The first of Freddie King’s three albums for Leon Russell’s Shelter label set the tone for his work for the company: superb electric blues with a prominent rock/ soul influence. The massive Texan and the longhaired Oklahoman got it right the first time around with the aptly titled Getting Ready LP. Recorded at the legendary Chess studios in Chicago, it might well rank as Freddie King’s most creatively satisfying work. An array of styles is assembled here, ranging from deep Texas Blues to touches of country church Gospel and hard sockin’ funk.

Also, Freddie delved deep into blues history to give his spin on some classic pieces of the genre. Elmore James’ “Dust My Broom” is done acoustically, with just Freddie and his Spanish guitar. The production on Jimmy Rogers’ “Walking by Myself” is equally low-fi, adding Russell’s honky-tonk piano ramblings and a tambourine. Willie Dixon’s “Worried Life Blues”, however, features King at his most powerfully expressive on this electric blues. The fast-paced stomper includes lightnin’-fast solos from King and he can be heard duelling with the studio guitarist Don Preston, as well.

Tracklist

Side A
SAME OLD BLUES (DON NIX)
DUST MY BROOM (ELMORE JAMES)
WORRIED LIFE BLUES (BIG MAYO)
FIVE LONG YEARS (EDDIE BOYD)
KEY TO THE HIGHWAY (BILL BROONZY-CHARLES SEGAR)

Side B
GOING DOWN (DON NIX)
LIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (LEON RUSSELL-DON NIX)
WALKING BY MYSELF (LANE)
TORE DOWN (SONNY THOMPSON)
PALACE OF THE KING (LEON RUSSELL-DON NIX-DUCK DUNN)