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Unlunf, dont believe anything you read on the 'net.... they LIED. (surf content
at the
bottom of this post, in case you want to skip the non-surf content)
Albert King most CERTAINLY did play right-handed strung guitar, left handed. As
in - the
wound bass string E was nearest the floor. THAT is how he got those unholy
bends, by pulling
DOWN on the string with great force. He played DD-like string gauge as well,
very heavy.
Another guitarslinger of the highest order is Doyle Bramhall II, who strings the
same way.
Listen to his lead on "Shape Im In" from the Arc Angels CD, and you'll see it
was no
hinderance to him. He's also been Clapton's right hand man for the past few
years, and
recently did most all the guitar work on Susan Tedeschi's new album.
Albert not only played upside down, but he tuned his guitar to a weird chord,
like F#m9 or
something. It was a huge secret that he only showed SRV, who related it to
brother Jimmie,
who let it out once both men were dead. Albert's big sweeping bends, hitting the
perfect
note at the perfect time, sassy slow burn playing and unusual phrasing made him
a top shelf
influence on just about any rock or blues guitarist that mattered in the late
60's. My
favorite Albert story is the one where Hendrix and Bloomfield were having a jam,
and Hendrix
cut loose with a sonic assault that left the stage in cinders... When it came
time for Mike
to fire up a reply, he could only think of one thing.. "I wish I were Albert
King... I wish
I were Albert KIng..." (Bloomfield never impressed me, but I can sympathize with
his choice
of would be stand-in)
Being primarily a blues guitarist myself, Albert is a huge influence along with
the other
two Kings- BB and Freddie (none were related, Albert wasnt even born a King, his
birth name
was Albert Nelson). Albert was an interesting cat - he worked on his own bus,
drove it, and
didnt become 'famous' till he was well in his 40's! He also insisted on being
paid in cash,
and carried a gun just in case the promoter didnt see things his way. At well
over six feet
tall and near 300lbs, he didnt lose too many staredowns.
Freddie King, you hardcores may remember or know, had at least one surf album.
These were
actually his regular instrumentals, with studio added reverb and 'party noises',
and
retitled "Freddie King Goes Surfin". Some songs were retitled as well, with
names like "Surf
Monkey" and other beach moviesque monikers.
