Guitar Tricks Insider Dec/Jan | Page 7

ESSENTIAL ALBUMS 1 2 3 ED KING co-wrote two indelible rock classics. As a founding member of Strawberry Alarm Clock, he helped pen “Incense and Peppermints.” There was a time when a song like this could top the Billboard charts and this one did. While King’s other major contributions never reached that same level of success, they always come near the top of any list of rock’s greatest songs. Let’s face it, who wouldn’t pick “Sweet Home Alabama”? Ed was with the band for their first three albums, left in 1975, and later played with the reunited Lynyrd Skynyrd in 1987. He wrote that Stratocaster riff we all play at the opening of “Sweet Home Alabama” and it’s his voice that counts us into the song. We asked Ed King to give us 5 Essential Albums that guitarists should own. And here they are: 1. Fresh Cream, by Cream 2. Layla, by Derek & the Dominoes 3. Allman Brothers Live at the Fillmore, Lynyrd Skynyrd’s Ed King. Photo by Dave Plastik by The Allman Brothers Band 4. Who’s Next, by The Who 5. In Flight, by George Benson 4 DEC/JAN 5 DIGITAL EDITION 7