Saturday, February 21, 2026

 ALBUMS THAT DESERVE ANOTHER LISTEN

Albert Collins - Trash Talkin' (1969)


01. Harris County Line-Up (2:17)
02. Conversation With Collins (5:21)
03. Jawing (2:11)
04. Grapeland Gossip (2:48)
05. Chatterbox (2:24)
06. Trash Talkin' (4:03)
07. Medley: Baby What You Want Me To Do - Rock Me Baby (4:01)
08. Lip Service (3:15)
09. Talking Slim Blues (3:24)
10. Back-Yard Back-Talk (2:50)
11. Tongue Lashing (2:49)
12. And Then It Started Raining (2:42)

After seeing Albert Collins playing at the Ponderosa Club in Houston in June 1968, Canned Heat singer Bob Hite recommended Albert to Imperial Records, which was affiliated with Liberty/USA.

Between the years 1968-1970 Albert Collins recorded three albums for the Imperial label, which helped bring him from relative obscurity in the Texas club scene to national recognition with blues and rock audiences.

Of the three Imperial albums my favorite is Trash Talkin', which was recorded in Nashville in July 1969. The session was produced by Bill Hall and the backing musicians consisted of a Nashville-based lineup which included James Hooker Brown on organ, Charles Freeman on guitar, Tommy McClure on bass, Robert "Trap" Tarrant on drums, along with a horn section of session players.

The album was released by Imperial in the US in 1969, and in the UK on Liberty in 1970. 

I bought the UK Liberty release of Trash Talkin' from 78 Records in Perth sometime in the early 1970s. At that time I was an art student, living at home with my folks, and Trash Talkin' was frequently on the turntable while I worked on my art assignments at the dining-room table. My mum was often nearby, either ironing clothes or pottering about in the kitchen, so she got to hear a whole heap of blues music too. Nonetheless I was startled when one afternoon she made a request for Conversation With Collins, "I like that song you play when the wives go out for the night and the husbands stay home and babysit. Put that one on."

So let's do just that, as Trash Talkin' sure deserves another listen.

https://pixeldrain.com/u/CtLkrHuu

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24 comments:

  1. Crab DevilFebruary 21, 2026 at 11:17 AM

    I like Albert Collins a lot, and I'm already familiar with "Trash Talkin'." Even so, I'm glad you've chosen to feature it -- and, besides, that little anecdote about your mum is charming!

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    1. Bob MacFebruary 22, 2026 at 12:07 PM

      Cheers Crab Devil, always nice to hear from you.

      Delete
  2. T.G.February 21, 2026 at 5:33 PM

    Thanks a lot!

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  3. Roy WoodcockFebruary 21, 2026 at 7:47 PM

    Nice story. I also bought the album on UK Liberty at the same time in deepest rural Cambridgeshire. Great times - blues legends still touring the UK

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    1. Bob MacFebruary 22, 2026 at 12:09 PM

      Hi Roy, yes I had some friends who were in UK during the 70s, they saw some true great blues artists live in various clubs and places.

      Delete
  4. soulpapaFebruary 21, 2026 at 9:32 PM

    I never heard about this release and don't understand how I missed it as I have the others. Anyway, it's much appreciated of course. Thank you!

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    1. Bob MacFebruary 22, 2026 at 12:11 PM

      Hi soulpapa, yes Albert's Imperial recordings are largely forgotten these days as most people are more familiar with his Alligator albums. Anyway, glad I've filled a gap in your collection.

      Delete
  5. JakeBluesFebruary 21, 2026 at 10:11 PM

    Great recommendation and an interesting story about your mum

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  6. imnokidFebruary 22, 2026 at 3:18 AM

    Bob, It's been a while since I stopped by. Time is limited these days. Anyway, what a surprise to see Trash Talkin here. Thanx for the gift!

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    Replies
    1. Bob MacFebruary 22, 2026 at 12:13 PM

      Hi imnokid, good to see you here again, I have some more Aussie Blues lined up, so drop by often to see what's been put up.

      Delete
  7. reb.jukeboxFebruary 22, 2026 at 2:46 PM

    Thanks Bob, didn't have a copy of this, hope you're well

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  8. Persistente ConchaFebruary 22, 2026 at 4:08 PM

    Thanks so much, Bob, for reminding me about the recording (I have it now) and I love your mother's anecdote!

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    1. Bob MacFebruary 22, 2026 at 4:27 PM

      Glad you enjoyed the record and my anecdotes, cheers Concha!

      Delete
  9. XyrosFebruary 22, 2026 at 6:46 PM

    A great LP along with his other Imperial releases. Your mum had good taste, are there another songs she liked to hear in the background?

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    1. Bob MacFebruary 23, 2026 at 9:55 AM

      Hi Xyros, good question I'm trying to remember some tracks she commented on. One was the live Canned Heat boogie, that boogie beat got her toes tapping. And some of the R&B/Jump Blues was similar to the big band swing music that was popular when she was in her teens.

      Delete
  10. Monsieur JujubeFebruary 23, 2026 at 4:40 AM

    Thank you Bob!

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  11. Monsieur JujubeFebruary 23, 2026 at 4:41 AM

    And thanks for the picture of Albert Collins, probably a picture during his time with Alligator?

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    Replies
    1. Bob MacFebruary 23, 2026 at 6:57 AM

      Yes I guess so, I found the pic online and it didn't have a date. It is a nice photo.

      Delete
  12. FranciscoFebruary 26, 2026 at 9:23 PM

    This is great, it´s one of very much album of Collins that I haven´t. Thanks

    ReplyDelete

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