Albert Collins - The Complete Imperial Recordings [2 CD, 1991/FLAC]

 

Albert Collins, "The Master of the Telecaster," "The Iceman," and "The Razor Blade" was robbed of his best years as a blues performer by a bout with liver cancer that ended with his premature death on November 24, 1993. He was just 61 years old. The highly influential, totally original Collins, like the late John Campbell, was on the cusp of a much wider worldwide following via his deal with Virgin Records' Pointblank subsidiary. However, unlike Campbell, Collins had performed for many more years, in obscurity, before finally finding a following in the mid-'80s.

Texan Albert Collins was in the very first rank of post-war blues guitarists. This two-CD set is a reissue of all 36 sides he cut for Imperial from 1968 to 1970, representing this artist's second major recording stint. Instrumentals comprise roughly three-fourths of the material. They frame his distinctive guitar work with a tight ensemble of organ, bass, and drums, adding at times a piano and/or second guitar, punctuated by a horn section. About ten of these tunes are as great as anything Collins ever did. They are riddled with the biting, incisive, dramatic, and economical playing that made him a legend. There are also some outstanding vocals. Although this set is not without its clinkers, it is a solid package and a must for any Collins fan.


DISC 1

01 - Do The Sissy
02 - Collins' Mix
03 - Let's Get It Together
04 - Got A Good Thing Goin'
05 - All About My Girl
06 - Stump Poker
07 - Let's Get It Together Again
08 - Ain't Got Time
09 - Turnin' On
10 - Whatcha Say (I Don't Know)
11 - Pushin'
12 - Doin' My Thing
13 - Harris County Line-Up
14 - Conversation Wth Collins
15 - Jawing
16 - Grapeland Gossip
17 - Chatterbox
18 - Trash Talkin'



DISC 2

01 - Baby What You Want Me To Do/Rock Me Baby
02 - Lip Service
03 - Things That I Used To Do (Talking Slim Blues)
04 - Back Yard Back Talk
05 - Tounge Lashing
06 - And Then It Started Raining
07 - Soul Food
08 - Jam It Up
09 - Do What You Want To Do
10 - Black Bottom Bayou
11 - Junkey Monkey
12 - 69 Underpass Roadside Inn
13 - I Need You So
14 - Bitsey
15 - Cool 'N Collards
16 - Blend Down And Jam
17 - Sweet 'N Sour
18 - Swamp Sauce