Ice Pickin'

Ice Pickin' is a studio album by Albert Collins, released in 1978.^[7][8] It was Collins's breakthrough album.^[4] Ice Pickin' was nominated for a 1979 Grammy Award.^[9]

Ice Pickin'
Studio album by Albert Collins
Released	1978
Recorded	By Freddie Breitberg
Studio	Curtom Studios (Chicago, Illinois)
Genre	Blues
Length	36:48
Label	Alligator ALCD 4713[1]
Producer	Bruce Iglauer, Richard McLeese & Dick Shurman
Albert Collins chronology
Alive & Cool (1972) Ice Pickin' (1978) Albert Collins and Barrelhouse live (1979)

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[2]
Christgau's Record Guide	A−[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music	[4]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings	+ “Crown”[5]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide	[6]

Production

The album was recorded at Curtom Studios, in Chicago.^[10] The Guardian wrote of Collins's guitar technique: "Collins had developed a highly distinctive approach to the guitar, tuning it to a D minor chord and using a capo high up the neck to achieve a sharp, brilliant effect, his 'ice-cold, sheet-metal sound' that was mirrored in the name of his band, The Icebreakers."^[11]

Critical reception

The Bay State Banner thought that "when Collins cooks, with fluent riffs and humorous vocals plus innovative tuning and incorporation of minor blues keys, the result is masterful."^[12] The Rolling Stone Album Guide wrote that the album "burrows down to the real nitty gritty of urban existence ... it's one of the best '70s blues albums."^[6] The Chicago Tribune called the album "a classic."^[10] The Iowa City Press-Citizen called it "a cool, invigorating blast across the era's barren blues landscape."^[13] The Dayton Daily News wrote that Collins "made several other stellar releases before his untimely demise in '93, but none match the muscle and depth of this certifiable classic."^[14]

Melody Maker deemed it the best blues album of 1978, as did the Montreaux Jazz Festival.^[15]

In addition to a four stars out of four rating, the authors of The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings awarded the album a “Crown”, indicating that they considered it to be an exceptional CD, and one that should be part of any blues collection.^[5]

Liner notes

According to the inside cover of the album:

Albert King names Collins as his favorite guitarist, and John Lee Hooker declares, "I'm an Albert Collins freak!"

Track listing

1. "Honey, Hush! (Talking Woman Blues)" (Lowell Fulson, Ferdinand Washington) - 04:28
2. "When the Welfare Turns Its Back on You" (Lucious Porter Weaver, Sonny Thompson) - 05:26
3. "Ice Pick" (Collins) - 03:08
4. "Cold, Cold Feeling" (Jessie Mae Robinson) - 05:19
5. "Too Tired" (Saul Bihari, Maxwell Davis, Johnny "Guitar" Watson) - 03:00
6. "Master Charge" (Gwen Collins) - 05:12
7. "Conversation with Collins" (Collins) - 08:52
8. "Avalanche" (Collins) - 02:39

Personnel

• Albert Collins - guitar, vocals
• Larry Burton - guitar
• Allen Batts - keyboards
• Aron Burton - bass
• Casey Jones - drums
• A.C. Reed - tenor saxophone
• Chuck Smith - baritone saxophone