Albert Collins
Albert Collins was a legendary American electric blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter known as "The Master of the Telecaster" and "The Iceman." Born on October 1, 1932, in Leona, Texas, he became renowned for his icy-hot guitar tone, fingerstyle playing, altered tunings, and electrifying stage presence.
Collins grew up in a musical family, moving from Leona to Marquez at age seven and then to Houston at nine, where he absorbed influences like T-Bone Walker, Lightnin' Hopkins, and Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown. He started playing guitar as a teen, formed his first band in 1952, and headlined Houston clubs by 1954.
He worked various jobs, including painting, ranch work, and truck driving for years, while honing his unique sound on Fender Telecasters without a pick.
His breakthrough came in 1958 with "The Freeze" and 1962's instrumental hit "Frosty," a regional smash that earned gold status and spawned icy-themed follow-ups like "Defrost" and "Thaw-Out." Collins recorded singles for small labels in the 1960s, moved to Kansas City in 1965 and California around 1967, and gigged with acts like Canned Heat.
In the 1970s and 1980s, he toured with his Icebreakers band, featuring sidemen like future stars Debbie Davies and Coco Montoya.?
Collins signed with Alligator Records, releasing hits like the W.C. Handy Award-winning Don't Lose Your Cool (1983). He shared a 1985 Grammy for Showdown! with Robert Cray and Johnny Copeland, had Cold Snap (1986) Grammy-nominated, and guested on John Zorn's Spillane (1987).
Collins died on November 24, 1993, at age 61 from lung cancer. His innovative Texas blues style, powerful live shows, and Telecaster mastery continue to influence generations of guitarists.
Ice Pickin’
Written-By – Washington, Fulson
4:28
A2 When The Welfare Turns Its Back On You
Written-By – Weaver, Thompson
5:26
A3 Ice Pick
Written-By – Albert Collins
3:08
A4 Cold, Cold Feeling
Written-By – J. Robinson
5:19
B1 Too Tired
Written-By – Watson, Davis, Ling
3:00
B2 Master Charge
Written-By – Gwendolyn Collins
5:12
B3 Conversation With Collins
Written-By – Collins
8:52
B4 Avalanche
Written-By – Albert Collins
2:39
Label: Alligator Records – AL 4713
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album
Country: US
Released: 1978
Genre: R&B Blues
Style: Texas Blues, Electric Blues
Released in 1978 on Alligator Records, Albert Collins’ Ice Pickin’ is a definitive, critically acclaimed masterpiece of modern electric blues that showcases his signature "icy," razor-sharp guitar tone and humorous storytelling. Featuring a tight band, it blends raw Chicago blues with funkier, uptempo Texas blues.
The album highlights Collins' unique, biting guitar style, characterized by his use of a Fender Telecaster, minor keys, and intense, stinging vibrato.
Key tracks include the humorous "Master Charge," the emotional "Cold, Cold Feeling," and the funk-infused "Honey Hush".
It was widely recognized as one of the best blues albums of the 1970s, winning the Montreaux Jazz Festival best blues album of 1978 and establishing him as a major blues star.
While hailed as a classic, some critics in retrospect note it is a very structured, studio-polished representation compared to his frenetic live performances.
Ice Pickin’ is generally considered essential listening for blues enthusiasts, perfectly capturing the "Master of the Telecaster" at a creative peak.