Born Under a Bad Sign
Albert King · 1967
35 min · 11 tracks · blues
Raw guitar riffs interweave with heartfelt vocals, capturing the essence of classic blues with a touch of Southern soul.
Top tracks — play these first
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Born Under a Bad Sign — The title track stands out for its powerful narrative of misfortune and resilience, showcasing King's expressive guitar work and commanding vocal style.
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Crosscut Saw — This track demonstrates King's exceptional guitar prowess, featuring a memorable riff that has become a standard in blues music, influencing countless artists.
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Oh, Pretty Woman — King's rendition transforms this familiar theme into a soulful expression of longing, highlighting his ability to convey deep emotion through both lyrics and instrumentation.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album's raw sound and strong guitar work define its blues identity while maintaining emotional depth.
What we noticed
- The album features a consistent use of call-and-response between the guitar and vocals, a hallmark of blues music.
- Each track maintains a raw, live feel, with minimal production that emphasizes the emotional delivery of the lyrics.
- Several songs incorporate extended guitar solos that showcase King's expressive playing style, particularly in 'Crosscut Saw' and 'Laundromat Blues'.
- Composition 25% of the score
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8/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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8/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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7/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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6/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Significant within its genre. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- steady groove for relaxed listening
- short tracks for quick enjoyment
- gritty emotional expressions throughout
- for late-night reflection
Maybe skip if you
- not for high-energy settings
- skip if you prefer longer
Where this album fits
- Career context
- Released in 1967, Born Under a Bad Sign was Albert King's breakthrough album, marking his first major label release with Stax Records. By this time, King had already developed a strong regional following, but this record would elevate him to national prominence within the blues genre.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Freddie King· Otis Rush· Buddy Guy
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 Born Under a Bad Sign 2:49
- 2 Crosscut Saw 2:37
- 3 Kansas City 2:35
- 4 Oh, Pretty Woman 2:50
- 5 Down Don’t Bother Me 2:12
- 6 The Hunter 2:47
- 7 I Almost Lost My Mind 3:32
- 8 Personal Manager 4:33
- 9 Laundromat Blues 3:23
- 10 As the Years Go Passing By 3:50
- 11 The Very Thought of You 3:47
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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