Albert Collins and Barrelhouse - Live (1995/2020)

First, this is an excellent live Albert Collins' concert, recorded on December 28, 1978, with the backing of the Dutch group Barrelhouse. Good live recordings of Collins from the 70s (he'd just finished his first Alligator album, Ice Pickin') are rare and this is a very good one. He sings lead vocals on all of the songs but two, Blue River Rising and Cock it on the Wall. He plays a Guitar Slim song, Things I Used to Do, that I never heard before.

I've been a big Collins fan since I purchased "Trucking With Albert Collins" in 1969; he's my favorite Blues guitarist. I was fortunate enough to see him live in a small club in San Diego in 1972, Funky Quarters.

The album kicks off with a killer version of Frosty, his signature song. Unusual for a Collins album, it's almost all guitar. His usual organ and horns are abscent, other than saxophonist Tony Vos who only plays one or two solos. It shreds! Collin's tones are pure ice and he's way up in the mix. Highly recommended!