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Albert Collin's...any stories?

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delius

Albert Collin's...any stories?

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Posts: 340

Jul 16 07 10:10 PM

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I got an Albert Collins dvd today from an online rental company which was superb (not sure, off the top of my head which dvd, but Debbie Davis on second guitar, and Duke Robillard guests on the last song).
I've been listening to a lot of Albert Collins recently, and am a great admirer of his guitar playing. I'm wondering if anyone has any stories about him - I really enjoyed reading a recent thread of stories/anecdotes about Albert King. Anyone met Albert Collins, or know much about him?

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Sassie

#1

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 18974

Jul 17 07 1:13 AM

I didn't get to meet him, but had the honor of seeing him live - twice. Once was at Red Rocks at "Blues on the Rocks" with Etta James, B.B., Buddy, and an unknown local band not even billed....."Big Head Todd & the Monsters" (who became an instant fave for me. Right - not blues.)

The other time was at a small little club, back when he still had the long corded mic. Well, he did his signature "crowd walk" and stopped to play at a few tables, including ours

Somehow or other the cord got wrapped around the leg of my chair and it took a minute or two to untangle. He never flinched from his playing or that wicked smile.

RIP Iceman.

(Dumb story, but it's all I got)

Never put off til tomorrow what you can do the day after.

Colorado, USA

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chris olivarez

#2

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 10192

Jul 17 07 5:31 AM

I saw him on several occasions. The first time when Debbie Davies was in the band and the last two months before cancer claimed him. He was great til the end.

Everybody looks good at the starting line. Get on your mark,get ready but you better keep this in mind. You can hit the ground running like you're shot from a gun but going the distance is the hard part son. Everybody looks good at the starting line.

Paul Thorn

Chris Olivarez, Pagosa Springs,in most beautiful Colorado.

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Blues Boss

#3

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 11144

Jul 17 07 3:00 PM

We'll have to track down Slapback Slim and have him slip in here with a story or two...

Albert Collins used to come to Seattle on a regular basis back in the 70s-80s ... and he played with quite a few 'locals' .... I'll PM Slapback on this...

"I�m talkin� about: primal jankety-ass rattlin� and buzzin� raw music that sounds like they used some boxes and tubs for drums. No, it ain�t right. But the blues ain�t right. Never has been. Never will be!...." ----- Sherman

Seattle, WA

Blues Boss on MySpace

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bluesslave

#4

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6552

Jul 17 07 3:21 PM

Shortly after his death there was a fine live album
which was produced by Mr. Shurman and John Boncimino.
I'm sure Dick has some stories, might not want to tell them
though. I heard some from John, wouldn't want to repeat
without permission.

Cascade Blues Association

Vancouver, Washington
Portland, Oregon

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rshurman

#5

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 3244

Jul 17 07 3:30 PM

QUOTE (bluesslave @ Jul 17 2007, 09:21 AM)

Shortly after his death there was a fine live album
which was produced by Mr. Shurman and John Boncimino.
I'm sure Dick has some stories, might not want to tell them
though. I heard some from John, wouldn't want to repeat
without permission.

I know there have been a couple pretty long and thorough threads about Albert previously, that's why I'm holding off this time. Maybe someone can post the links; thanks! He's certainly deserving of being remembered fondly. I did a search for "Albert Collins" by heading only, thirty days or older and there are around a dozen threads.

Chicagoland

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Blueswriter

#6

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6748

Jul 17 07 6:04 PM

Here are a couple to start with...

Albert Collins

Albert Colins - Again

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bluesslave

#7

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6552

Jul 17 07 6:06 PM

Dick, got any John Boncimino stories??

Cascade Blues Association

Vancouver, Washington
Portland, Oregon

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rshurman

#8

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 3244

Jul 17 07 6:19 PM

QUOTE (bluesslave @ Jul 17 2007, 12:06 PM)

Dick, got any John Boncimino stories??

There must be tons of long threads... seriously, J.B. is a good man and he did a lot for Albert (among others).

Chicagoland

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bluesslave

#9

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6552

Jul 17 07 6:27 PM

QUOTE (rshurman @ Jul 17 2007, 06:19 PM)

QUOTE (bluesslave @ Jul 17 2007, 12:06 PM)

Dick, got any John Boncimino stories??

There must be tons of long threads... seriously, J.B. is a good man and he did a lot for Albert (among others).

I knew him briefly during the transition between Albert's death and
when he was showing Keb' Mo' the touring ropes, we had a mutual friend at that time. Hung out with him for a while when he was at Bumbershoot in Seattle with Keb in 1994.

Cascade Blues Association

Vancouver, Washington
Portland, Oregon

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delius

#10

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Posts: 340

Jul 17 07 7:50 PM

QUOTE (Blueswriter @ Jul 17 2007, 06:04 PM)

Here are a couple to start with...

Albert Collins

Albert Colins - Again

Thanks for the links - that was interesting reading!

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Blueswriter

#11

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 6748

Jul 17 07 8:03 PM

QUOTE (delius @ Jul 17 2007, 02:50 PM)

QUOTE (Blueswriter @ Jul 17 2007, 06:04 PM)

Here are a couple to start with...

Albert Collins

Albert Colins - Again

Thanks for the links - that was interesting reading!

You're welcome. I was fortunate to have seen Albert a good number of times in Boston, Providence and NYC from the late-1970s until shortly before his death. He never failed to put on a great show and the sound of that blistering Telecaster would be in my head for a few days after. He deserved the high-profile status he garnered after moving to the Alligator label. I think many here who saw him would agree that he's missed much.

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soulful impressions

#12

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Posts: 2086

Jul 26 07 7:38 PM

i heard he wasnt drunk ..he was just drinkin

If I can't be your man...It's much too expensive to be your friend ~Jimmy Johnson

http://www.pbase.com/soulfulimpressions

http://www.myspace.com/soulfulimpressions

http://windycityblues.org/

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charlie chitlins

#13

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Posts: 381

Jul 31 07 12:28 AM

In DC, I saw him playing at the Cellar Door...or was it the Crazy Horse?...anyway...he took that long cable and walked right out into the middle of M street and stood on the yellow lines while somebody stopped traffic.
AND...somebody else came out of the bar across the street and stood there with him...it was a really long time ago, and I was drinking a little heavily in those days....but I think it may have been George Thorogood.
I'm guessing this was around '79 or '80...when you could go into Danny Gatton's place and hear him play for 4 or 5 bucks.

Dig yo' self!

http://www.reverbnation.com/#p=/theblueplatespecials

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chris olivarez

#14

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 10192

Jul 31 07 4:35 AM

When I was going through a divorce I got back into the blues after a long hiatus from it(what a coincidence!!!) and I picked up three albums one by the T Birds and two by Albert Collins. Doctor Collins had the cure for me and as far as I was concerned he could do little wrong. Albert Collins-forever the Master of the Telecaster!!!!

Everybody looks good at the starting line. Get on your mark,get ready but you better keep this in mind. You can hit the ground running like you're shot from a gun but going the distance is the hard part son. Everybody looks good at the starting line.

Paul Thorn

Chris Olivarez, Pagosa Springs,in most beautiful Colorado.

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observer

#15

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Posts: 234

Aug 2 07 1:22 AM

Years ago at the Sacramento Blues Festival I managed to scam my way backstage the day Albert was performing as the headliner. Being an Albert Collins disciple, I relished the opportunity to meet him.

After putting on an amazing show, he returned backstage and went into an artist tent to chill out (no pun intended) after his performance. He just hung out, signing autographs & shaking hands. Once the crowd thinned, I approached him and put my hand out.

"Mr. Collins, I just wanted to shake your hand and thank you for your music. You are a huge influence on my guitar playing."

Collins shook my hand and smiled, answering in a raspy voice, "Aww...thank you very much. Sorry I wasn't able to sing much tonight. I've got a little bit of a cold."

I had a pic that he graciously autographed and away I went.

What struck me most about meeting him was the fact that he was sincerely happy to shake my hand and was completely sincere in his apology. I mean, there I was, some teenager he'd never met before and he was apologizing to ME for not putting on the best show. He never made me feel like I was bothering him. A lot of artists could learn from that.

Go stroke my ego, or tell me how much I suck...here:
http://www.soundclick.com/aaronking

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chris olivarez

#16

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 10192

Aug 2 07 5:51 AM

Observer you are a good Observer and I agree with your point about artist conduct. thanks for the thread.

Everybody looks good at the starting line. Get on your mark,get ready but you better keep this in mind. You can hit the ground running like you're shot from a gun but going the distance is the hard part son. Everybody looks good at the starting line.

Paul Thorn

Chris Olivarez, Pagosa Springs,in most beautiful Colorado.

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delius

#17

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Posts: 340

Aug 2 07 9:19 AM

QUOTE (charlie chitlins @ Jul 31 2007, 12:28 AM)

In DC, I saw him playing at the Cellar Door...or was it the Crazy Horse?...anyway...he took that long cable and walked right out into the middle of M street and stood on the yellow lines while somebody stopped traffic.
AND...somebody else came out of the bar across the street and stood there with him...it was a really long time ago, and I was drinking a little heavily in those days....but I think it may have been George Thorogood.
I'm guessing this was around '79 or '80...when you could go into Danny Gatton's place and hear him play for 4 or 5 bucks.

Great story

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Eric

#18

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 326

Aug 2 07 9:13 PM

QUOTE (delius @ Aug 2 2007, 09:19 AM)

QUOTE (charlie chitlins @ Jul 31 2007, 12:28 AM)

In DC, I saw him playing at the Cellar Door...or was it the Crazy Horse?...anyway...he took that long cable and walked right out into the middle of M street and stood on the yellow lines while somebody stopped traffic.
AND...somebody else came out of the bar across the street and stood there with him...it was a really long time ago, and I was drinking a little heavily in those days....but I think it may have been George Thorogood.
I'm guessing this was around '79 or '80...when you could go into Danny Gatton's place and hear him play for 4 or 5 bucks.

Great story

I've got this vision in my head of you standing out in Belmont Street, with the smokers............

blues after midnight- with a Telecaster!

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delius

#19

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Posts: 340

Aug 3 07 12:02 AM

QUOTE (Eric @ Aug 2 2007, 09:13 PM)

QUOTE (delius @ Aug 2 2007, 09:19 AM)

QUOTE (charlie chitlins @ Jul 31 2007, 12:28 AM)

In DC, I saw him playing at the Cellar Door...or was it the Crazy Horse?...anyway...he took that long cable and walked right out into the middle of M street and stood on the yellow lines while somebody stopped traffic.
AND...somebody else came out of the bar across the street and stood there with him...it was a really long time ago, and I was drinking a little heavily in those days....but I think it may have been George Thorogood.
I'm guessing this was around '79 or '80...when you could go into Danny Gatton's place and hear him play for 4 or 5 bucks.

Great story

I've got this vision in my head of you standing out in Belmont Street, with the smokers............

blues after midnight- with a Telecaster!

Nah - your confusing me with Dino

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bluesjuke

#20

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Deepest Blue

Posts: 944

Aug 12 07 4:40 AM

No story but a word of advice.

I got my first chance to see Albert at the Riverwalk Blues Festival in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl..

A few hours before the show my wife changed her mind about taking the several hour drive to the show so we didn't make it.

Two to three weeks later Albert passed away.
Don't miss opportunities to see the greats!

Brings me the most special feeling I most ever had.

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Albert Collin's...any stories?

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