Blues at Sunrise [Live, Import]

This concert was released after the return of Stax Records in the 1980s as a part of Fantasy Records. The initial release was the lost tape of Albert recording with John Mayall and his Jazz-Fusion band in California. This was put out as the "Lost Session". After another look in the newly recovered Stax vault (no pun intended!)tapes this concert was found. Two tracks had been previously released on vinyl as "Live at Montreux". This CD has most of the remaining part of this July 1, 1973 Montreux concert. The balance of this set can be found on the follow up release "Blues At Sunset" (1993).

This set is really different. Albert has a great band (with a subdued horn section). He also has Donald Kinsey (of the Kinsey Report) on guitar, who like Jimmy King, he calls his "grandson" (he liked to do that). Albert's playing is heavy, full and forceful. He obviously plays the entire set on his neck pickup and produced a fat sound unlike that on any other King recording. This is very similar to the sound he gets on the 2004 DVD release "Albert King: Live in Sweden". The title track "Blues at Sunrise" is a reworking of one of his very first King Records recordings. He has done this tune many times but this version is really different sounding. It also shows King at the beginning of the 1970s until the 1990s when he got the reputation of being difficult to work with. He typically berates the sound man in the middle of the tune.

I saw him in Australia in 1990 and he stopped the concert in the middle of "Kansas City", only his second tune, and rearranged the speakers on stage while the audience waited twenty minutes. He continued to play until he felt the Bass player wasn't holding up his end and PULLED OUT HIS LEAD IN MID-SONG! Oh Albert!

The tunes are on this recording are great, as they always are at Montreux. The production is well done and edited. Highlights of the performance are the Ray Charles (RIP) tune "I Believe To My Soul". His solos in this tune are awesome, what phrasing! "Roadhouse Blues" is a great extended tune that really gives the feel of an Albert King concert. This tune was released as a self-titled cassette tape in the 1990s, now very rare. "Little Brother, Make A Way" is the most unique cut on this CD. It features the only other and only ever live version of this track from "I'll Play the Blues For You" which was his current LP available when this concert was recorded. It has Albert singing soulfully without the second voice track of the LP and doing a great guitar solo as well.

I would highly recommend this CD. It is different sounding than any other Albert King recording. This shows Albert at the height of his creative devlopment and influence on the Blues genre. Buy this one along with Live Wire, Blues Power", "Blues At Sunset", "Blues From The Road", "Live 69" and "Talking Blues". These CDs are all different and show Albert's style and tone at various stages of his long career.

The Montreux Jazz Festival has seen it all in it's 30+ year history. Imagine a festival that can boast the likes of Albert King, B.B. King, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Luther Allison, Robert Cray, Miles Davis, Louisiana Red, Buddy Guy, John Lee Hooker, Etta James and many, many others. "Blues At Sunrise" is a recording of one of those fabulous Montreux performances recorded on July 1, 1973. On that Sunday, fans were treated to Albert King, Freddie King, Miles Davis, Teddy Wilson, Stephanie Grappelli, Cannonball and Nat Adderley. But it was Albert that brought down the house that evening with his scorching guitar solo's and soulful vocals. His playing was passionate, like a man truly possessed, and it is captured here for all to hear. Don't miss this bit of history, as it is truly one of Albert's top 5 performances of his life.

This is a very well done live recording. Both the material and the sound quality are top notch. The only thing I found missing was some additional material from the festival not on this CD. For that one must get the "Blues at Sunset" CD that contains the rest of the set as well as more excellent recordings from the Wattstax concert.