Blues, Swagger, and Fire: Freddie King’s Complete 1975 Nancy Jazz Pulsations Concerts

Blues, Swagger, and Fire: Freddie King’s Complete 1975 Nancy Jazz Pulsations Concerts

​Arriving April 18, 2026 as a Record Store Day exclusive 3-LP set from Elemental Music — with CD and digital editions following April 24
the release presents the complete concert drawn from the original ORTF recordings and meticulously restored for this edition.
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​In October 1975, Freddie King stepped onto the stage at France’s Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival deep into the final chapter of his life. Less than a year later, the “Texas Cannonball” would be gone at just 42. Nearly five decades on, Feeling Alright: The Complete 1975 Nancy Jazz Pulsations Concerts captures that historic performance in full for the very first time.

The Nancy performance finds King at a powerful crossroads. By 1975, he had long moved beyond his early instrumental hits like “Hide Away” and “Sen-Sa-Shun,” evolving into a commanding blues-rock force capable of filling major festival stages across Europe and the United States. His sound — forged in Texas and sharpened in Chicago — now bridged raw blues tradition with amplified, arena-ready swagger.

Across sixteen expansive performances, King moves effortlessly between deep blues workouts and crossover material that had become staples of his mid-’70s shows. “Sen-Sa-Shun” grooves alongside Magic Sam’s “Lookin’ Good.” “Have You Ever Loved a Woman” flows seamlessly into B.B. King’s “Whole Lot of Lovin’.” Classics including “Sweet Little Angel,” “Got My Mojo Working,” “The Things I Used to Do,” “Sweet Home Chicago,” “Messin’ with the Kid,” “Danger Zone,” and “Stormy Monday” share space with Dave Mason’s “Feelin’ Alright” and Don Nix’s “Goin’ Down” — reflecting an artist expanding his reach without ever abandoning his roots.

Backing King was a road-tested band in peak form: Alvin Hemphill (organ), Ed Lively (guitar), Lewis Stephens (piano), Benny Turner (bass), and Calep Emphrey (drums). By the time they arrived in France, their chemistry was undeniable. Stephens recalls the European run as a “blistering” five- or six-week stretch through France, noting that “Freddie had truly hit his stride as a blues-rock star in Europe and the U.S.”

Produced in cooperation with the Freddie King Estate by acclaimed archival producer Zev Feldman, the release shines new light on a defining moment in King’s legacy. Feldman states: “Freddie King is and remains a king indeed — a defining figure in blues and rock guitar. These recordings capture a moment when he was transcending audiences and influencing players around the world. It’s also been deeply meaningful to work with his daughter, Wanda King, as we set out not only to release this music, but to celebrate Freddie’s legacy and the impact he made. These performances present him at his very best — and they’re thrilling to hear.”

Newly commissioned liner notes by veteran journalist and blues historian Cary Baker contextualize the concert within the final, defining chapter of King’s career, highlighting the urgency and authority that marked his last great international run. The package also includes reflections from King’s daughter and estate administrator Wanda King, along with an appreciation from ZZ Top’s Billy F. Gibbons, who writes, “At this show in Nancy — just a year before his untimely departure — the Texas Cannonball poured it on in a big way.”
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Feeling Alright documents an artist who had nothing left to prove — yet continued to push forward with undiminished fire. Nearly fifty years later, the Nancy performance stands as a vivid reminder of Freddie King’s commanding presence and enduring influence, whether in a South Side blues club or before thousands on an international festival stage.

Tracklist:
Side A
1. HAVE YOU EVER LOVED A WOMAN 17:44
2. WHOLE LOT OF LOVIN’ 6:40
Side B
1. MEDLEY: HEY BABY / MOJO BOOGIE 10:06
2. THE THINGS I USED TO DO 7:49
Side C
1. MESSIN’ WITH THE KID 5:29
2. THAT’S ALL RIGHT 6:31
3. GOING DOWN 4:14
4. STORMY MONDAY BLUES 8:14
Side D
1. MEDLEY: SEN-SA-SHUN / LOOKING GOOD / BOOGIE CHILLIN’ 9:15
2. SWEET LITTLE ANGEL 11:31
Side E
1. GOT MY MOJO WORKING 8:35
2. SWEET HOME CHICAGO 5:21
3. SWEET BABY BLUES 5:58
Side F
1. THE DANGER ZONE 3:08
2. FEELING ALRIGHT 6:32
3. YOU’RE THE ONE / FINALE 9:16

Recorded October 10, 1975 during the Nancy Jazz Pulsations Festival in Nancy, France.

Personnel:
Freddie King – guitar & vocals
Alvin Hemphill – organ
Ed Lively – guitar
Lewis Stephens – piano
Benny Turner – bass
Calep Emphrey – drums
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Produced for release by ZEV FELDMAN.
Executive Producers: JORDI SOLEY and CARLOS AGUSTÍN CALEMBERT.
Associate Producers: LINDSAY FITZGERALD and WANDA KING.
LP mastering by MATTHEW LUTTHANS at The Mastering Lab.
Transferred from the original INA tape reels.


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