"The Stumble" is a blues guitar instrumental composed and recorded by American blues artist Freddie King, for his 1961 album Let's Hide Away and Dance Away with Freddy King.[1] It is considered a blues classic and follows in a string of popular instrumentals recorded by King in the early 1960s, including "Hide Away", "San-Ho-Zay", and "Sen-Sa-Shun". [2]
| "The Stumble" | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Single by Freddie King | |
| from the album Let's Hide Away and Dance Away with Freddy King | |
| B-side | "Takin' Care of Business" |
| Released | 1962 |
| Recorded | 1961 |
| Genre | Blues |
| Length | 3:15 |
| Label | Federal |
| Songwriter(s) | Freddie King, Sonny Thompson |
King uses a melodic guitar line and a chord progression that differs somewhat from that of the typical I–IV–V 12-bar format, such as starting on the IV (or subdominant) chord and a vi–ii–V–I turnaround.[3] In comparison to the more widely-known "Hide Away", music writer Dave Ruben describes it as "a virtuosic recording, with only [King's] 'Remington Ride' hot on its tail in the chops-required department".[4] "The Stumble", along with several other of King's most well-known instrumentals, is included on Rhino Entertainment's Hide Away: The Best of Freddy King (1993).[5]
As perhaps King's second most popular instrumental,[4] "The Stumble" has been recorded by many artists.[6] Rubin notes recordings by:[4]
- Jeff Beck with the Yardbirds (1965, Glimpses 1963–1968)
- Peter Green with John Mayall and the Bluesbreakers (1967, A Hard Road)
- Dave Edmunds with Love Sculpture (1968, Blues Helping)
- Bugs Henderson (1998, Heartbroke Again)
References
edit- ^ Dahl, Bill. "Let's Hide Away and Dance Away with Freddy King – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved May 26, 2021.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas; Koda, Cub (1996). "Freddie King". In Erlewine, Michael (ed.). All Music Guide to the Blues. San Francisco: Miller Freeman Books. p. 152. ISBN 0-87930-424-3.
- ^ Backer, Matt (2002). "The Guitar". In Moore, Allan (ed.). Blues and Gospel Music (eBook ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-80635-6.
- ^ a b c Rubin, Dave (2016). Play Like Freddie King (eBook ed.). Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Hal Leonard. ISBN 978-1-4950-0875-7.
- ^ Wynn, Ron. "Hide Away: The Best of Freddy King – Review". AllMusic. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
- ^ "'The Stumble' – Also Performed By". AllMusic. Retrieved June 7, 2023.
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