''King King'' is the debut album by the blues-rock band the Red Devils. It was recorded live at King King Club in Los Angeles during three or four of their regular Monday-night performances in 1991. The album captures the immediacy and informality of a small club performance. It features the band's interpretation of blues songs originally recorded by

Little Walter Marion Walter Jacobs (May 1, 1930 – February 15, 1968), known as Little Walter, was an American blues musician, singer, and songwriter, whose revolutionary approach to the harmonica had a strong impact on succeeding generations, earning him ...

Sonny Boy Williamson II Alex or Aleck Miller (originally Ford, possibly December 5, 1912 – May 24, 1965), known later in his career as Sonny Boy Williamson, was an American blues harmonica player, singer and songwriter. He was an early and influential blues harp st ...

Howlin' Wolf Chester Arthur Burnett (June 10, 1910January 10, 1976), better known by his stage name Howlin' Wolf, was an American blues singer and guitarist. He is regarded as one of the most influential blues musicians of all time. Over a four-decade care ...

, and

Willie Dixon William James Dixon (July 1, 1915January 29, 1992) was an American blues musician, vocalist, songwriter, arranger and record producer. He was proficient in playing both the upright bass and the guitar, and sang with a distinctive voice, but he ...

as well as some band originals.

Critical reception

''King King'' was released in July 1992 and a review in ''

USA Today ''USA Today'' (stylized in all uppercase) is an American daily middle-market newspaper and news broadcasting company. Founded by Al Neuharth on September 15, 1982, the newspaper operates from Gannett's corporate headquarters in Tysons, Virgini ...

'' called it "the year's most electrifying live album, a stunning debut". According to the ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' (abbreviated as ''LA Times'') is a daily newspaper that started publishing in Los Angeles in 1881. Based in the LA-adjacent suburb of El Segundo since 2018, it is the sixth-largest newspaper by circulation in the Un ...

'', "''King King'' is a 12-song live recording that captures the band in fine, aggressive form at the La Brea Avenue club".

AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...

's gave the album a three out of five star rating, calling it a mix of straight-ahead blues and singer/harmonica player

Lester Butler Lester Butler (November 12, 1959May 9, 1998) was an American blues harmonica player and singer. He achieved fame as the singer and harmonica player for the Los Angeles, California, blues rock band, the Red Devils Biography Butler was born in ...

's later alternative rock.

Track listing

Personnel

;The Red Devils *

– vocals, harmonica *Paul "The Kid" Size – lead guitar *Dave Lee Bartel – rhythm guitar *Johnny Ray Bartel – bass * Bill Bateman – drums

References

External links

No Fightin': The Red Devils, Lester Butler and California blues, rock and roots music
* {{Authority control 1992 debut albums Albums produced by Rick Rubin 1992 live albums Live blues rock albums