Search - Albert Collins: Live at Montreux 1992 on DVD

Albert Collins At Both Ends Of His Career.

Perry Celestino | Tahmoor, NSW Australia | 03/22/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Albert Collins ranks as one of the greatest and most influential Blues guitarists of all time. However, material on him is rather scarce. The previously released concerts, interestingly, are all shot outside the USA. He has two great sets in Baden-Baden Germany which are superb, the 1988 one being the best. And his Japanese concert, with a day and night set, is also fantastic. This concert features Albert at Montreux at both ends of his career. The bonus set is from 1979, just after the release of his most influential LP "Ice Pickin'" and this set from 1992, just before his death in 1993.

The bonus set is THE highlight and a "must" for Albert Collins fans. It only contains four tracks, but WHAT four tracks they are! He starts with "Listen Here" a standard opening he used for over ten years and this version is cool. His sound is muddy and distorted, with controlled feedback. This is not like his later "clean" sound. His first solo in this tune is unlike anything he has ever done with some controlled descending runs. I really loved it!

He also goes out in the audience and plays at the beginning of the set-which is also highly unusual. He sits in the crowd and plays. Next he does a funky tune "Snatching It Back" which again turns into some wild improvisation. He then does "Cold, Cold Feeling" from his "Ice Pickin'" album and it, interestingly, is in a major not the usual minor key--really interesting. In the middle of the tune a young German fan gets up on stage and plays harp--it doesn't even distract Collins!! He just keeps on playing. Albert is cool! Albert King would have stopped the show!!

The final tune is "Frosty" and it's a strong early version and we have the rare honour of seeing Albert jam with "Gatemouth" Brown as well. Brown also played with his fingers, had strong Jazz influences and used a capo on the guitar- so this is a very rare glimpse at Collins influences from a fellow Texan. These bonus tracks are very important to Blues DVD collectors as these are about seven years earlier than anything Collins has out. The band includes drummer Casey Jones and Sax player A.C. Reed who played with Albert through the years in the 1980s when he was finally getting the recognition he deserved.

The main show is filmed in 1992 and shows us a tired and worn out Collins who features the band with him who played on his final tour (I saw him in Australia the final time in 1992 with this line-up). It includes the fabulous Johnny B. Gayden on Bass (one of the longest serving "Icebreakers" and the fantastic Peter Thoennes on second guitar. He also plays keyboards as well (on records), Collins could never say his name and always referred to him as "Pete". Jon Smith is also a great band member on sax. This band can also be seen on the "Ice Man At Mt. Fuji" DVD. Watch Thoennes meticulous guitar playing behind Collins on most tunes but in particular the slow blues.

The main set in the Montreux DVD includes the standards that Collins ended his career with starting with "Iceman", not a great tune, but fun nonetheless. Collins makes a few mistakes and has his timing off but makes it all up by the end. Honey Hush begins as a disaster with the band falling in very late. Albert messes up the words too! This tune was the first one on his "Ice Pickin'" LP and was a great tune by Lowell Fulson. The third tune "Light Are On (But Nobody's Home)" is classic Collins and is also featured on most of his other DVDs. It is a strong version. "If You Love Me Like You Say" continues. It is a funky up-tempo tune full of Albert's distinctive guitar work. The next tune is the highlight; "Too Many Dirty Dishes", it features more of Albert's fantastic Slow Blues work. Great lines too, "Too many dirty dishes for just us two." "Who's been making dirty dishes with you"! So we get TWO slow ones on this set-very unusual.

The set goes on with "Put the Shoe On The Other Foot" and Collins goes out into the crowd. Now he usually did this on "Frosty" so this is change as "Listen Here" is in the Bonus Material. He really gets the crowd going! There is a story that while playing in Antone's in Texas he went out the door and ordered a Pizza!!! Oh those long guitar leads!! Albert finishes up with "Frosty" again a strong version but much different than the one on the bonus tracks. Blues fans should be sure to get this disc. It gives us an insight into Albert's final days and while his game is off during a lot of this set, the tunes are good and you have to be in awe of Collins' mastery and originality on the Telecaster. No one can play like Albert Collins, his sound, minor key tuning, finger picking, use of a capo and attack are one of the most exciting styles ever in Blues music."

Best blues performance i've seen at Montreux

Brian K. Robillard | Los Angeles, CA | 02/21/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is such a great live performance from the famous Montreux. I highly recommened this DVD or the CD. The DVD, however, has more songs than the CD.

I was lucky to review it before the DVD is released on March 4th."

Blues 101

Warren R. Holloway | 10/17/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is Blues 101 and Blues at its best. This is great for beginners or Blues lovers."