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.
Blues Power
Albert King Lyrics
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Well
Play it now)
Everybody understands the blues
Are you listening?
I say everybody understands the blues
Everybody from one day to another has the blues
You take the little baby that's layin' in the cradle
He can't get that milk bottle fast enough
He go to kickin' an'cryin'
An' goin' on, tearin' up the little baby bed
He got the blues
Can ya dig it?
Yeah!
Ha, ha, ha
You take this girl that's got this main squeeze
That's her boyfriend, that is, you know
An' he just bought a brand new GTO
You know she want to be wit' him everytime he cranks it up
An' go around the corner to the soda fountain
This is where she want to go an'show it off
Where all the girls and guys be
You know what I mean?
An' she get ready to go out this particular night
An' her mother say, "Daughter you was just out last night
You can't go out tonight, that's too many nights in a row"
She go in the room an'fasten the door
An' won't answer the phone, won't eat
Won't talk to nobody
She got the blues
That's what's wrong wit' her
Some people call them the reds, the pinks
When ya get through
It's the old-fashioned country blues
That's right
I haven't seen my main squeeze
In ten long weeks, today
You know I got the blues
Can you dig it? ha, ha, ha
Yeah!
Woo! Alright!
Ah but wait, I don't think you're with me
Let's everybody get a thing goin' right here
Yes, yes, yes
Can you feel it?
Yeah!
I can't hear you, can you feel it?
Yeah!
Yes, yes
Sounds awful good, keep it, keep it, right there chilin'
Keep it right there, ha ha ha ha
The blues!
An' when you're doin' the blues
They so strong, that's the reason there named
They call 'em blues power, yeah
An' would you believe I invented blues power?
Yeah!
Ha, ha
Can you dig the blues power?
Yeah!
Let everybody say "yeah"
Yeah!
Say it again, say "yeah"
Yeah!
Alright! Alright! Hey! Hey! Hey! Oh! Alright
Ha, ha, ha! Well! Woo! Ha, ha, ha! Oh man! Hey!
Ooh-oh!
Woo!
Thank you!
Thank you very much!
Thank you very kindly!
Woo!
"Blues Power" by Albert King is a song that shows the artist's deep understanding of the emotional depth behind the blues genre. In the opening lines, Albert King sets the tone for the song as he declares "this is blues power". He then goes on to emphasize that the blues is an experience that everyone can relate to. He likens the blues to a little baby that cries incessantly until it gets its milk bottle, and to a girl who can't go out with her friends because her mother thinks she's had enough nightlife. He even admits that he himself has the blues because he hasn't seen his main squeeze in a long time.
Throughout the song, King emphasizes the power of the blues. He declares that the blues are so strong that they have earned the nickname "blues power". King's delivery really adds to the song's overall impact. His gravelly voice, combined with the song's steady rhythm, really brings the song to life. Even the audience seems to be feeling the blues as they chant along with King, sounding raw and authentic. Overall, "Blues Power" is a song that showcases King's deep understanding of the blues, and reminds us of the emotional depth and power behind this timeless musical genre.
Line by Line Meaning
This is blues power!
Blues is a genre of music that has the power to grab people and hold them tight.
Everybody understands the blues
Everyone has experienced feeling down or low at some point or another.
Are you listening?
Do you hear what I'm saying? Do you understand the power of the blues?
I say everybody understands the blues
I reiterate that blues is a universal emotion felt by everyone.
You take the little baby that's layin' in the cradle
Even babies can feel and express dissatisfaction or sadness.
He can't get that milk bottle fast enough
The baby is impatient and wants his milk quickly.
You take this girl that's got this main squeeze
Here's another example of someone who's feeling low - in this case, a girl who's not able to see her boyfriend.
An' he just bought a brand new GTO
Her boyfriend has a new car that she wishes she could show off with him.
She go in the room an'fasten the door
The girl retreats because she's upset and doesn't want to talk to anyone.
Some people call them the reds, the pinks
Some people call the blues by different names, depending on the severity of the feeling.
I haven't seen my main squeeze
The singer is expressing his own personal feelings of sorrow from missing his loved one.
Can you feel it?
Are you picking up on the powerful sensations emitted by the music?
The blues!
Once again, the singer is emphasizing that blues is the focus of this song.
And when you're doin' the blues
When you're feeling down and playing some blues music, you can really feel the strength of the sound.
They so strong, that's the reason there named
The power of the blues is so intense that they had to deserve a fitting name.
I invented blues power
The singer is making a tongue-in-cheek statement, recognizing that blues power is a concept that's bigger than any one individual.
Let everybody say "yeah"
The singer is calling out to the audience to acknowledge their shared understanding and appreciation of the blues.
Thank you!
The song is over, and the singer is thanking the audience for their attention and support.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ERIC PATRICK CLAPTON, LEON RUSSELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Spetsnazty
Incredible. Thank you to Rick Beato and Joe Bomamossa for introducing me to this performance.
@NMHighPlains
I've heard it but thanks to those two I had to come see it!
@ShadyLeo66
I also looked this up because Joe talked about it
@24windings
Me too. Much appreciated.
@GjergjMero
same
@jacobvitthuhn1746
Same here. Man, listen to that tone! Killer
@JeffChazNOLA
I was very blessed and fortunate to have played and toured with Albert King for a while. I was playing trombone on this tour.
You could feel the power emulating out of him clear across the stage.
@amatossotama
my man. you are a legend
@HerringboneRecords
Awesome opportunity, congrats....👍
@scowlistic
Salute