Back catalogue: Blues

Review: With the Bar-Kays and Isaac Hayes's Movement alternately supplying the funky rhythms and the Memphis Horns contributing the riveting riffs, I'll Play the Blues for You stands out as the definitive Albert King soul-blues fusion album of the Seventies. King, in the words of the late Michael Bloomfield, ''was the only [blues] singer who had clever, modern arrangements that would fit in with the black radio market and with the white market and in no way compromised his style.'' Besides the hit title track, the disc includes the hit ''Breaking Up Somebody's Home

Review: Recorded in 1968 at the Fillmore Auditorium in San Francisco, California; Live Wire/Blues Power is a timeless live album by the great blues guitarist Albert King. Known as one of the "three Kings of blues" alongside BB King and Freddie King, this courtly rally, mic'ed up to pristine clarity, hears the wisest of these three wise men proclaim the universally apprehensible power of the blues. Alongside standards from Herbie Hancock ('Watermelon Man') and B.B. ('Please Love Me'), 'Blues Power' is the most salient track here, sticking out among the bunch as a song exclusively performed for this unassailable live show and this unassailable live show alone. "Everybody understands the blues... everybody from one day to another has the blues... you take the lil' baby that's laying in the cradle, he can't get that milk bottle fast enough, he go to kickin' and cryin' and going on tearin' up the little baby bed... he got the blues! Can you dig it?!" Nobody escapes the blues, and that is its power. Now, *that* is a message we can get behind.

Review: Craft Recordings Deluxe Edition of In Session, featuring the legendary collaboration between blues titans Albert King and Stevie Ray Vaughan, is an important new edition of this meeting of legends. This long-awaited release arrives for the first time on triple vinyl, capturing the historic 1983 performance at CHCH-TV studios in Ontario, Canada, where the two guitarists showcased their extraordinary talents. Initially hesitant to share the stage with Vaughan, King quickly recognised the young guitarist's immense skill, leading to a profound musical dialogue that reverberates throughout this recording. The set includes the audio debut of iconic tracks such as 'Born Under a Bad Sign', 'Texas Flood' and 'I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town', offering fans an unparalleled listening experience. As they exchange licks, Vaughan breathes new life into King's classic riffs, demonstrating the evolution of their craft. The remastered performance, pressed on high-quality 180-gram vinyl and housed in a gatefold jacket, celebrates a momentous occasion in blues history. This collection not only highlights the dynamic interplay between two guitar legends but also sets a new standard for live blues recordings.

Review: This Record Store Day special for 2024 is an unreleased live recording of the legendary BB King, captured by the French Radio and Television Office on October 7, 1977. It is a full-length concert with an electric vibe that allows a superb glimpse into the great blues singer-guitarist's powerful working band of the era. If you think you know the man's sound, this might well open your ears to some new perspectives. Released by Zev Feldman's Deep Digs label it comes with a set of rare photos by Thierry Trombert, Val Wilmer, and Jan Persson, plus some excellent liner notes by French author Jean Buzeline.