Frosty
Albert Collins, 1962, from Frosty (single). Solo by Albert Collins.
Collins' icy Telecaster attack, played with bare fingers in a minor tuning, gives this Texas instrumental its cutting edge.
Frosty earns its name the moment Albert Collins hits the first note. Playing a Fender Telecaster with bare fingers in a minor tuning, he snaps the strings rather than picking them, producing a bright, percussive attack that cuts like cold air. The tune is a loose Texas instrumental groove, and Collins uses it as a showcase, firing off short, stabbing phrases and high, piercing bends that leave plenty of space for the band. His approach proved that a Telecaster could sound fierce in the blues, and it shaped players who wanted bite without heavy distortion. Listen for the sharp pop at the start of each note, the sound of skin on steel, which gives his phrasing its crackle.
Frosty by Albert Collins is featured in our Blues (#14) list. The solo is played by Albert Collins and the song was released in 1962.
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Who played the guitar solo on Frosty?
Albert Collins played the solo on Albert Collins's Frosty (1962).
What guitar was used on the Frosty solo?
A fender telecaster, according to widely reported accounts.