Albert Collins - Iceman (10 tracks) +Album Reviews

Classic Collins

Michael Strom | Chicago, IL USA | 11/27/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The late Albert Collins was one of the very best guitarists America ever produced. His idiosyncrasies probably hurt his recording career, because he didn't fit neatly into a marketable category. He incorporated elements of blues, R&B, rock & had a very funky sound. If you ever heard him play, you would recognize his style within 3 notes, a block away. He tuned his Telecaster to a D-minor open chord & always had a capo halfway up the neck. He used his thumbnail instead of a pick, and didn't really pick, strum or pluck -- he attacked the strings in an incredibly percussive way. His style was so unusual that you might overlook the fact that the guy could flat-out play.Unless you saw him live. Albert was a showman, and you couldn't take your eyes off him. He had crazy-looking eyes, a perpetually impish look about him, and he was really, really funny. It's a cliche to talk about a guitarist making it sing, scream or cry. Albert made his guitar swear during his nightly diatribes at his woman. Although there are great tracks on his live efforts, some of the cuts really worked a lot better where you could actually see him. For those who never saw him live, there are three studio CDs that give a good overview of his work. THe 2-CD Complete Imperial Recordings set is a revelation to those who are only familiar with Albert's work after his Alligator releases finally raised his profile in the late 70's. Not yet the pyrotechnic showman, this compilation of 3 60's albums shows a surprising kinship with the solid, fundamental funk of the Meters. At times, he sounds like he was from New Orleans, not Texas. Understated, soulful, classy and as always, cool. Most cuts are the Albert Collins equivalent of lean, powerful Booker T & the MGs instrumental workouts. The 36 songs are good enough to stand on their own, and he didn't try to overpower anyone with his technical prowess.Like a number of unjustly neglected blues acts, Albert got a boost from Alligator Records in the 70's. His breakthrough came with 1978's Ice Pickin.' It features two of the live-wire instrumentals he was famous for ("Ice Pick," "Avalanche") and a generous helping of his world-weary grievances with women, including the classic "Conversation With Collins" (more fun live, but still fun on disc) where his guitar not only spouts obscenities, it takes on the multiple roles of a complaining husband, and a wife both seductive & defiant. Some shuffles, a couple slow burners.In 1991, Albert served up Iceman, practically a straight-up funk revue. If you play it for people who aren't familiar with electric blues, they'll adamantly deny that it is blues at all. Well, it is & it isn't. Albert is backed by the fullest band sound he ever had, with a full 4-man horn section, bass, organ & keyboards (yes, 2 different guys), plenty of rhythm guitarists, a solid rock-steady drummer, and 2 female background singers cooing "Mr. Collins, Mr. Collins!" on the tracks that start & end the CD.All three come highly recommended."

Master of the Telecaster

blender | 03/01/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As a Collins fan, it's hard not to like anything he records. This is not a traditional blues album in the sense that his previous recordings are. Nevertheless, this is an enjoyable and entertaining album. Collins' voice is as playful as his picking is, the perfect definition of the phrase, "Ice cool".I would recommend this album only for its diversity and as a reference for someone's blues collection. For those of us who are longtime (or new) Collins fans, having this CD is a must to keep the music going (hope you're getting along with God just fine, Albert)...Peace Out."

Mr. Collins, Mr. Collins are you funk or blues here?

Pete | UK | 07/26/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I will have to warn blues fans looking for straight-down-the-line electric blues, that as the other reviewers have said, this album jumps back and forth between blues and funk. As always, what has made this album worth buying was the screeching gutar solos which Collins does so well with his tele. On the other hand, if you're looking for Johnny Winter style rock-blues all the way, don't get this album, you may be dissappointed. Still, it is a good addition to any collection."

Iceman Is Available Again Get It On MP3!

Perry Celestino | Tahmoor, NSW Australia | 11/23/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD is a collector's item. It went out-of-print several years ago and has now been discontinued in the US. It is Albert's last studio session and it's important as it was the basis for most of the video footage we have of him, namely "Live at Mt Fuji", "Live from Austin, Texas" and the fantastic "Live at Montreux" DVDs.

This CD features the basic tunes he performed at the end of his life. They were mostly written by Collin's and his wife Grendolyn. Yes they have funk, but I would still count them as Blues. "Mr Collins, Mr Collins" is at the beginning and end (with a faded version and it is faded!!!) is a great instrumental in the Collins tradition. There is also a good version of this on the Albert Collin's instructional DVD (Warner Music) with Albert and Keith Wyatt playing together. Albert is even unplugged with his Telecaster (well it's very low)! A very clever funk-blues style with interesting changes.

"Iceman" is the feature tune in this set but it's not as good as the live versions. It's slower than he ever played it live. And the solo's are not as cutting and dynamic. But that is generally how Collin's played. As has been pointed out in so many reviews, Collins was a live performance bluesman. That was his forte. In the studio he could never get that biting sound of the Fender Quad Amp at 10 with the treble at 10 and the bright switch on.

Personally I love Albert's slow blues numbers. "Don't Mistake Kindness For Weakness" is another classic and probably the best tune in the set. It is six minutes of cool blues music and lyrics. "Travellin South" is an exceptional tune. After what I previously said, this tune is better on the album than on his live DVD sets. The mix is great and the stop time intro superb. "Put The Shoe On The Other Foot" is a funky blues with a message. Good music and lyrics, he sometimes used this number to do his crowd-walk-through at the end of his live sets, watch him on "Montreux" released this year (2008).

"I'm Beginning to Wonder" is a great blues tune in 6th chords with guest guitarist Debbie Davies, who played with Collin's in the 1980s. Her backup is superb. This number is probably the truest "Blues" tune of the set, except for "Weakness", of course. I first heard "Head Rag", written by Collin's wife, on the great Live from Austin, Texas DVD when it was a VHS tape. That version is much funkier and cool with Texan Derek O'Brien on second guitar. This version does grow on you however. It has a strange bridge and ending, but that's Collin's, funny and unpredictable.

"The Hawk" is a talking blues with Jazz overtones. Like the great Albert King, Collins enjoyed talking blues and he is also very good at it. This tune is about Chicago and it's icy wind. Listen to the first note in the solo--best on the whole album--one note-- that's Collin's he it makes a whole statement. It's similar to Mike Bloofield's famous first note in the second solo of "Killing Floor" on the Electric Flag LP. The final tune before the reprise is "Blues For Gabe" another Collin's style instrumental. Well done with a good horn solo as well.

Collin's died in 1993 aged only 61. He never received the credit he was due with his distinctive, innovative and individual sound, phrasing and tone. No one sounds like Albert Collins and no one has filled his shoes. This album was his last and it's been, at least in Australia, almost impossible to get. I secured a used copy from a music store in Sydney only a few weeks ago and paid a lot more than $10! You should get the downloaded version here and see how Collin's played at the end of his career. It is a distinctive CD. And in the last two months has just been re-released in Europe so you may be able to get a copy if you want one.

"

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	Albert Collins Iceman Genres: Blues, Pop Track Listings (10) - Disc #1 Mr. Collins, Mr. Collins Iceman Don't Mistake Kindness for Weakness Travelin' South Put the Shoe on the Other Foot - Albert Collins, Collins, G. I'm Beginning to Wonder Head Rag The Hawk Blues for Gabe Mr. Collins, Mr. Collins [Faded Version]
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