Four Classic Albums (2-CD)

by Freddie King / Albert King

AVID Roots continues with its Four Classic album series with a re-mastered 2CD release, 3 albums from Freddie King and one classic from Albert King complete with original artwork and liner notes. 'Let's Hide Away And Dance Away with Freddie King'; 'Freddie King Sings'; 'Boy Girl Boy' featuring Lula Reed and Sonny Thompson plus Albert King 'The Big Blues'. In 1949, aged just 15 a young Fred King made the move so many black families had made during the 1940's and left their home in Dallas Texas and moved to Chicago in search of a better life. King had been learning the guitar for some time but now he found himself in Chicago he began frequenting the South Side night clubs where he would go on to witness the live shows from the likes of Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, T. Bone Walker and Sonny Boy Williamson. Not a bad education for an aspiring blues man! Having failed to get signed by Chess on the South Side he moved to the West Side and hooked up with the likes of Magic Sam, one of the great blues guitarists. Eventually King ran into Sonny Thompson at King Records who signed him to King subsidiary Federal Records where his first sides were released. Here we feature three early albums consisting of fine instrumentals, King solo vocals and classic vocal duets . 'The Velvet Bulldozer', otherwise known as bluesman Albert King started his musical career playing drums behind Jimmy Reed for whom he made a few recordings before taking up the electric guitar under the influence of Lonnie Johnson and Blind Lemon Jefferson. It took King quite a while to establish himself as he kept changing his name and referring to himself as related to B.B. King, which was not true, neither was he related to our other featured artist Freddie King! He also had a habit of moving around a lot, like many bluesman of the era, looking for work and a recording contract