Review Summary: A true classic in the blues genre, that is both an enjoyable and interesting record for experienced listeners, as an accessible and highly recommendable first introduction for newcomers to the genre.
Although part of the so called “Three Kings” of the blues, along with Freddie and B.B., Albert King has always stood a bit in the shadow of the latter, who was arguably the king among kings in terms of general popularity. When it comes down to influence on popular music and the development of electric guitar playing however, Albert King might actually be the more important among the pack. While B.B. king was known for his singing guitar playing, and smooth shimmering vibrato, the Velvet Bulldozer (as Albert was often nicknamed) tortured his strings with fiery and highly aggressive playing, featuring bends of massive proportions that would prove to be a (if not the) prime influence on artists like Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, who are arguably among the most important guitarists in modern popular music. In the words of John Mayer: “Albert King is the reason guitarists break high e-strings!”
Probably the finest record of Kings extensive catalogue is his 2nd studio album, his 1967 debut at soul label Stax Records, “Born Under A Bad Sign”. There is some debate to what degree this record could be classified as a studio album. Albert King already had an extensive touring- and minor recording career behind him, and his Stax debut was meant as somewhat of a compilation of King’s singles and fan favorites, recorded with the backing of the label’s legendary house band, Booker T. and the MG’s. For all practical purposes however, I think this album qualifies as a proper studio album.
There are two things immediately striking after giving “Born Under A Bad Sign” a full listen. First is the astounding quality of each of the songs, perhaps due to the origin of this album as a collection of mostly singles (i.e. songs that were devised to grab attention in the first place and/or are deemed to be of high quality). Although there are still standouts, like the classic title track and the slow and gloomy “As The Years Go Passing By”, every single song is memorable in its own way. This feature is enhanced by this album’s second peculiar quality, namely its astounding musical diversity. While Albert King already showed himself to be more musically adventurous than most of his fellow bluesmen on his first studio album, “The Big Blues”, this approach is taken up to eleven on this record. Both the title track and “Oh Pretty Woman” would be wailing rockers, if only the gain and volume would be increased (as respectively Cream and Gary Moore, among many others, have demonstrated), “Crosscut Saw” on the other hand has a Latin-flavored beat to it, while Personal Manager and Laundromat Blues follow a more traditional blues pattern. Albert King even puts his guitar (mostly) on the side to bring his rendition of two traditional pop standards (“I Almost Lost My Mind” and “The Very Thought Of You”). In fact, instead of a pure blues album, “Born Under A Bad Sign” is more a collection of songs in a wide variety of genres, that act as a foundation for Albert King to sing play his electrifying blues leads upon.
Both the astounding quality of the songs, as the wide diversity of styles, make this album an extremely enjoying listen all the way through, without falling into a sort of all-to-familiar feel and sameness, as is often the case with (even otherwise good) blues records. Born Under A Bad Sign is an extremely solid album, that will prove to be both an interesting listen for experienced blues aficionados , as well as a highly recommendable and accessible first introduction for those bent on discovering the more traditional blues records of years gone by.
Personnel:
Albert King: lead guitar and vocals
Steve Cropper: rhythm guitar
Booker T. Jones: organ, piano
Isaac Hayes: piano
Donald "Duck" Dunn: bass guitar
Al Jackson, Jr.: drums
Wayne Jackson: trumpet
Andrew Love: tenor saxophone
Joe Arnold: baritone saxophone, flute
+ Solid all the way through
+ Good instrumentation, both in the backing music, as Albert King's lead guitar
+ Musically diverse for a blues record, which helps to keep interest
+ Interesting mix of both traditional blues elements and musical experimentation
- The 2 traditional pop tracks are a bit mediocre in comparison and (for the most part) lack King's lead guitar (but are by no means bad)
