Gulf Coast Records proudly announces the March 28, 2025, release of I Love Freddie King, the new album from acclaimed guitarist Popa Chubby, featuring special guests Joe Bonamassa, Christone “Kingfish” Ingram, and Mike Zito. CD pre-orders are now available at Popa Chubby’s website: https://www.popachubby.com/; digital pre-orders will be available starting January 31.
I Love Freddie King was recorded at G.B.’s Juke Joint, produced by Popa Chubby, with Mike Zito as executive producer. The album was mixed by V.D. King and mastered by David Farrell.
“To say I was dreaming about doing this record for 30 years would be an understatement,” writes Popa Chubby in the album’s liner notes. “I remember being 18, playing guitar for a year or two, and an older cat in the neighborhood telling me I had to check out Freddie King. I immediately listened to ‘Hideaway’ and ‘Have You Ever Loved a Woman,’ and my mind was changed forever. Years later, I signed with Sony Records and covered ‘Palace of the King’ and ‘Same Old Blues’ from the Getting Ready album. However, it wasn’t until early last year when the muse hit me and the idea of having some of the greatest pickers in the world join me in celebrating the Texas Cannonball.
“I started putting a list of songs together. I had to include some of the early guitar instrumental stuff, the Leon Russell-era Shelter Records material, and absolutely the Mike Vernon-era Burglar record. Freddie was a multifaceted artist who branched genres and blues, blowing the doors off anything he touched. He was pure, unmitigated soul, sweat, and muttonchops.
“I wanted more than anything to do this music justice, so I set out to put together a core band with some of the greatest players in the business: Michael Merritt on bass, Andrei Koribanics III on drums, and Mike DiMeo on keyboards.
“We gathered at G. Bluey’s Juke Joint in Long Island City for a three-day lockdown and tracked 11 of Freddie’s greatest songs. We were then graced with the love of Joe Bonamassa, Mike Zito, Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram, Eric Gales, Albert Castiglia, Arthur Neilson, and V.D. King, who all made incredible contributions to these recordings.
“Let me tell you, it’s been a journey! Halfway through these recordings, I was crippled by a rare spinal disorder that left me with a 90 percent chance of paralysis. I underwent surgery and am walking and recovering!”
Popa Chubby summed it all up by declaring: “I love Freddie King! We all love Freddie—the Texas Cannonball, the missing link between blues and rock. To quote Eric Clapton: ‘I was into white rockers mostly, then I heard Freddie King, and I knew where I belonged. I was over the moon.’ And I can say that in 1976, I was turned on to ‘Just Pickin,’ and it changed my soul forever. Cut to 2024: I tell Zito I want to do a Freddie tribute record—can you help me round up some guests? ‘Gimme a wish list,’ says Zito, and we got to work. The result is a spectacular offering that revisits every phase of Freddie’s vast repertoire with some of my favorite musicians. And yes, we all love Freddie King.”
MUSICIANS:
Popa Chubby – Guitars and vocals
Mike Merritt – Bass
Andrei Koribanics III – Drums
Mike DiMeo – Keyboards
Harold Horowitz – Trumpet
Curtis Hotgrefe – Tenor and baritone saxophones
Band vocals – Eliza Neals (appearing courtesy of E.H. Records)
Tracklist
I’m Going Down (featuring Joe Bonamassa)
Love Her with a Feeling (featuring Albert Castiglia)
My Credit Didn’t Go Through (featuring Eric Gales)
Big Legged Woman (featuring Christone ‘Kingfish’ Ingram)
She’s a Burglar (featuring Mike Zito)
Hideaway (featuring Arthur Neilson)
The Stumble (featuring Albert Castiglia)
San Ho Zay (featuring Arthur Neilson)
Pack It Up with Popa Chubby and The Beast Band
Heads Up (featuring Arthur Neilson)
Same Old Blues (featuring V.D. King)
