Freddie King

Freddie King. "Burglar," RSO #4803

"Burglar." Freddie King's first album on RSO Records, gives you so much that it leaves you a little disappointed that it doesn't give you more.

It's got tight horn arrangements and solid guitar-playing throughout. It's got low-down big-city Afro-American blues wailing (most notably on "Pack it Up," "My Credit Didn't Go Through" and 'I Had a Dream"). It's got guest shots by Caucasian blues all-stars such as Eric Clapton, Carl Radle and Brian Auger. It's got a hit-bound single ("She's a Burglar/ "Come On"). It's got a killer instrumental ("Pulpwood"). It even closes with an all-out rocker ("Come On") which is guaranteed to get everyone off their asses and dancing at your next party.

What it hasn't got is a super-cut that takes off and transcends the blues genre. Although Freddie's voice and guitar are consistently soulful and intense (always going somewhere, never just flashy), somehow they just don't have the range or distinctiveness that can take you into the Zone and back.

On the other hand. who needs transcendence, especially when you've got ten take-care-of-business cuts (no weak ones!) on one disc. Maybe l'm just spoiled from listening to too much BB King or maybe l'm just not sure how much of the credit for the quality of this album should go to King and how much to his producer Mike Vernon or his engineer or his horn arrangers.

But whoever deserves the kudos for the rich, balanced sound of this album, make no mistake Freddie King's voice and guitar more than hold their own, in the midst of some no-nonsense playing that could easily have overwhelmed a lesser musician.

Oh yes, don't forget to play this one loud.

-- Ed Reckford