credits and song info
Al Walker has an extensive vintage guitar and amplifier collection. All makes of Fenders, Gibsons and other exotic treasures from the 40's through to the 70's were used in the making of this album. Al is well-known for NOT using gimmicks or pedals - just the power of his hands through his guitar with modified amplification.
Six string basses, acoustic and parlor guitars were also used where needed.
1. Palace of the King (3:52) D. Nix, L. Russell, D. Dunn BMI – Irving Music Inc.
Written by Don Nix, Leon Russell & Donald Dunn for Freddie King in 1968. This powerful version is the first track on the Blues Lightnin' album.
*A 1969 Gibson 335 Dot issue was played on this track with a vintage 100 watt Marshall Plexi amp overdriven through a Fender Twin amplifier along with a Fender Reverb tank.
Guitar & Vocals - Al Walker
Bass & Vocals - Bruce O'neill
Drums - Marko Ibarra
In August 1973 I was at the Commodore Ballroom in Vancouver, Canada watching Freddie King and his band tearing it up. At the end of the night Freddie came down onto the floor where I was sitting. He was a huge man at 6-foot 6 and around 280 pounds. He made a B-line straight towards me. I remember standing up and putting my hand out and saying "Nice to meet you Mr. King" He stuck out his huge hand into mine which was like shaking a baseball glove. And said "Thanks kid!"
Then I realized that he was peering over me as he let my hand go and bolted past me. I turned around to see this beautiful black chick jumping up and down and waving at Freddie. That was where he was going all along!
2. Cheaper to Keep Her (3:16) Mack Rice BMI - Irving Music Inc
The first time I heard this Mack Rice tune was when I heard Eddie C. Campbell's excellent version of it. We had a lot of fun recording this one. Marko brought a special snare drum to capture the right snap we required. The lyrics are hilarious!
Guitar & Vocals - Al Walker
Bass - Bruce O'neill
Drums - Marko Ibarra
Horns - Jerry Cook
Organ - Dave Webb
*I used the 335 Gibson through a Musicman 112RD. Blazing tone that helps the song cook!
3. Ride 'Em on Down (3:08) Eddie Taylor BMI - Conrad Music
A couple of years ago we were down in Clarksdale, Mississippi
Guitar & Vocals - Al Walker
Bass & Vocals - Bruce O'Neill
Drums - Marko Ibarra
Piano - Dave Webb
*I played a 1956 Harmony H62 Espanada through a 1954 Fender TV Pro with a Fender Reverb Tank.
4. Cadillac Assembly Line (3:35) Mack Rice BMI - Irving Music Inc
My close friend and bluesman Jack Lavin told me about a performer from Chicago named Dion Payton (43rd Street Blues Band). Jack said Dion was an excellent guitarist who played with incredible energy. I never got to see him live but there is footage of him playing his black Les Paul and totally shredding. He used to start his show with Cadillac Assembly Line which Albert King made popular. When I heard Payton's version I got the idea to do a driving reggae-style feel with edgy guitar phrases that pays tribute to them both!
Guitar & Vocals - Al Walker
Bass & Vocals - Bruce O'Neill
Drums - Marko Ibarra
Organ - Dave Webb
It was funny finding out that Mack Rice also wrote this song as well as Cheaper to Keep Her. This was a total coincidence as I always assumed that Albert King wrote Cadillac.
Mack Rice also wrote the mega-hit Mustang Sally
*The 335 Gibson through a Musicman 112RD was used
5. Have a Good Time (4:17) A. Walker Houserockin' Music
I wrote this as a dance tune that everyone would enjoy. It's meant to get everybody up dancing and to make having a good time the most important thing on their minds in that moment.
Guitar & Vocals - Al Walker
Bass & Vocals - Bruce O'Neill
Drums - Marko Ibarra
Horns - Jerry Cook
*I played a Fender Telecaster with Dimarzio pickups through the Musicman 112RD
6. Three O'clock Blues (4:42) B.B. King BMI -- Universal Music
The B.B. King classic. I stripped it down and played it honest and clean.
Guitar & Vocals - Al Walker
Bass & Vocals - Bruce O'Neill
Drums - Marko Ibarra
Keyboards - Willie MacCalder
One of the first records I owned was the King of the Blues album on Bluesway Records. I didn't know what it was but liked that the band was swinging like crazy and setting B.B. up to inject those stinger guitar notes. I learned it was all in the timing and not at all easy to get it right! Some musicians feel a slow blues can be the hardest song to play. Everything's right out in the open I guess…. nowhere to hide.
*A Hammond B-3 was played along with my Gibson ES335 through a 1954 Fender TV Pro Amp with a Fender Reverb Tank.
7. Buzz Bomb (2:03) A. Walker Houserockin' Music
A fun, berserk instrumental we sometimes use as a break tune. Just a raw trio while the boys cut loose!
Guitar & Vocals - Al Walker
Bass & Vocals - Bruce O'Neill
Drums - Marko Ibarra
Played a custom made telecaster on the treble pickup through a 1969 Ampeg VT40.
8. Don't Cry to Me (2:52) Tripper/Walker Houserockin' Music
I always liked this tune. It's co-written by a friend of mine named Danny Tripper before he passed away. Tripper was a big influence on me from the 70's and he wrote some strong blues rock in his day. I promised him on his death bed that I'd always keep his music alive. If you listen to my past albums you will find Tripper tunes like Buzzsaw, Just Like Gold and Balls on Fire. Now we can add this one to the collection.
Guitar & Vocals - Al Walker
Bass & Vocals - Bruce O'Neill
Drums - Marko Ibarra
Horns - Jerry Cook
Keyboards - Dave Webb
*A Fender Stratocaster was used through a 400 watt Quilter Amp with an added 12" Celestion speaker to spread the stereo signal.
9. Real Prince Charming (3:13) Eric Ducoff
Listening to this track you can hear how much fun we're having. Sometimes things just click and this is one of them!
Guitar & Vocals - Al Walker
Bass & Vocals - Bruce O'Neill
Drums - Jason Moeller
Organ - Dave Webb
*A 1954 Harmony Stratotone was played through the 1954 Fender Pro.
10. Natural Disaster (4:07) Lonnie Mack BMI - Cminor Music
After playing this song live for 20 years we finally got a studio recording that checked all the boxes! It's always a crowd pleaser!
Guitar & Vocals - Al Walker
Bass & Vocals - Bruce O'Neill
Drums - Marko Ibarra
*A Fender Stratocaster was played on this track with a vintage 100 watt Marshall Plexi amp overdriven through a Fender Twin amplifier along with a Fender Reverb tank
11. Hungry Country Girl (4:15) Otis Spann BMI - Warner Chappell
When Peter Green brought the original Fleetwood Mac to Chess Studios in 1969 fireworks were inevitable as five white British wannabes met and jammed with their blues heroes. These recordings are documented on the album "In Chicago" which is required listening for any blues aficionado.
One of the top studio bluesmen there was the legend himself Otis Spann on Piano and Vocals. And that's where I heard the moving Hungry Country Girl for the first time.
When you are listening to the original or my version here, be aware of how the song grows and the groove gets stronger and stronger before it grinds into the subtle ending. That was Otis's intention and he was the master of presenting this kind of personality to his performances. I humbly try to do the same here.
*Featured on this track is the late, great Willie MacCalder on piano
Guitar & Vocals - Al Walker
Bass & Vocals - Bruce O'Neill
Drums - Marko Ibarra
Piano - Willie MacCalder
*A Gibson ES335 played through a 1954 Fender TV Pro Amp with a Fender Reverb Tank.
12. Trying to Tell You (3:48) A. Walker Houserockin' Music
I wrote this funky blues dance tune. It was fun playing guitar without a pick.
Guitar, Vocals & Harmonica - Al Walker
Bass & Vocals - Bruce O'Neill
Drums - Marko Ibarra
* A Custom Fender Telecaster through a 1969 Ampeg V-40 was used. For Harp a 1945 Turner mic through a 1966 Model 2 Kalamazoo Amp.
13. Long Way to Go (2:53) A. Walker Houserockin' Music
I wrote this rocker while driving from Seattle to Florida in 2020.
Definitely a drivin' tune when you're trying to safely make time on the highway.
Guitar & Vocals - Al Walker
Bass & Vocals - Bruce O'Neill
Drums - Marko Ibarra
Piano - Dave Webb
*I Played a Fender Stratocaster through a Quilter Amp and a Fender Parlour guitar that sounds like a banjo
14. Blues Lightnin' (2:28) A. Walker Houserockin' Music
The album's title track is a good-time country blues tune and probably my first.
My wife recently found out that she has kin in the Appalachians in North Carolina so we had fun writing the words to this together.
Guitar,Vocals & Harmonica - Al Walker
Bass & Vocals - Bruce O'Neill
Drums - Marko Ibarra
*I played the Fender Parlor guitar and a Hohner Special 20 harmonica with a Bulletini Mic and a 1959 Airline amp.