I sure do miss him.
Dave Beach
Such a high ringing piercing tone when he plays. Showman created some of the best live concerts I've had the joy to experience. With his 100 foot cord he would engage with his fans directly. Thank you sir R.I.P.
Ian Tranby
One of the most under rated blues singer guitarist but who cares as far I care he was top shelf blues on ALBERT