This week’s Blues album is Freddie King: Getting Ready. The album was released in 1970 on Shelter Records, formally Chess Records. A couple of interesting notes on this work, the album was produced by Leon Russell, noted musical renaissance man. The album also includes noted sideman, bassist Donald “Duck” Dunn. Getting Ready is interesting in that it contains the song Tore Down, which on the album is credited to Freddie, but history tells us that one Sonny Thompson actually penned it. Whatever, its still a great tune that’s been covered by well, how do I say this, everyone. So while not an album of original material, it is a glossary, a who’s who of classic blues tunes. From the smooth sounds of “Same Old Blues”, possibly my personal favorite, to the driving “Palace of the King”, which includes the glorious line of, “I can't find a Chitlins Pizza for any price I pay I'm goin' back to Dallas, living in the palace of the king”. You simply have to love it. Other highlights include, the aforementioned Tore Down, Worried Life Blues, Five Long Years. Actually the whole album is good. Freddie’s tone is biting, clean with a little distortion. That biting tone is due to his use of a thumb pick and metal index finger pick. If you are not overly familiar with Freddie’s work, this would be a durn good place to start.