Albert King was the coolest guitar player of the blues scene, and his marvellous solos and licks were blended with the funkiest grooves of the early seventies. That's FUNKY LONDON, a collection of great, uplifting songs. The first 4 songs were recorded circs 1969, the others in 1973, but the high quality is the same. "Sweet Fingers" is simply a divine instrumental number, pure happiness and joy translated to guitar phrasing. "Finger on the trigger" is an energetic rock-a-rolling blues, "Bad Luck" is an ultra-funky one that ends in a sensuous jam. "Lovingest woman..." is an extended slow blues, and the way King built the emotional intensity during his 3-minute-plus solo is masterful. Actually, all the solos in this album are a lesson for blues players. The licks can be simple, sometimes you can anticipate what's coming, but the tone of the guitar, the incredible voice-like quality of the phrasing... it is just what I always dreamed to listen in a blues recording. As I wrote above, the band relies on soul and funk, this is not a "pure" blues album. But the band is so tight ("Cold Sweat" is outstanding), the feeling so good, I think anyone interested in early seventies black music and rock can have a great time listening to this album.
