Bear Family to release Freddie King box

[J.A.W.]

JPC Germany is offering the box for €117.99 or about $165 at today's exchange rate. Sale tax (VAT) will be deducted for non-EU customers. JPC's international shipping rate for boxes is reasonable.

Bear Family description with tracklisting

"Everything the legendary electric blues guitarist cut in the studio from 1956 to 1973 for El-Bee, Federal, King, Cotillion-Atlantic, and Leon Russell's Shelter Records! Every killer instrumental he waxed during his early 1960s hitmaking heyday, including 'Driving Sideways', 'Wash Out', 'Low Tide', and 'Remington Ride' plus his original hit recordings of 'Hide Away', 'Lonesome Whistle Blues', 'San-Ho-Zay', 'I'm Tore Down', and his piledriving 'Going Down'! Seven completely full discs including early rarities and previously unreleased alternate takes of some of his best-known Federal classics including 'You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling', 'Have You Ever Loved A Woman', and 'See See Baby', plus previously unissued Federal Recordings. An entire unissued 1968 demo session cut in Dallas that includes his rendition of J. B. Lenoir's 'The Mojo' (available in no other studio version). Incredible unpublished photos and memorabilia plus comprehensive liner notes from Bill Dahl! -- Freddie King, the legendary Texas Cannonball, was one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time whose fiery style laid the foundation of modern rock guitar. 'Rolling Stone' placed him #25 on the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time because he profoundly influenced Eric Clapton (who recorded several of King's songs including 'Hide Away', 'Have You Ever Loved A Woman', 'I'm Tore Down'), Jeff Beck ('The Stumble'), Stevie Ray Vaughan ('Hide Away'), and many others. -- 'He was the guy' said Jimmie Vaughan. 'He was powerful. It was unbelievable. And I never heard anyone play louder back then!' -- 'If I'm building a solo,' said Eric Clapton, 'I'll start with a Freddie King line. Of all the people I played with, he was the most stimulating.' -- Of the three seminal postwar blues guitarists answering to the name of King, Freddie King brought the highest energy levels to his studio exploits and probably influenced most rock axemen of all, including Eric Clapton and Jimmie Vaughan. King's innovative Texas/West Side Chicago hybrid approach was absolutely unique, and his double-threat hitmaking career as singer and instrumentalist was unmatched. No blues guitar god ever threw more of his muscular physique into his incendiary fretwork. And what a commanding, emotionally charged voice he had! This epic collection brings together for the first time in one spectacular box every released studio recording Freddie King made from 1956 to 1973. It includes both sides of his rare debut single for tiny El-Bee Records, a slew of Federal alternate takes (several previously unheard), and an entire unissued demo session from 1968 consisting of Freddie's only known studio rendition of J.B. Lenoir's The Mojo, and three dynamite untitled instrumentals. Everything King subsequently had out on Cotillion and Shelter is here, too. - There have been many Freddie King 'Greatest Hits' packages on the market over the decades focusing on one chapter of his career, but this is the ultimate tribute to one of the most influential blues guitarists the genre has ever seen. Nothing like it has ever been attempted, and no dedicated blues fan can live without it!"

Edited June 3, 2009 by J.A.W.

[kh1958]

That is tempting, though I probably have 80% of the material.

[Dan Gould]

My thought exactly except that I think I may have more. Its very hard to justify that kind of cost for his first single, a bunch of unissued alternates, an unissued demo, and a fuller view of his later years, which I don't visit very often on the two CDs I already have.

[kh1958]

My thought exactly except that I think I may have more. Its very hard to justify that kind of cost for his first single, a bunch of unissued alternates, an unissued demo, and a fuller view of his later years, which I don't visit very often on the two CDs I already have.

Well, you should get yourself a copy of The Texas Cannonball and Rockin' The Blues Live. Freddie King was the first blues concert I ever attended, in a small club, I believe in late 1974. I sat right in front of him, and it was exceedingly powerful stuff--what a guitar sound. Unbelieveable.

[John L]

I was waiting for years for a set like this that would contain the complete Federal/King recordings. But it finally came a few years back in the form of four strangely titled volumes, "The Very Best of Freddie King." All the Atlantic and Shelter material has been available for some time. I only know of one 45 from El-Bee.

If I didn't already have the music, I would certainly buy this.

Edited June 4, 2009 by John L

[Tom 1960]

I already own a couple albums on the King label which feature strictly instrumentals and those with Freddie on vocals. The Shelter stuff I don't own mainly because of the very mixed reviews I've encountered over the years. The only date from the 70's which I do own is "Live At The Electric Ballroom" which was released on the Black Top label. Definitely worth owning, IMO.

Edited June 4, 2009 by Tom 1960

[jazzbo]

Wow, to have it all under one cover, consistent mastering etc. . . . If I can afford this at the time I may go for it.

[paul secor]

I'd go with the Ace CDs. The Shelter stuff isn't worth listening to, let alone owning - at least imo. The Cotillion recordings can be had cheaply, if you feel you need them.

I like Bear Family & feel they do some important stuff, but this was one they could have skipped.