Freddie King
Freddie King was one of the most influential blues guitarists of the 20th century, known for his powerful voice and fiery electric guitar style that bridged Texas and Chicago blues traditions. Born Freddie Christian King (sometimes listed as Fred King) on September 3, 1934, in Gilmer, Texas, he died on December 28, 1976, in Dallas at age 42. He earned a place among the "Three Kings of the Blues" alongside B.B. King and Albert King, despite no relation to either.
King grew up on a farm near Gilmer, where his mother Ella Mae King and uncle introduced him to guitar at age six, drawing from influences like Lightnin' Hopkins and Blind Lemon Jefferson. His family moved to Chicago in 1949 or 1950, exposing him to urban blues giants such as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, T-Bone Walker, and Sonny Boy Williamson. By 16, he sneaked into South Side clubs, honing his skills through jam sessions.
King formed his first band, the Every Hour Blues Boys, around 1952 with guitarist Jimmie Lee Robinson, drummer Sonny Scott, and later Eddie Taylor and Jimmy Rogers; he worked days in a steel mill while gigging nights. He married Jessie Burnett by 1952, and they had six children; early singles appeared on Parrot and other small labels in 1953. Throughout the 1950s, he played with groups like the Sonny Cooper Band and Earlee Payton's Blues Cats.
Signing with Federal/King Records in 1960 under producer Sonny Thompson, King scored hits like instrumentals "Hide Away" (1961, a blues-to-pop crossover), "Have You Ever Loved a Woman," "Woman Across the River," "I'm Tore Down," and "You've Got to Love Her with a Feeling." His style blended stinging Texas bends with Chicago intensity, often using a Gibson ES-335 guitar and a thumb-and-finger pick technique. He experimented with R&B and novelties like "Bossa Nova Watusi Twist."
In 1963, King relocated to Dallas to rejoin his family, refining a soulful vocal style amid grueling tours; Jessie and the kids had moved there in 1962 due to his schedule. He recorded for Cotillion (1968), Shelter (1970, including the landmark live album at Austin's Armadillo World Headquarters), and RSO (1974), gaining a rock audience as artists like Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck, Mick Taylor, and Peter Green covered his songs—Clapton notably on "Have You Ever Loved a Woman" and "I'm Tore Down." King toured widely, including with Clapton in the 1970s, until health issues ended his career.
Woman Across The River
Written-By – A. Jones, Jr., B. Krutcher
2:46
A2 Hootchie Cootchie Man
Written By – C. Long
4:48
A3 Danger Zone
Written-By – Percy Mayfield
4:32
A4 Boogie Man
Written-By – C. Blackwell, L. Russell
3:45
A5 Leave My Woman Alone
Written-By – Ray Charles
3:33
B1 Just A Little Bit
Written-By – Washington, Thurston, Brown, Bass
2:27
B2 Yonder Wall
Written-By – Elmore James
2:25
B3 Help Me Through The Day
Written-By – Leon Russell
4:27
B4 I'm Ready
Written-By – Willie Dixon
3:45
B5 Trouble In Mind
Written-By – Richard Jones
3:41
B6 You Don't Have To Go
Written-By – Matcher James Reed
2:55
Label: Shelter Records – SW-8919
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Country: US
Released: 1973
Genre: R&B Blues
Style: Modern Electric Blues, Rock
Woman Across The River, Released in 1973, was the final studio album Freddie King recorded for Shelter Records. It is widely considered his most elaborately produced work, featuring string arrangements and female backing vocals that lean into a polished, contemporary rock-influenced sound.
Opinions on the album's production style vary among major critics:
AllMusic notes the "heavier rock elements" and high production value compared to his earlier, rawer recordings.
Texas Monthly described it as "more than competent" but critiqued it for making too many "concessions to the rock sound".
The Gazette gave a harsher review, calling the effort "painfully mechanical" with a perceived lack of personal involvement.
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings suggests it reflects an "awkward phase" for blues music in the early 1970s as it transitioned toward mainstream rock.
The album features several standout performances that remain favorites among fans:
"Help Me Through the Day": A Leon Russell-penned ballad praised for its "exquisite" delivery.
"Woman Across The River": Described as a blues lament with "powerful yet fragile" vocals and emotive guitar work that "sounds like a sigh".
Blues Classics: The album includes King's takes on standards like "I'm Your Hoochie Coochie Man," "I'm Ready," and "Look On Yonder Wall".
As of 2026, collectors highly recommend specific versions for the best audio experience:
Best Digital Version: The 1993 reissue mastered by Steve Hoffman (DCC) is frequently cited as the superior digital version, offering better definition and dynamics than later budget remasters.
Streaming Quality: Modern digital versions (such as those on Spotify) often use the 1996 "Right Stuff" remaster, which some audiophiles find "flat" compared to original vinyl or Hoffman's master.