Albert King - The Ultimate Collection

Rhino's 1993 double-disc set The Ultimate Collection remains the greatest-of-all Albert King collection, gathering the best of his recordings. True, the collection is tilted toward his Stax recordings, somewhat shortchanging his '50s and early-'60s recordings, but it is also true that the late-'60s/early-'70s recordings are the cornerstone of King's legacy, the ones that showcase his stinging guitar at its blistering best. By acknowledging as much the set gains credibility, it doesn't lose it, and while an artist with a career as long as King's will certainly have some great cuts left off of a two-disc, 38-song collection, this truly does contain his very best work, particularly in regards to showcasing his influence as a guitarist. Read More