Of the three blues Kings, Freddie King often gets overshadowed by B.B. and Albert, so he's in need of a collection like Real Gone's 2013 The Complete King & Federal Singles,
a two-disc set that rounds up all his greatest work. Sitting alongside
these classics, songs so firmly embedded in our consciousness he
sometimes doesn't get the credit he deserves -- songs like "Have You
Ever Loved a Woman," "Hideaway," "San-Ho-Zay!," "The Stumble," "I'm Tore
Down" -- there are singles where Freddie rode the wave of what was
popular. He tried to dance "The Bossa Nova Watusi Twist," he flirted
with a bit of funk, he got slick and greasy toward the end of the '60s,
never winding up with chart success but never embarrassing himself. All
this is documented on The Complete King & Federal Singles, a set
that digs deeper than any collection outside of the comprehensive Bear
Family boxes, but it's easier to digest and, for many, it will be
preferable for that very reason. Also, it's not only easy to hear the
arc of King's career; it's also easier to appreciate his brilliant
highs, his stinging yet robust leads, and his full-throated vocals. All
the major hits are here, of course, the songs that such guitarists as
Eric Clapton copied, but what makes this so absorbing is hearing how
King remained a forceful, compelling presence even when he was
attempting to cash-in on trends. That's not so evident on either the
early single-disc Rhino collection or the Bear Family set. By distilling
King to his '60s singles, it's possible to hear all of his dimensions
-- his influence, his force, his versatility -- and realize that he is
every bit the titan that B.B. and Albert are.
CD1:
01. You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling (1960) - 3:16
02. Have You Ever Loved A Woman (1960) - 3:08
03. Hide Away (1961) - 2:40
04. I Love The Woman (1961) - 2:50
05. Lonesome Whistle Blues (1961) - 2:50
06. It's Too Bad Things Are Going So Tough (1961) - 3:08
07. San-Ho-Zay! (1961) - 2:55
08. See See Baby (1961) - 2:19
09. I'm Tore Down (1961) - 2:39
10. Sen-Sa-Shun (1961) - 2:54
11. Christmas Tears (1961) - 2:49
12. I Hear Jingle Bells (1961) - 2:38
13. If You Believe (In What You Do) (1961) - 3:00
14. Heads Up (1961) - 2:32
15. Takin' Care Of Business (1962) - 2:49
16. Stumble, The (1962) - 3:15
17. Side Tracked (1962) - 3:06
18. Sittin' On The Boat Dock (1962) - 3:08
19. Do The President Twist (1962) - 2:46
20. What About Love (1962) - 2:28
21. Texas Oil (1962) - 2:27
22. Come On (1962) - 3:37
23. Just Pickin' (1962) - 2:33
24. (Let Your Love) Watch Over Me (1962) - 4:15
25. You Can't Hide (1962) - 3:04
26. In The Open (1962) - 2:58
27. I'm On My Way To Atlanta (1962) - 3:40
CD2:
01. It's So Easy, Child (1962) - 3:11
02. Bossa Nova Watusi Twist, The (1963) - 2:51
03. Look Ma, I'm Cryin' (1963) - 3:13
04. (I'd Love To) Make Love To You (1963) - 2:21
05. One Hundred Years (1963) - 2:27
06. (The Welfare) Turns It's Back On You (1963) - 2:41
07. You're Barkin' Up The Wrong Tree (1963) - 2:45
08. Surf Monkey (1963) - 2:27
09. Monkey Donkey (1963) - 2:39
10. Meet Me At The Station (1964) - 2:47
11. King-A-Ling (1964) - 2:58
12. Driving Sideways (1964) - 2:50
13. Someday, After A While (You'll Be Sorry) (1964) - 4:36
14. She Put The Whammy On Me (1964) - 4:57
15. High Rise (1964) - 3:06
16. Now I've Got A Woman (1964) - 3:06
17. Onion Rings (1964) - 3:04
18. Some Other Day, Some Other Time (1964) - 2:45
19. Manhole (1964) - 2:21
20. If You Have It (1965) - 2:28
21. I Love You More Everyday (1965) - 2:56
22. Full Time Love (1965) - 2:31
23. She's The One (1965) - 2:50
24. Use What You've Got (1966) - 3:07
25. Double Eyed Whammy (1966) - 2:46
26. You've Got Me Licked (1967) - 2:46
CD1:
01. You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling (1960) - 3:16
02. Have You Ever Loved A Woman (1960) - 3:08
03. Hide Away (1961) - 2:40
04. I Love The Woman (1961) - 2:50
05. Lonesome Whistle Blues (1961) - 2:50
06. It's Too Bad Things Are Going So Tough (1961) - 3:08
07. San-Ho-Zay! (1961) - 2:55
08. See See Baby (1961) - 2:19
09. I'm Tore Down (1961) - 2:39
10. Sen-Sa-Shun (1961) - 2:54
11. Christmas Tears (1961) - 2:49
12. I Hear Jingle Bells (1961) - 2:38
13. If You Believe (In What You Do) (1961) - 3:00
14. Heads Up (1961) - 2:32
15. Takin' Care Of Business (1962) - 2:49
16. Stumble, The (1962) - 3:15
17. Side Tracked (1962) - 3:06
18. Sittin' On The Boat Dock (1962) - 3:08
19. Do The President Twist (1962) - 2:46
20. What About Love (1962) - 2:28
21. Texas Oil (1962) - 2:27
22. Come On (1962) - 3:37
23. Just Pickin' (1962) - 2:33
24. (Let Your Love) Watch Over Me (1962) - 4:15
25. You Can't Hide (1962) - 3:04
26. In The Open (1962) - 2:58
27. I'm On My Way To Atlanta (1962) - 3:40
CD2:
01. It's So Easy, Child (1962) - 3:11
02. Bossa Nova Watusi Twist, The (1963) - 2:51
03. Look Ma, I'm Cryin' (1963) - 3:13
04. (I'd Love To) Make Love To You (1963) - 2:21
05. One Hundred Years (1963) - 2:27
06. (The Welfare) Turns It's Back On You (1963) - 2:41
07. You're Barkin' Up The Wrong Tree (1963) - 2:45
08. Surf Monkey (1963) - 2:27
09. Monkey Donkey (1963) - 2:39
10. Meet Me At The Station (1964) - 2:47
11. King-A-Ling (1964) - 2:58
12. Driving Sideways (1964) - 2:50
13. Someday, After A While (You'll Be Sorry) (1964) - 4:36
14. She Put The Whammy On Me (1964) - 4:57
15. High Rise (1964) - 3:06
16. Now I've Got A Woman (1964) - 3:06
17. Onion Rings (1964) - 3:04
18. Some Other Day, Some Other Time (1964) - 2:45
19. Manhole (1964) - 2:21
20. If You Have It (1965) - 2:28
21. I Love You More Everyday (1965) - 2:56
22. Full Time Love (1965) - 2:31
23. She's The One (1965) - 2:50
24. Use What You've Got (1966) - 3:07
25. Double Eyed Whammy (1966) - 2:46
26. You've Got Me Licked (1967) - 2:46
27. Girl From Kookamunga (1967) - 2:37
