| Ice Pickin' | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| 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 | ||||
| ||||
| 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”[7] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [5] |
| DownBeat | [6] |
Ice Pickin' is a studio album by Albert Collins, released in 1978.[8][9] It was Collins's breakthrough album.[4] Ice Pickin' was nominated for a 1979 Grammy Award.[10]
The album was recorded at Curtom Studios, in Chicago.[11] 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."[12]
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."[13] 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."[5] The Chicago Tribune called the album "a classic."[11] The Iowa City Press-Citizen called it "a cool, invigorating blast across the era's barren blues landscape."[14] 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."[15]
Melody Maker deemed it the best blues album of 1978, as did the Montreaux Jazz Festival.[16]
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.[7]
DownBeat gave the album 4.5 stars.[6] Reviewer Ben Sandmel wrote, "Ice Pickin’ is definitely Collins’ best album to date, putting across his power and charisma without a hint of his repetition. Albert’s vocals and guitar are both very strong, and he’s consistently pushed by a band that plays everything with skill and feeling . . . Collins is backed here by some of Chicago’s best blues players, most of whom now join him on tour.".[6]
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!"
