"Born Under a Bad Sign" is both the title track and centerpiece of Albert King’s seminal 1967 album, released by Stax Records. Written by William Bell (lyrics) and Booker T. Jones (music), the song and album are widely recognized as transformative works in electric blues, bridging classic blues with soul, R&B, and rock influences123.
Song and Lyrics
The song’s lyrics are a modern take on the classic hard-luck blues theme, with an astrological twist that resonated with the late 1960s zeitgeist24:
"Born under a bad sign,
Been down since I began to crawl.
If it wasn't for bad luck,
I wouldn't have no luck at all."
The verses recount a life filled with misfortune, wine, and women, echoing earlier blues standards but with a contemporary, soulful edge. The chorus’s line, "If it wasn't for bad luck, I wouldn't have no luck at all," has become one of the most quoted in blues history25.
Musical Style and Innovation
- Arrangement: The song is built around a distinctive, syncopated bass and guitar riff crafted by Booker T. Jones, with King’s signature guitar fills and solos woven throughout65.
- Structure: Unusually, the song uses a ten-bar blues progression rather than the standard twelve-bar, giving it a unique rhythmic feel12.
- Performance: King’s powerful, expressive vocals and his unorthodox left-handed guitar technique—playing a right-handed Gibson Flying V upside down and not restringing it—produced a sharp, bending sound that became his hallmark1.
- Backing Band: The track features Stax’s house bands, Booker T. & the M.G.'s and the Memphis Horns, providing a tight, soulful backdrop16.
Impact and Legacy
- Crossover Appeal: "Born Under a Bad Sign" had strong crossover appeal, attracting blues, soul, and rock audiences. It became a blues standard and was quickly covered by major acts, most notably Cream on their 1968 album Wheels of Fire, helping to introduce King to a new, largely white rock audience257.
- Influence: The song and album influenced generations of guitarists, including Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, and Mike Bloomfield, many of whom studied King’s phrasing and covered his songs15.
- Recognition: The song and album have been inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame, the Grammy Hall of Fame, and the National Recording Registry, and are cited as among the greatest blues recordings ever made13.
- Cultural Significance: "Born Under a Bad Sign" is included in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll" and is widely considered a monument of modern blues21.
Key Facts Table
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Artist | Albert King |
| Songwriters | William Bell (lyrics), Booker T. Jones (music) |
| Album | Born Under a Bad Sign (1967) |
| Genre | Electric blues, soul blues |
| Notable Features | Ten-bar blues, iconic riff, left-handed guitar technique |
| Chart Performance | #49 R&B (1967) |
| Legacy | Blues standard, covered by Cream, inducted into multiple halls of fame |
Summary
"Born Under a Bad Sign" is a cornerstone of modern blues, blending classic themes of hard luck and struggle with a funky, soulful sound and innovative guitar work. Albert King’s performance, combined with Stax’s stellar musicianship and the song’s memorable riff and lyrics, helped redefine blues for a new era and inspired countless musicians across genres125.
