Texas-born Freddy (or Freddie) King came up on Chicago’s West Side blues scene alongside Otis Rush, Magic Sam and Buddy Guy and burst on the national R&B scene with a string of hit singles in 1961. In an era when many of the popular dance tunes were instrumentals, King never seemed to run short of ideas for catchy guitar tunes such as his hit Hideaway. But when it came time to sing Have You Ever Loved a Woman, I’m Tore Down, and See See Baby, he also provided himself to be one of the most expressive blues vocalists. King Records of Cincinnati compiled two albums of his work in 1961, one all-instrumental, and this classic collection spotlighting the best of his early blues vocals: Freddy King Sings.
— Jim O’Neal
www.stackhouse-bluesoterica.blogspot.com