The next performer inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame’s 2013 class was blues guitarist Albert King. Eligible since 1988, King died in 1992 so didn’t live to see his induction in his first nominated year (he would have to have lived to the ripe old age of 91 to do so).
King was born Albert Nelson, but changed his name to that of another blues legend, B.B. King, so he could pass himself off as the latter’s brother. B.B. King wasn’t crazy about that until he met Albert, saying “I got to know him and realized he was right; he wasn’t my brother in blood, but he sure was my brother in the blues.”
In the mid-60s, King traveled to Nashville and cut a series of singles for the Stax label. Those were released on an album titled Born Under a Bad Sign, with the title track becoming his signature song and popularizing the great quip “if it wasn’t for bad luck, I wouldn’t have no luck at all.”
I enjoy this sort of Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inclusion, where the artist might not be super well-known, but did have an outsized influence on future musicians. Watching John Mayer’s induction speech, you learn how the young guitarist found his way to King through Stevie Ray Vaughan, exactly the sort of passing of the baton the Rock Hall should celebrate.
Born under a bad sign
Been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn’t for bad luck
You know, I wouldn’t have no luck at all
[Verse 1]
Hard luck and trouble
Been my only friend
I’ve been on my own
Ever since I was ten
[Chorus]
Born under a bad sign
Been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn’t for bad luck
You know, I wouldn’t have no luck at all
[Verse 2]
I can’t read
I didn’t know how to write
My whole life has been
One big fight
[Chorus]
Born under a bad sign
I’ve been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn’t for bad luck
I say, I wouldn’t have no luck at all
[Bridge]
That ain’t lie, ah, oh
You know, if it wasn’t for bad luck
I wouldn’t have no kinda luck
If it wasn’t for real bad luck
I wouldn’t have no luck at all
[Verse 3]
You know wine and women
Is all I crave
A big legged woman
Gonna carry me to my grave
[Chorus]
Born under a bad sign
I’ve been down since I began to crawl
If it wasn’t for bad luck
I tell ya, I wouldn’t have no luck at all
[Outro]
Yeah, I’m a bad luck boy
Been havin’ bad luck all of my days, yes
I’ve never heard of Albert King, but agree that this is the type of artist who deserves inclusion in the Hall.
Back in the early 90’s Stax/Volt released a 9 CD box set of all singles released from 1959 to 1968. I drooled over this package, but the price tag was out of my budget. My girlfriend (future wife) gifted me the box set for our first Christmas together. The sheer volume of incredible music available on these CD’s is unbelievable – Sam and Dave, Booker T and the MG’s, Johnnie Taylor, Eddie Floyd, Carla Thomas, Albert King (this song is included) and the untouchable Otis Redding … just to name a few. Many of the artists represented here are Hall of Famers. I would HIGHLY recommend this package to anyone who wants to cut their teeth on some brilliant blues and R&B tracks. I believe it is out of print now, but some copies can be found on Ebay … though why anyone would sell this box set is beyond me, it is priceless.