During his eight years (1966-1974) at Stax Records, Albert King literally redefined the state of urban blues and achieved his greatest level of popularity in the process. Although he died in 1992, the blues titan's innovative fusion of raw Mississippi Delta blues and molten Memphis funk continues to exert a profound influence on the course of the blues. Drawn from studio recordings cut between 1970 and 1974, this collection combines three rare 45 sides (including King's incendiary instrumental treatment of James Brown's "Cold Sweat") with six previously unissued selections, many with backing by the Bar-Kays. All are essential listening.

with Ben Cauley, Harvey Henderson, Bobby Manuel, Winston Stewart, Lester Snell, Michael Toles, Donald "Duck" Dunn, James Alexander, Erroll Thomas, Al Jackson, Jr., Willie Hall, and others