Blind Dog Radio

Takin' Care of Business by Freddie King

Label: Bear Family Records, Charly Records / Bear Family Records
Release Date: 1985
Releases: August 11, 2009; March 11, 2011
Recording Time: 545 minutes

Styles: Modern Electric Blues, Electric Texas Blues, Regional Blues, Texas Blues

Of the three blues Kings, Freddie is overlooked, never achieving the superstar status of B.B. and lacking the bad mother mojo of Albert, but he was every bit as crucial to blues and rock & roll as either, building upon B.B.'s piercing single lines and playing with the fury of Albert, creating a style that forever changed guitar in the 20th century. Eric Clapton, in particular, built upon Freddie's gut-busting guitar, adopting "Hide Away" as his early showcase with John Mayall, and other players who blurred the lines between rock and blues were forever indebted to Freddie, who himself smashed the barriers between the two styles almost from the beginning. This is clear from the beginning of Taking Care of Business: 1956-1973, Bear Family's monumental seven-disc testament to King's greatness. More than most artists, King was crying out for the kind of extensive, exhaustive treatment given by Bear Family: Freddie hopped from label to label, seemingly switching his name every time he appeared on a new imprint, and large chunks of his catalog never appeared on CD. Taking Care of Business rectifies that situation, gathering every studio session he recorded with the exception of his final stint at RSO in the mid-'70s. RSO's absence isn't felt because everything else he cut is here: his early, ignored single for Chicago-based EL Bee with Robert Jr. Lockwood on guitar; his sessions for Federal and King where he established his powerhouse signature instrumental style on "Hide Away," "Butterscotch," and "San-Ho-Zay," cut such passionate vocals as "Have You Ever Loved" and "I'm Tore Down," then later dipped his toe into such trends as the twist, bossa nova, and surf rock; his late-'60s sessions for Cotillion, where he got funkier than any other blues guitarist (a transition showcased on a heavily reworked "Hide Away"), and sang some deep soul; his Leon Russell-shepherded, rock & roll-tinged comeback on Shelter records in the early '70s, where he was playing for hippies and singing CCR and Spencer Davis Group. King often revisited his signature tunes, cutting them every time he changed labels, but each time the arrangements shifted, signaling how Freddie was always moving forward, finding new settings for his muscular voice and guitar. Surely, some of the detours he took weren't as successful as others -- his "Do the President Twist" immediately pops to mind -- but as Taking Care of Business winds towards its conclusion, what impresses is the variety, how King shifted with the times without chasing trends, how he stayed uniquely himself throughout it all, always a larger-than-life force whose power sustained no matter the setting, and remains thrilling all these years later.
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine

This 7-CD 168-track Bear Family box set is the most extensive Freddie King collection ever conceived. The powerhouse blues guitarist and singer was probably more of a direct influence on blues-rock guitar masters such as Eric Clapton, Stevie Ray, Jimmie Vaughan, Jeff Beck, et. al., than any other blues instrumentalist, including the two other Kings--Albert and B.B. Freddie KIng was also an active contemporary in the rock era; this massive set compiles all of his work from 1956 up until 1973, from '50s R&B labels like Federal and King to the southern rock label Cotillion-Atlantic and even Leon Russell's Shelter Records. Included, of course, is King's biggest hit, "Hideaway" (covered by both Clapton and Jimmie Vaughan), as well as "Have You Ever Loved A Woman," "I'm Tore Down," and many other rare and unissued tracks. Also included is a 104-page hardcover book with text by prolific liner note author Bill Dahl. 

Personnel: Freddie King (vocals, guitar, acoustic guitar); Eloise Whitfield (vocals); Don Preston (guitar, background vocals); Cornell Dupree, Bobby "Blanco" King, Fred Jordan, Lonnie Mack, Robert Lockwood, Jr., Billy Butler, Bobby Turner (guitar); Hugh McCracken (harmonica); Willie Bridges (saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); David "Fathead" Newman (saxophone); Trevor Lawrence (tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone); Clifford Scott, H. Johnson, Frank Wess, George Coleman, Osborne Whitfield (tenor saxophone); Ernie Royal, Joe Newman, Melvin Lastie, Martin Banks (trumpet); Leon Russell (piano, organ, keyboards); Sonny Thompson (piano, organ, background vocals); Rev. Patrick Henderson (piano, organ); David Maxwell, Gary Illingworth, Billy "The Kid" Emerson, George Stubbs (piano); John Gallie, James Booker, Bob Griffin, David Byrd, Deacon Jones (organ); Bill Willis (electric bass, background vocals); Donald "Duck" Dunn, Oscar Crummie, Wayne Bullock, Robert "Mojo" Elem, Jerry Jemmott, Benny Turner, Carl Radle (electric bass); Kenneth "Spider Webb" Rice, Charles Blackwell, Charlie Robinson, Alex Jackson, Deannie O'Neil, Norman Pride, Jim Gordon, Jim Keltner, Philip Paul, Chuck Blackwell (drums); Gene Redd (background vocals). 

Audio Mixer: Bill Inglot. 

Illustrators & Photographers: A. Hobos; Willy Leiser; Rien Wisse; Marc De Jonghe; Gerard Doidy; Eri Lindahl; Detley Hoegen; Gerard Doidy; Erik Lindahl; Marc de Jonghe; Rein Wisse; Willy Leiser; Steve Richards ; Detlev Hoegen; Bill Greensmith; Victor Pearlin; Steve Richards.

Credits: Hank Ballard - composer; Martin Banks - trumpet; Kay Bennett - composer; Big Maceo - composer; Big Mojo Elem - bass (electric); Charles Blackwell - composer, drums; Chuck Blackwell - drums; James Booker - organ; Eddie Boyd - composer; Beverly Bridge - composer; Zella Bridge - composer; Willie Bridges - sax (baritone), sax (tenor), saxophone; Big Bill Broonzy - composer; Wayne Bullock - bass (electric); Chester Burnett - composer; Billy Butler - guitar; David Byrd - organ; Milton Campbell - composer; Ray Charles - composer; George Coleman - sax (tenor); Joey Cooper - choir/chorus; Denny Cordell - producer; Jürgen Crasser - mastering; Oscar Crummie - bass (electric); Bettye Crutcher - composer; Michael Cuscuna - producer; Bill Dahl - biographical information, discography, reissue producer, tape comparison; Robert Davis - composer; Marc De Jonghe - illustrations, photography; Arthur Dellerson - composer; Herman "Junior" Denby - composer; Detley Hoegen - illustrations, photography; Julius Edward Dixon - composer; Willie Dixon - composer; Gerard Doidy - illustrations, photography; Jimmy Douglass - producer; Donald "Duck" Dunn - bass (electric), composer; Cornell Dupree - guitar; Robert "Mojo" Elem - bass (electric); Billy "The Kid" Emerson - piano; Tunc Erim - producer; John Fogerty - composer; Lowell Fulson - composer; John Gallie - organ; Daniel Gersdorf - photo restoration; Mychael Gerstenberger - artwork; Lloyd Glenn - composer; Henry Glover - composer; Jim Gordon - drums; Rosco Gordon - composer; Porter Grainger - composer; Bill Greensmith - illustrations, photography; Bob Griffin - organ; Robert Griffin - organ; Jerry Harris - composer; Isaac Hayes - composer; Rev. Patrick Henderson - organ, piano; Z.Z. Hill - composer; André Hobos - illustrations, photography; Detlev Hoegen - illustrations, photography; Gary Illingworth - piano; Bill Inglot - Mixing; Al Jackson, Jr. - drums; Alex Jackson - drums; Elmore James - composer; Jerry Jemmott - bass (electric); Alvin Johnson - composer; Edwin Johnson - composer; H. Johnson - sax (tenor); H. Johnson - sax (tenor); Allen Jones Jr. - composer; Deacon Jones - organ; Eddie "guitar Slim" Jones - composer; Richard M. Jones - composer; Fred Jordan - guitar; Joe Josea - composer; Jim Keltner - drums; Chris Kenner - composer; King Curtis - bass Marimba, composer, producer, sax (tenor), saxophone; B.B. King - composer; Bobby King - composer, guitar; Bobby "Blanco" King - guitar; Freddie King - composer, guitar, guitar (Acoustic), Primary Artist, producer, Vocals; Riley King - composer; Windsor King - composer; Billy Lamont - composer; James A. Lane - composer; Melvin Lastie - trumpet; Trevor Lawrence - sax (baritone), sax (tenor); Willy Leiser - illustrations, photography; Claudia Lennear - choir/chorus; J.B. Lenoir - composer; Clarence Lewis - composer; Curtis Lewis - composer; Erik Lindahl - illustrations, photography; Robert Lockwood, Jr. - guitar; Bob Lyons - composer; Willie Mabon - composer; Lonnie Mack - guitar; David Maxwell - piano; Percy Mayfield - composer; Hugh McCracken - harmonica; Jimmy McCracklin - composer; Kathi McDonald - choir/chorus; Andreas Merck - photo Scanning; Alan Moore - composer; Billy Myles - composer; Nunzio Nardo - composer; Nathaniel Nathan - composer; David "Fathead" Newman - saxophone; Joe Newman - trumpet; Don Nix - composer; Dean O'Neil - drums; Curtis Ousley - composer; Herman "Junior" Parker - composer; Philip Paul - drums; Earlee Payton - harmonica; Victor Pearlin - illustrations, photography, photo Scanning; Hank Penny - composer; Earline Phillips - composer; David Porter - composer; Don Preston - guitar, vocals (background); Norman Pride - drums; Carl Radle - bass (electric); Gene Redd - composer, vocals (background); Jimmy Reed - composer; Kenneth "Spider Webb" Rice - drums; Steve Richards - illustrations, photography; Tommy Ridgley - composer; Everett Robbins - composer; Dennis Roberts - composer; Charles Robinson - drums; Morgan Robinson - composer; Jimmy Rogers - composer; Ernie Royal - trumpet; Leon Russell - composer, Keyboards, organ, piano, producer; Sue Sandler - composer; Clifford Scott - sax (tenor); Charles Segar - composer; Ray Starr - composer; John Stephens - composer; Fred Stryker - composer; George Stubbs - piano; Jules Taub - composer; Sammy Taylor - composer; Elson Teat - composer; Joe Thomas - composer; Sonny Thompson - composer, organ, piano, producer, vocals (background); Roscoe Thorne - composer; Israel Tolbert - composer; Rudy Toombs - composer; Allen Toussaint - composer; Benny Turner - bass, bass (electric); Bobby Turner - guitar; Aaron Walker - composer; Billy Washington - composer; Leon Washington - composer; Ralph Watkins - composer; Lucious Porter Weaver - composer; Richard Weize - discography, reissue producer, tape research; Frank Wess - sax (tenor); Eloise Whitfield - composer, vocals; Osborne Whitfield - sax (tenor); Hudson Whittaker - composer; Bill Willis - bass, bass (electric), composer, vocals (background); Chuck Willis - composer; Robert Wilson - composer; Steve Winwood - composer; Rein Wisse - illustrations, photography; Bill Withers - composer.

Tracks, Disc 1: 1) Country Boy; 2) That's What You Think; 3) You Know That You Love Me (But You Never Tell Me So); 4) See See Baby; 5) You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling; 6) Have You Ever Loved A Woman; 7) Hide Away; 8) I Love The Woman; 9) Lonesome Whistle Blues; 10) If You Believe (In What You Do); 11) It's Too Bad (Things Are Going So Tough); 12) I'm Tore Down; 13) Butterscotch (Onion Rings); 14) Sen-Sa-Shun; 15) Side Trakked; 16) The Stumble; 17) San-Ho-Zay; 18) Wash Out; 19) You Know That You Love Me (But You Never Tell Me So) (alternate take); 20) See See Baby (alternate take); 21) You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling (alternate take); 22) Have You Ever Loved A Woman (alternate take); 23) Butterscotch (Onion Rings) (alternate take); 24) Butterscotch (Onion Rings) (alternate take 2); 25) Wash Out (alternate take).

Tracks, Disc 2: 1) Just Pickin'; 2) Heads Up; 3) Christmas Tears; 4) Let Me Be (Stay Away From Me); 5) Takin' Care Of Business; 6) You Mean, Mean Woman (How Can Your Love Be True); 7) I Hear Jingle Bells; 8) In The Open; 9) Out Front; 10) Swooshy; 11) Closed Door (High Rise); 12) Texas Oil; 13) She Put The Whammy On Me; 14) I'm On My Way To Atlanta; 15) Over Drive (The Untouchable Glide); 16) Driving Sideways; 17) Sittin' On The Boat Dock; 18) Come On; 19) Do The President Twist; 20) (Let Your Love) Watch Over Me; 21) You Can't Hide; 22) It's Easy Child; 23) Just Pickin' (alternate take); 24) Heads Up (alternate take); 25) Closed Door (High Rise) (alternate take w/o horns); 26) I'm On My Way To Atlanta (alternate take).

Tracks, Disc 3: 1) Your Love Keeps A-Working On Me; 2) What About Love; 3) Bossa Nova Blues; 4) The Bossa Nova Watusi Twist; 5) Freeway 75; 6) Walk Down That Aisle (Honey Chile); 7) Someday, After Awhile (You'll Be Sorry); 8) You Walked In; 9) You're Barkin' Up The Wrong Tree; 10) Is My Baby Mad At Me (w/o horns); 11) (The Welfare) Turns Its Back On You; 12) It Hurts To Be In Love; 13) Look Ma, I'm Cryin'; 14) (I'd Love To) Make Love To You (w/o guitar); 15) One Hundred Years (w/o guitar); 16) Now I've Got A Woman; 17) Surf Monkey; 18) If You Have It; 19) Low Tide (Zoo Surfin'); 20) Remington Ride; 21) Monkey Donkey; 22) Walk Down That Aisle (Honey Chile) (alternate take).

Tracks, Disc 4: 1) Meet Me At The Station; 2) Full Time Love; 3) King-A-Ling; 4) I Love You More Every Day; 5) Teardrops On Your Letter; 6) Some Other Day, Some Other Time; 7) She's The One; 8) She's That Kind; 9) Man Hole; 10) Fish Fare; 11) Funny Bone; 12) Cloud Sailin' (Don't Move); 13) The Sad Nite Owl; 14) Nickel Plated; 15) Freddy's Midnite Dream; 16) Girl From Kookamunga; 17) You've Got Me Licked; 18) Double Eyed Whammy; 19) Use What You've Got; 20) The Mojo; 21) Play It Cool; 22) Untitled Instrumental #1; 23) Untitled Instrumental #2; 24) Untitled Instrumental #3; 25) Hide Away; 26) Funky; 27) Blue Shadows; 28) Play It Cool; 29) That Will Never Do; 30) It's Too Late, She's Gone; 31) Sweet Thing; 32) Get Out Of My Life Woman.

Tracks, Disc 5: 1) Hot Tomato; 2) Wide Open; 3) Let Me Down Easy; 4) Today I Sing The Blues; 5) Yonder Wall; 6) I Wonder Why; 7) I Don't Know; 8) My Feeling For The Blues; 9) The Stumble; 10) Stormy Monday; 11) What'd I Say; 12) Ain't Nobody's Business What We Do; 13) You Don't Have To Go; 14) Woke Up This Morning; 15) The Things I Used To Do; 16) Same Old Blues; 17) Dust My Broom; 18) Worried Life Blues; 19) Five Long Years; 20) Key To The Highway; 21) Going Down; 22) Living On The Highway; 23) Walking By Myself; 24) Tore Down; 25) Palace Of The King.

Tracks, Disc 6: 1) Gimme Some Lovin'; 2) Please Send Me Someone To Love; 3) That's All Right; 4) The Same Thing; 5) Tore Down (live); 6) Dust My Broom (live); 7) Can't Trust Your Neighbor; 8) You Was Wrong; 9) How Many More Years; 10) Ain't No Sunshine; 11) The Sky Is Crying; 12) Love Her With A Feeling; 13) Somebody Got To Go; 14) Pulpwood; 15) Hide Away; 16) Lowdown In Lodi; 17) Reconsider Baby.

Tracks, Disc 7: 1) Big Legged Woman; 2) Me And My guitar; 3) I'd Rather Be Blind; 4) Something You Got; 5) Ain't No Big Deal On You; 6) I Just Want To Make Love To You; 7) It Hurts Me Too; 8) Boogie Fuck (guitar Boogie); 9) Woman Across The River; 10) I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man; 11) Danger Zone; 12) Boogie Man; 13) Leave My Woman Alone; 14) Just A Little Bit; 15) Yonder Wall; 16) Help Me Through The Day; 17) I'm Ready; 18) Trouble In Mind; 19) You Don't Have To Go; 20) Goin' Down (live).