One of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with B.B. King and Freddie King), Albert King stood 6' 4", weighed 250 lbs and was known as "The Velvet Bulldozer". He was born Albert Nelson on a cotton plantation in Indianola, Mississippi. During his childhood he would sing at a family gospel group at a church. One of 13 children, King grew up picking cotton on plantations near Forrest City, Arkansas where the family moved when he was eight years old. He began his professional work as a musician with a group called In The Groove Boys in Osceola, Arkansas. He had also briefly played drums for Jimmy Reed's band and on several early Reed recordings. Influenced by blues musicians Blind Lemon Jefferson and Lonnie Johnson, but also interestingly Hawaiian music, the electric guitar became his signature instrument, his preference being the Gibson Flying V, which he named "Lucy".
King was a left-handed "upside-down/backwards" guitarist. He was left-handed, but usually played right-handed guitars flipped over upside-down so the low E string was on the bottom. In later years he played a custom-made guitar that was basically left-handed, but had the strings reversed (as he was used to playing). He also used very unorthodox tunings (i.e., tuning as low as C to allow him to make sweeping string bends). Some believe that he was using open E minor tuning (C-B-E-G-B-E) or open F tuning (C-F-C-F-A-D). A "less is more" type blues player, he was known for his expressive "bending" of notes, a technique characteristic of blues guitarists.
He recorded his first record in 1953 for Parrot Records in Chicago, but it had no impact. His first minor hit came in 1959 with Lonely Man written by Bobbin Records A&R man and fellow guitar hero Little Milton, responsible for King's signing with the label. However, it was not until his 1961 release Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong that he had a major hit, reaching number fourteen on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart. In 1966 he signed with the Stax record label. Produced by Al Jackson, Jr., King with Booker T. & the MG's recorded dozens of influential sides, such as Crosscut Saw and As The Years Go Passing By, and in 1967 Stax released the album, Born Under a Bad Sign. The title track of that album (written by Booker T. Jones and William Bell) became King's best known songs and has been covered by many other artists.
Another landmark album followed in Live Wire/Blues Power from one of many dates King played at promoter Bill Graham's Fillmore venues. It had a wide and long-term influence on Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Robbie Robertson, and later Gary Moore and Stevie Ray Vaughan (Criminal World, on David Bowie's 1983 release Let's Dance, features a guitar solo copied note-for-note from his hero Albert King by young session musician Stevie Ray Vaughan).
In the 1970s, King was teamed with members of The Bar-Kays and The Movement (Isaac Hayes's backing group), including bassist James Alexander and drummer Willie Hall adding strong funk elements to his music. Adding strings and multiple rhythm guitarists, producers Allen Jones and Henry Bush created a wall of sound that contrasted the sparse, punchy records King made with Booker T. & the MG's. Among these was another of King's signature tunes with I'll Play the Blues For You in 1972.
Recorded in December 1983, In Session captures an in-concert jam between Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan
As he hit his mid-sixties King began to muse about retirement, not unreasonable given that he had health problems. Nevertheless, when near to death, he was planning yet another overseas tour.
King died on December 21, 1992 from a heart attack in Memphis, Tennessee.
Lucy
Albert King Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We're as happy as two can be
We have our quarrel bue then
Girl, how we love making up again
Lucy kisses like know one can
She's my misses and I'm her man
And life is heaven you see
And lucy loves me
I love lucy and she loves me
We're as happy as two can be
We have our quarrel bue then
How we love making up again
Lucy kisses like know one can
She's my misses and I'm her man
And life is heaven you see
'couse I love lucy, yesm I love lucy
And lucy loves me
I love lucy and she loves me
We're as happy as two can be
We have our quarrel bue then
Girl, how we love making up again
The lyrics to Albert King's song "Lucy" speak of a deep love between two people, Lucy and the singer. Despite their occasional quarrels, they always find a way to make up and their love remains strong. The singer expresses how much he loves Lucy and how happy they are together. Lucy is portrayed as a great kisser and the two are completely devoted to one another. The singer sees his life as heaven because of his love for Lucy.
The song has a classic blues sound with its soulful guitar riffs and harmonica accents. The lyrics are simple but heartfelt, communicating the beauty of a strong relationship. The repetition of the chorus reinforces the idea of a deep and unbreakable love.
Overall, the lyrics of "Lucy" are a tribute to a loyal and loving relationship. They speak of the ups and downs that come with any partnership but also highlight the importance of forgiveness and making up after a fight.
Line by Line Meaning
I love Lucy and she loves me
I have a deep affection for Lucy and she reciprocates the feeling
We're as happy as two can be
Our relationship brings us joy and contentment
We have our quarrel but then
Occasionally, we have conflicts and disagreements
Girl, how we love making up again
However, we thoroughly enjoy reconciling and repairing our relationship
Lucy kisses like no one can
Lucy's kissing is unparalleled and unmatched by others
She's my misses and I'm her man
We are each other's significant other
And life is heaven you see
Our life together brings us great happiness and satisfaction
'Cause I love Lucy, yes I love Lucy
I emphatically and genuinely love Lucy
And Lucy loves me
Lucy reciprocates my love for her
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: BOOKER T. JR. JONES, WILLIAM BELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
ishawnm
I heard this at the mall about a year and a half playing over the sound system. I had to do a triple take cause ya just do not hear Albert King music played over the speakers at Nordstroms. Well, i did that day lol
Iapod36913
Awesome, thanks for the upload. There's not much of Albert's material on youtube, so thank you very much:)
Dub211987
Wonderful!!!
GOVTWHEELZ
Albert, B.B. & Fredie, they're the Kings..
Suzanne Harris
Superbly backed by Booker T & the MG'S with the Memphis Horns.
Plangentry
awesome horns, and the great Al Jackson...a throwaway song with the fattest groove!
Charlie Carter
perfectly said!!!!
BNSF1985
love albert king
Samet M.
wuhu! i love her!
bobin bud
vinil version is better, remastering killing bass