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jshambley

Albert King - 'Born Under a Bad Sign'

Updated: May 26, 2021


Album: Born Under a Bad Sign

Artist: Albert King

Release Date: August, 1967

Genre: Blues

Length: 0:34:19

Label: Stax Records

Producer: Jim Stewart

Rolling Stone Top 500 (2012): #491

Rolling Stone Top 500 (2020): N/A



If you have the last name "King", you're destined to be a blues legend...


Albert King and studio band Booker T. & the M.G.'s ("Green Onion") and the Memphis Horns ("Just for Your Love") released one of the most influential blues albums of all time in Born Under a Bad Sign. With numerous artists using this album as inspiration, it influenced an entire generation of music that will last indefinitely. "Born Under a Bad Sign" is a compilation album recorded in five separate sessions (the reason why there were two house bands listed). When the album was released, it was highly underrated and didn't make any charts however, looking back, the album finally has been noted as one of the greatest blues albums of all time and has been inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame and the Grammy Hall of Fame.


"If it wasn't for bad luck/You Know, I wouldn't have no luck at all". The opening song "Born Under a Bad Sign" opens the album with beautiful guitar licks accompanied by King's almost nasally, yet powerful, dark voice, drives home the lyrics in the song. Most blues albums aren't known for their lyrics as it's mostly based around guitar melodies, but this album shows that lyrics can still be an important component to any album; they almost serve as another instrument instead of merely being words sung to a song. Throughout the entire record, King continues to serenade the listener with his beautiful guitar playing and even though King was accompanied by a band that was from the studio, you would never be able to tell since the band contributes some of the best parts of the album. This could be because the album sounds very crisp and clean for an album released in 1967. From the regal horn jabs and the sound of the upright bass constantly driving the songs, the most entertaining part of the album is how the band masterfully mixes with King's guitar mastery. Then, when you least expect it, they continue to keep it fresh by adding new sounds, new ideas, and new styles throughout the course of the entire record. The blues ballad "I Almost Lost My Mind", brings in a background flute that continues to sing behind Albert King's vocals, and then the power the piano has when it comes in keeps this song interesting. The list of influences Born Under a Bad Sign and Albert King has had on the blues world is impressive as well. With artists like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Jimi Hendrix covering songs from this album themselves, it's hard not to see the legacy it has had on guitarists and musicians since its release six decades ago.


The mix of slower ballads and high-energy blues jams keep the listener guessing as they explore the precise guitar playing from King as the album continues. If Born Under a Bad Sign had no singing and was strictly instrumental, I would believe that the "voice" the guitar provides would be enough to make anyone feel as though they were being sung to. I think my favorite part of the entire record is just hearing how different the effect of the upright bass has on the overall feel, versus the standard bass guitar we know in today's music. One fun thing I noticed, the horns' jabs in "Crosscut Saw" sound almost exactly like the melody of the chorus in "Porterville" by Creedence Clearwater Revival (just a little music history virtuoso nerding out). I absolutely love the sounds this album has within and I highly recommend to anyone that likes blues or more laid back rock, that they listen to this great album while drinking a glass of wine, feet propped up, sitting next to a fire and relaxing. I just recommend doing this when it's cooler outside...



Favorite Songs: "Kansas City", "Crosscut Saw"

Least Favorite Song: "Laundromat Blues" (Not a bad song at all, just my least favorite of the bunch)


Production Quality:

  • Mix = 8/10

  • Innovation = 10/10

Songwriting Quality:

  • Arrangement = 8/10

  • Lyricism = 7/10 (Not complex lyrics at all, gives more of an added instrument instead of a story or message)

Instrumentation Quality:

  • Vocal Timbre = 8/10

  • Instrumental Timbre = 10/10

  • Group Chemistry = 9/10

Overall Likability:

  • My Personal Rating = 8/10

Overall Rating: 8.4/10


Any confusion on how the rating is weighted/calculated, please look at my "About" page.


Remember this is all my opinion! Let me know if you agree, disagree or have any comments!

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