Albert King never got the mass recognition he deserved. He always seemed to be in the shadow of another King. But among Blues guitarists and fans of the craft, he was a master. Austin, Texas’ Stevie Ray Vaughan, 31 years King’s junior, exploded onto the national scene in 1983, first as guitarist on David Bowie’s “Let’s Dance,” followed by his own smash hit “Pride and Joy.”

When the two met onstage at Antone’s in 1973, they formed an ongoing friendship. This bond culminated with the December 1983 live recording titled In Session, originally produced for the Canadian TV concert series of the same name. The recording, originally issued on Stax Records, reached No. 1 on Billboard’s Blues album chart, selling more than 300,000 units.

On June 30, Stax Records — the imprint upon which King made his most legendary recordings in the 1960s and ’70s — will reissue In Session with digital remastering and three sets of liner notes by Fantasy and Stax Records’ Bill Belmont, and journalists Lee Hildebrand and Dan Forte.

The two were flanked by the solid rhythm section of Tony Llorens on organ and piano, his brother Michael on drums, and bassist Gus Thornton — the same outfit that accompanied King on his two post-Stax Fantasy albums — San Francisco ’83 and I’m in a Phone Booth Baby.

And with the exception of “Pride and Joy,” Vaughan’s only vocal on the session, all of the tunes are from King’s concert repertoire. Included are “Call It Stormy Monday” (the signature song of T-Bone Walker, who hailed from Dallas’ Oak Cliff section in which Vaughan was born and raised years later), “Match Box Blues,” “Blues at Sunrise,” “Don’t Lie to Me,” “Turn it Over,” “Ask Me No Questions,” and the instrumental “Overall Junction.”

King continued to record and tour until his death from a massive heart attack in Memphis in 1992. He was 69 and enjoyed a full life in the Blues. Vaughan wasn’t so fortunate. At the height of his career on August 27, 1990, he was killed in a helicopter crash at Alpine Valley, Wisconsin. He was 35. In Session stands as their only known recording together.

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Tony Houston

Very nice, I love that album!!

Do you know when it is going to be re-released?

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It's a mix between Jazz and Funk, it's called "Junk"

June 30

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Tony Houston

Yes! I found In Session on youtube, and that was the first time I ever heard Albert King play. Is this a CD or a DVD that they're releasing? Hopefully it's both?

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No, just the CD. Originally, In Session was broadcast on Canadian public TV, I have a copy, and check eBay for copies.

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Tony Houston