Recorded live at the Fillmore West in San Francisco, California back in 1969 (on a bill that also featured Creedence Clearwater Revival and Fleetwood Mac) Alive and Cool Plus... is a rip-roaring set from legendary American blues guitarist Albert Collins and his band. Thanks to some urging from Fleetwood Mac, who were able to get Collins to open up this gig (and also thanks to their guitarist Jeremy Spencer who recorded the set straight from the mixing desk), the blues master ultimately turned in a scorching performance on that evening, which can now be enjoyed once again with this great release from the folks at Angel Air.
Apparently no information exists on who actually were a part of Collins' band that night, but in the end it's all about his stinging blues licks, of which there are a multitude here. A good chunk of the songs are instrumental, allowing for plenty of furious interplay between Collins' scalding Fender Telecaster and Hammond organ, with the rhythm section locked in tight underneath all the firepower. Highlights are many, but for pure blues thunder, check out "Thaw Out", "How Blue Can You Get", "Funky", "Deep Freeze", a groove laden and rockin' "Mustang Sally", and a smoldering version of "Backstroke". As an added bonus, Angel Air has included a few studio singles here as well, and though they are not as electric and supercharged as the live cuts, look for some sizzling guitar leads and shuffling rhythms on "Albert's Alley", "Freeze", Defrost", and "Collins Shuffle". As far as vintage live electric blues recordings go, this is as good as it gets.
Track Listing
1) Introduction Instrumental
2) How Blue Can You Get
3) Thaw Out
4) So Tired
5) Funky
6) Deep Freeze
7) Baby What Do You Want Me To Be
8) Mustang Sally
9) Backstroke
Bonus Tracks
10) Freeze
11) Collins Shuffle
12) Albert's Alley
13) Defrost
14) Thaw Out
15) Backstroke
Printer Friendly Page
Send to a Friend
