Albert King - I'll Play the Blues for You ending solo, a little masterpiece.

[Thin white duke]

It happens that everytime i listen to this song by the great Albert King i have to " rewind " several times from minute 5.54 to the end.

I really think that the last 1.20 minutes solo of this song is a little masterpiece and it's also a lesson of timing, playing the essential, bending, dynamics, probably other things.

The whole song is great anyway.

Now, i'm not one of those people that say that the less you play the better you are, it's not a rule, there are musicians that can play many notes and be great.

In the case of the blues music i really appreciate when not too many notes are played in a solo, and the King Albert was a master in this.

Viva Albert King.

Cheers.

 

[rickthescot]

Just don't want it to end, the learning I get from that kind of playing just never stops.

 

[Thin white duke]

Just don't want it to end, the learning I get from that kind of playing just never stops.

It's true, S.R.V thought the same thing.

 

[Gunny]

In my 'blues discovery' years, I learned a lot about Albert. There's a whole story about his guitar "Lucy" getting fixed after being heavily wetted (can't remember the details; think it was an Erlewine story). He plays it lefty with the strings strung righty (small E on top) and some of his bends are 4 frets. Pulling the strings down to bend the notes gave him more hand/finger strength to do that. Gary Moore and Joe Bonamassa both picked up on Albert's techniques. Of all the blues players like BB, Freddy King and Albert Collins, Albert King's sound was unique and I still dig his stuff because it's different, and yes, it inspires you to play the blues.

 

[Thin white duke]

In my 'blues discovery' years, I learned a lot about Albert. There's a whole story about his guitar "Lucy" getting fixed after being heavily wetted (can't remember the details; think it was an Erlewine story). He plays it lefty with the strings strung righty (small E on top) and some of his bends are 4 frets. Pulling the strings down to bend the notes gave him more hand/finger strength to do that. Gary Moore and Joe Bonamassa both picked up on Albert's techniques. Of all the blues players like BB, Freddy King and Albert Collins, Albert King's sound was unique and I still dig his stuff because it's different, and yes, it inspires you to play the blues.

---Albert King's sound was unique ----
That's it Gunny and probably it's because he played left-handed and upside down

 

[Chicago Matt]

Great stuff. I love all three Kings. Albert's approach is definitely unique due to the left-handed upside down guitar. Otis Rush is another. I remember when I was first learning to bend, it was so much easier to pull down - as Gunny pointed out. So bending the 3rd string was no problem, but bending the 2nd and 1st strings, having to bend upwards, seemed like an almost impossible nut to crack for me. Almost as hard as that first barred F chord.

 

[Thin white duke]

Great stuff. I love all three Kings. Albert's approach is definitely unique due to the left-handed upside down guitar. Otis Rush is another. I remember when I was first learning to bend, it was so much easier to pull down - as Gunny pointed out. So bending the 3rd string was no problem, but bending the 2nd and 1st strings, having to bend upwards, seemed like an almost impossible nut to crack for me. Almost as hard as that first barred F chord.

I never bend down the 3rd to be onest, i mean i tried but it's not very natural to me, what i know is that everytime i play along with Albert and try to play his licks my hands get tired after a few minutes, it's so hard man.

 

[JazzboxBlues]

I’ve always liked the solo in “ Oh, Pretty Woman”. Albert could say more in one note than most guitarist could say in a hundred.

 

[Thin white duke]

I’ve always liked the solo in “ Oh, Pretty Woman”. Albert could say more in one note than most guitarist could say in a hundred.

Yes very great song, one of my favourite is walking the backstreets and crying in the album I Wanna Get Funky, sad and beautiful song.

 

[schmee]

Albert was just plain tasty. You can hear the feel and passion, without a bunch of hard thrashing...

 

[Dan R]

I have that record and love it. May need to dig it out today. I was a bit late to the party with Albert, but I love his playing in every way. Nobody bends like Albert. I try my best to cop that sort of sound whenever I can.

 

[charlie chitlin]

Great stuff. I love all three Kings. .

I try not to pass up an opportunity to put in a good word for Earl.

 

[EllroyJames]

Pre-Stax string bending nirvana

 

[5ofeight]

Love listening to Albert King, his phrasing is just so singularly spectacular. He gets a lot of play in my Taxi.

 

[WireLine]

Albert was just plain tasty. You can hear the feel and passion, without a bunch of hard thrashing...

Exactly..lots of guys play good licks. Albert played good licks the right way, in such a manner that you KNOW it’s him, no one else can capture that tone, time, and soul.

The dude is richeous even on cell phone speakers

 

[Thin white duke]

I have that record and love it. May need to dig it out today. I was a bit late to the party with Albert, but I love his playing in every way. Nobody bends like Albert. I try my best to cop that sort of sound whenever I can.

I have that record and love it. May need to dig it out today. I was a bit late to the party with Albert, but I love his playing in every way. Nobody bends like Albert. I try my best to cop that sort of sound whenever I can.

---Nobody bends like Albert---
Nobody, i try too and i get angry because i get tired after a while, it's very hard to me, i can play for hours "Robben Ford style" ( not even close to Robben ) and nothing happens but when i try to copy the master it kills me.

 

[Thin white duke]

I try not to pass up an opportunity to put in a good word for Earl.

Another King.

 

[Thin white duke]

Love listening to Albert King, his phrasing is just so singularly spectacular. He gets a lot of play in my Taxi.

---his phrasing is just so singularly spectacular---
So true.

Man, taking your taxi must be a joy then....

 

[5ofeight]

---his phrasing is just so singularly spectacular---
So true.

Man, taking your taxi must be a joy then....

Indeed, today I had his fantastic "Born under a bad sign" and " in Session" with SRV playing, their joint rendition of "Stormy Monday" is such a beautiful thing.

 

[Thin white duke]

Indeed, today I had his fantastic "Born under a bad sign" and " in Session" with SRV playing, their joint rendition of "Stormy Monday" is such a beautiful thing.

Yes, i like In Session a lot, the master and his best student.