Acoustic Sounds

Albert King

Live Wire Blues Power

Music

Sound

Albert King Live Wire Blues Power

Label: Stax/Craft-Bluesville

Produced By: Al Jackson

Engineered By: Bill Halverson and Ron Capone

Mastered By: Matthew Lutthans

Lacquers Cut By: Matthew Lutthans

By: Michael Fremer

September 29th, 2024

Genre:

Blues

Format:

Vinyl

A 1968 Live Blues Fillmore Classic Gets A Bluesville AAA Reissue

obi finally identifies the back-up band

Albert King teaches a master class in blues guitar soloing on this classic Stax release recorded June,1968 at San Francisco's Fillmore Auditorium, opening with a funked up version of Herbie Hancock's "Watermelon Man" that may not immediately be recognizable to Herbie fans but once you catch the groove, oh wow!

Next up is a scorched earth take on King's "Blues Power", his defining song. King's playing is hard-etched deliberate, with each note counting, rather than going for speed. Very different approach from that of the reigning audio show demo king, SRV—and this is not in the same sonic universe. It's a somewhat mid-hall perspective with lots of room ambience. Siide two's slow cooker opener "Blues At Sunrise", is King at his vocal call, instrumental reply best. If you don't already know, he's a lefty who plays upside down and backwards.

Not much else needs to be said other than this is a blues essential and I'm glad that Bluesville chose to reissue it. What else needs to be said is that if you've never heard a clean original this will sound very good, top to bottom but the tape has clearly lost some of it's top end crystalline clarity--especially the cymbals and then the hall ambience behind it. It's drier and somewhat darker.

On the other hand the bottom end has more weight that sounds as if it's actually on the tape but was attenuated in the original mastering. So the reissue is a mixed sonic bag, but you can be 100% sure that Mr. Lutthans cutting on the restored TML lathe has gotten the most from the tape.

Music Specifications

Catalog No: CR00745

Pressing Plant: QRP

SPARS Code: AAA

Speed/RPM: 33 1/3

Weight: 180 grams

Size: 12"

Channels: Stereo

Source: original master tapes

Presentation: Single LP

Comments

  • 2024-09-30 10:56:53 AM

    Scotty wrote:

    Nice review Michael! I have an original and never thought it was any kind of sonic wonder. I think the lower/bottom end comes across a bit more pronounced here and I like it better. WTS, this is one heck of a live record that demonstrates how good Albert King could play that guitar. This series is off to a great start and Matt has been doing a wonderful job mastering these records. Would love to hear your take on Last Night Blues from Lightnin' Hopkins and Sonny Terry. Some think it belonged in mono the way the stereo is panned wide (of course you could switch over if desired), but I think this is a rare case where it helps bring the music more to life in your room so to speak. With the best example being Conversation Blues. Of course it benefits the listen if you sit back a bit from your speakers and absorb the sheer brilliance of this music. One of my most anticipated titles from the series is coming in November, and that's I'm Jimmy Reed in glorious mono.

  • 2024-09-30 11:17:50 PM

    Come on wrote:

    I have the hires files of this one, not even the LP and don’t know the original (but believe the differences described) but I must say, this is one of the definitely best 7’s in sound quality I have heard so far. A wide, transparent, even airy stage, spatial layers in width and depth, left/right sound either besides or behind the speakers, not in them. I would have given an 8 at least on the usual scale where 7 rather is the lowest used rating. The generally very good transparency lets the seemingly less extended highs compared to the original be no bigger problem. And if the bass was boosted a bit, then this is exactly what’s necessary for this recording in my space. Recommended!

    • 2024-09-30 11:21:32 PM

      Come on wrote:

      Sorry, not boosted. It was written, the higher bass level on this one seemed to be the original content of the recording and the original pressing was attenuated…so even better for this release.

  • 2024-10-01 07:38:22 PM

    Seamus MacGleannain wrote:

    Nice review, Michael you just have a knack with your reviews of conveying whether it is worth our while to buy yet another reissue!

    I have a 1979 reissue of it, cut by Dave Turner at Fantasy, I wonder would this reissue kick it out of the park?

    James, Dublin

    • 2024-10-01 07:40:43 PM

      Seamus MacGleannain wrote:

      Michael just wondering is there a way on this website that one can edit their post before or after posting?

      • 2024-10-03 12:03:43 PM

        Michael Fremer wrote:

        Afraid not but I can do it for you if you email me about it at Michael@trackingangle.com, but please only for egregious errors or shame induced changes of heart!