The Big Blues

The Big Blues
Compilation album by
Albert King
Released1963 (1963)
GenreBlues
Length34:49
LabelKing
Albert King chronology
The Big Blues
(1963) 		Born Under a Bad Sign
(1967)

The Big Blues is a compilation album by Albert King, released by King Records in 1963. It is his first album and the only one before he signed with Stax Records, where he would record most albums during his career. The album was later reissued under the title Travelin' to California.

Recording

The Big Blues compiles songs previously released by King Records and Bobbin Records as singles and B-sides.[1] King recorded "Blues at Sunrise" and "Let's Have a Natural Ball" for the St. Louis label Bobbin in 1960,[2] which helped to introduce him to a wider audience.

In October 1961, King released "Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong", which included Ike Turner on piano.[1] It did so well locally that King Records leased the record from Bobbin and released it as a single the next month.[3] It became King's first appearance on the charts, peaking at number 14 on the Billboard R&B chart.[4]

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[5]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings[6]

Track listing

All songs were written by Albert King, except where noted.

Side 1

  1. "Let's Have a Natural Ball" – 2:52
  2. "What Can I Do to Change Your Mind?" – 2:48
  3. "I Get Evil"[7] – 2:26
  4. "Had You Told It Like It Was (It Wouldn't Be Like It Is)" (Sonny Thompson, Gene Redd) – 2:59
  5. "This Morning"[8] – 2:10
  6. "I Walked All Night Long" – 2:51

Side 2

  1. "Don't Throw Your Love on Me So Strong" – 2:55
  2. "Travelin' to California" – 3:00
  3. "I've Made Nights by Myself" – 2:34
  4. "This Funny Feeling" (Rudy Toombs) – 2:32
  5. "Ooh-Ee Baby" – 3:52
  6. "Dyna Flow" – 2:50

Personnel

  • Albert King – guitar, vocals
  • Ike Turner – piano on "Don't Throw Your Love On Me So Strong"[1]
  • Harold White - Tenor Saxophone
  • Wilbur Thompson - Trumpet
  • Freddie Robinette - Baritone Saxophone
  • Lee Otis Right - Bass
  • Kenny Birdell Rice - Drums
  • Pierre Wooten – cover illustration

References

  1. ^ a b c Obrecht, Jas (2000). Rollin' and Tumblin': The Postwar Blues Guitarists. San Francisco: Backbeat Books. p. 349. ISBN 978-0-87930-613-7.
  2. ^ "Review of New Pop Records – Rhythm & Blues" (PDF). Billboard. September 12, 1960. p. 58 – via Americanradiohistory.com.
  3. ^ Erlewine, Daniel; Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (1996). "Albert King". In Erlewine, Michael; Bogdanov, Vladimir; Woodstra, Chris; Koda, Cub (eds.). All Music Guide to the Blues. San Francisco: Miller Freeman Books. p. 149. ISBN 0-87930-424-3.
  4. ^ "Hot R&B Sides" (PDF). Billboard. December 11, 1961. p. 36 – via Americanradiohistory.com.
  5. ^ AllMusic. "Albert King: The Big Blues – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 24, 2021. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  6. ^ Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. p. 348. ISBN 978-0-140-51384-4.
  7. ^ In 1940, Tampa Red first recorded "Don't You Lie to Me" with similar lyrics.
  8. ^ In 1961, the Mar-Keys recorded the similar instrumental "Last Night".