Search - Earl King :: New Orleans Blues

Fine New Orleans R & B

Eric R. Last | San Bruno, CA United States | 12/15/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I recently picked this up at a local branch of a famous record store chain during their going out of business sale. Didn't know much at all about Earl, but the price was right and if it's blues and it's a King, it's hard to go wrong, yes? Anticipating something similar to BB, Freddy or Albert, what I got was something totally different. This is R & B music that's closer to soul than blues. Similar to classic Stax stuff like Wilson Pickett or Otis Redding, but with a New Orleans flavor courtesy of producer Allen Toussaint and backing band The Meters. Not a lot of lead guitar to be found, but Earl has a powerful, soulful voice, the Meters are predictably supple and funky, and overall it's a fine album. Apparently this material was recorded in 1972 but for whatever reason was not released at the time. Hard to imagine why. Favorite track - "Mama & Papa""