★ ★ ★ ★ ☆
The legend adds his guitar chops to some blues standards, adding in some soul and funk to the mix. One surprising track is "The Very Thought Of You," which finds King crooning smoothly rather than moaning the blues while shredding. "The Hunter" is a rather awkward metaphor in which Kind sets his sights on women with his "love gun." This album probably doesn't hit as hard now in 2021 as it did when it came out, but it remains, I think, the epitome of blues guitar, with King's unusual, sharp guitar work front and center. Truly the King is well-named. Favorite tracks: "Crosscut Saw," "Kansas City," "Born Under a Bad Sign," "I Almost Lost My Mind."
