King Guitar - Al Caiola

 

Sleep Walk

King Guitar

Al Caiola

Performed by Al Caiola and Al Caiola, Jr.

Produced by Al Caiola

Mixing Engineer: Brooks Arthur

United Artists Records UAS 6586

1967

From the back cover: Pop guitarists may come and may go, but amiable Al Caiola is the reigning monarch of them all. He has been elevated to this august position by both fans and the musicians themselves, and, as a matter of fact, ever since the "guitar explosion" of several years ago, the gifted Caiola has been able to count an ever-growing number of swinging youngsters among his legion of devotees. That is why he is often called "King Guitar". That is why this album is called "King Guitar".

The Caiola artistry with a lovely ballad has never been more in evidence than here with his treatments of "A Man And A Woman", "This Is My Song" and "Lady". Then Al reverses his field and his feeling and gets with today's contemporary sounds via low-down and gutsy versions of later-day smashes like "Detroit City" and "Kansas City", plus "Somethin' Stupid", in which he plays a guitar duo with a young comer named Al Caiola Jr. If further proof of our boy's versatility is needed, it has been promptly supplied by "Front A Palacio", a tremendous hit from Spain, that has been made into a Top Ten contender by King Guitar's instrumental magic. Add "For A Few Dollars More", a movie theme done in the tradition of his memorable "The Magnificent Seven" success, "Tiny Bubbles", handled with an entirely new, and exciting conception, "Sleep Walk", a dazzling exhibition of the Caiola mastery of his instrument, and the brand-new "Stag Or Drag", an ear-arresting sound with a great dance beat, and man, you've got a guitar album with goodies for everybody. And, of course, Al doesn't do it all alone. For support, he's got many of the top hit making sidemen in the nation wailing behind him.

From Billboard - August 12, 1967: This album moves musically and should move commercially. Caiola's styling, mostly on pop hits, produces sound with such numbers as "Sleep Walk" taking on a new dimension. His is joined by his son Al Caiola, Jr., for a swingin' "Somethin' Stupid" that's tops. Other gems include "A Man And A Woman" and "Kansas City."

Detroit City - Arranged by Bert DeCoteaux

This Is My Song - Arranged by Al Caiola

Frente A Palacio - Arranged by Bert DeCoteaux

Somethin' Stupid - Arranged by Al Caiola

Kansas City - Arranged by Bert DeCoteaux

For A Few Dollars More - Arranged by Bert DeCoteaux

Tiny Bubbles - Arranged by Bert DeCoteaux

A Man And A Woman - Arranged by Al Caiola

Sleep Walk - Arranged by Al Caiola

Lady - Arranged by Al Caiola

Stag Or Drag - Arranged by Al Caiola