// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the "Ice Pickin" article say to the reader? It was a "sharp" topic.
| Ice Pickin' | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1978 | |||
| Studios | Curtom (Chicago, Illinois) | |||
| Genre | Blues | |||
| Length | 36:48 | |||
| Label | Alligator ALCD 4713[1] | |||
| Producers | Bruce Iglauer, Richard McLeese, Dick Shurman | |||
| Albert Collins chronology | ||||
| ||||
Ice Pickin' is a studio album by Albert Collins, released in 1978.[2][3] It was Collins's breakthrough album.[4] Ice Pickin' was nominated for a 1979 Grammy Award.[5]
Production
[edit]The album was recorded at Curtom Studios, in Chicago.[6] The Guardian wrote of Collins's guitar technique: "Collins had developed a highly distinctive approach to the guitar, tuning it to a D minor chord and using a capo high up the neck to achieve a sharp, brilliant effect, his 'ice-cold, sheet-metal sound' that was mirrored in the name of his band, The Icebreakers."[7]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  [8] |
| Christgau's Record Guide | A−[9] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [4] |
| The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | + “Crown”[10] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [11] |
| DownBeat | [12] |
The Bay State Banner thought that "when Collins cooks, with fluent riffs and humorous vocals plus innovative tuning and incorporation of minor blues keys, the result is masterful."[13] The Rolling Stone Album Guide wrote that the album "burrows down to the real nitty gritty of urban existence ... it's one of the best '70s blues albums."[11] The Chicago Tribune called the album "a classic."[6] The Iowa City Press-Citizen called it "a cool, invigorating blast across the era's barren blues landscape."[14] The Dayton Daily News wrote that Collins "made several other stellar releases before his untimely demise in '93, but none match the muscle and depth of this certifiable classic."[15]
Melody Maker deemed it the best blues album of 1978, as did the Montreaux Jazz Festival.[16]
In addition to a four stars out of four rating, the authors of The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings awarded the album a “Crown”, indicating that they considered it to be an exceptional CD, and one that should be part of any blues collection.[10]
DownBeat gave the album 4.5 stars.[12] Reviewer Ben Sandmel wrote, "Ice Pickin’ is definitely Collins’ best album to date, putting across his power and charisma without a hint of his repetition. Albert’s vocals and guitar are both very strong, and he’s consistently pushed by a band that plays everything with skill and feeling . . . Collins is backed here by some of Chicago’s best blues players, most of whom now join him on tour.".[12]
Liner notes
[edit]According to the inside cover of the album:
Albert King names Collins as his favorite guitarist, and John Lee Hooker declares, "I'm an Albert Collins freak!"
Track listing
[edit]- "Honey, Hush! (Talking Woman Blues)" (Lowell Fulson, Ferdinand Washington) - 04:28
- "When the Welfare Turns Its Back on You" (Lucious Porter Weaver, Sonny Thompson) - 05:26
- "Ice Pick" (Collins) - 03:08
- "Cold, Cold Feeling" (Jessie Mae Robinson) - 05:19
- "Too Tired" (Saul Bihari, Maxwell Davis, Johnny "Guitar" Watson) - 03:00
- "Master Charge" (Gwen Collins) - 05:12
- "Conversation with Collins" (Collins) - 08:52
- "Avalanche" (Collins) - 02:39
Personnel
[edit]- Albert Collins - guitar, vocals
- Larry Burton - guitar
- Allen Batts - keyboards
- Aron Burton - bass
- Casey Jones - drums
- A.C. Reed - tenor saxophone
- Chuck Smith - baritone saxophone
References
[edit]- ↑ Komara, Edward (2006). Encyclopedia of the Blues. Psychology Press. p. 220.
- ↑ "Artist Biography by Richard Skelly". AllMusic. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ↑ "Albert Collins; Award-Winning Blues Guitarist, Recording Artist". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- 1 2 Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. pp. 479–480.
- ↑ "GRAMMY Award Results for Albert Collins". Grammy Awards. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- 1 2 "BLUES FANS IN A DEEP FREEZE OVER LOSS OF ALBERT COLLINS". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ↑ Russell, Tony (November 30, 1993). "Ice-cold blues straight from the hip Obituary: Albert Collins". The Guardian.
- ↑ "AllMusic Review by Thom Owens". AllMusic. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
- ↑ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: C". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved February 23, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
- 1 2 Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings. Penguin. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-140-51384-4.
- 1 2 The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 152–153.
- 1 2 3 Sandmel, Ben (March 22, 1979). "Record Reviews". DownBeat. 46 (6): 27.
- ↑ "Shades of Blue". Bay State Banner: 14. December 21, 1978.
- ↑ Weber, Tim (December 9, 2004). "Ice Pickin' Albert Collins". Iowa City Press-Citizen: D2.
- ↑ Thrasher, Don (April 25, 2006). "25 blues CDs worth shouting about". Dayton Daily News: D7.
- ↑ "Guitar Wizard Albert Collins To Perform With Icebreakers". The Oklahoman. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
