Alvin K. Smith
b. August 8th, 1923 or 1926 in Monroe (Louisiana)
d. January 21st, 1999 in Oakland (California)
BOB GEDDINS' IRMA RECORDS STORY
Acrobat
1956
BAY AREA ROCKERS
Ace
1958
DON'T FREEZE ON ME
El Cerrito
1962
BLUES MASTER : THE COMPLETE SAHARA & SHIRLEY RECORDINGS
Forevermore
March 1964 - 1968
En 1964, désormais sous le nom d'Al King, ce magnifique chanteur travaille pour Shirley et délivre de superbes blues West Coast enluminés par la guitare de Johnny Heartsman comme "Reconsider baby" et "Lingerin' love". Après avoir tenté de créer son propre label (Flag), il poursuit ensuite au sein du label Sahara avec "Think twice before you speak", "My money ain't long enough", "Everybody ain't your friend", "Playing on me", "Get lost". Cette belle période Shirley/Sahara a été intégralement reprise dans ce CD édité par Christopher Biehler.
In 1964, now under the name Al King, this magnificent singer worked for Shirley and delivered superb West Coast blues illuminated by the guitar of Johnny Heartsman as "Reconsider baby" and "Lingerin' love". After trying to create his own label (Flag), he then continued within the Sahara label with "Think twice before you speak", "My money ain't long enough", "Everybody ain't your friend", "Playing on me", "Get lost". This beautiful Shirley/Sahara period has been entirely covered in this CD issued by Christopher Biehler.
TOGETHER : THE COMPLETE KENT & MODERN RECORDINGS
Ace
1968 - 1969
Après les belles productions pour les labels Shirley et Sahara, Al King travaille pour les frères Bihari et leurs labels Kent et Modern. Sa superbe voix est bien entourée avec d'excellents sidemen comme Arthur Adams, Big Jay Mac Neely et Maxwell Davis (qui arrange les séances). On peut retenir les magnifiques "My name is misery", "Better to be by yourself", "It's getting late", "Bad understanding", "I still care for you", "Without a warning".
After the beautiful productions for the Shirley and Sahara labels, Al King worked for the Bihari brothers and their Kent and Modern labels. His superb voice is well surrounded with excellent sidemen like Arthur Adams, Big Jay Mac Neely and Maxwell Davis (who arranges the sessions). We can point out the magnificent “My name is misery”, “Better to be by yourself", "It's getting late", "Bad understanding", "I still care for you", "Without a warning".
ON MY WAY
Diving Duck
1970
Cette compilation éditée en 1983 par les néerlandais de Diving Duck fut la première à réediter les titres d'Al King. On trouve une sélection de ses titres pour Sahara, Shirley, Modern et Kent qui ont depuis été intégralement réédités. Mais, on peut aussi entendre deux titres intéressants de la période Ronn jamais repris nulle part ailleurs : "What you're looking for" et "High cost of living".
This compilation issued in 1983 by the dutch of Diving Duck was the first to reissue Al King's titles. There is a selection of his titles for Sahara, Shirley, Modern and Kent which have since been completely reissued. But, we can also hear two interesting titles from the Ronn period never compiled anywhere else : "What you're looking for" and “High cost of living”.
IT'S ROUGH OUT HERE
Forevermore
1998
Grâce à Christopher Biehler et son label Forevermore, Al King trouve enfin l'opportunité d'enregistrer de nouveaux titres après presque 30 ans d'absence. En pleine forme, il délivre un épatant programme de blues californien entouré de musiciens compétents (le guitariste Ronnie Waters). On apprécie, en particulier, les morceaux "It's rough out here", "Peoples in the graveyard", "Sweet Jimmy's place", "My baby loves playing bingo" et "Better to be by yourself".
Thanks to Christopher Biehler and his label Forevermore, Al King finally finds the opportunity to record new songs after almost 30 years of absence. In great shape, he delivers an beautiful program of californian blues surrounded by competent musicians (guitarist Ronnie Waters). We particularly appreciate the songs "It's rough out here", "People in the graveyard", "Sweet Jimmy's place", "My baby loves playing bingo" and "Better to be by yourself".