There are several “Kings of the Blues” including B.B., Albert, Earl and Saunders. However, the “King of the Blues Strings” was clearly “The Texas Cannonball,” Freddie King (whose name was spelled “Freddy” in this reissue series). He was a major influence on Eric Clapton and the Vaughn brothers, and the quality of his early 1960s catalog was such that Volume Three of his Federal Records’ hits is just as enjoyable as Volume One. It’s a generous 27-song set dominated by instrumentals, all of are inventive and none are repetitious. King, who died in 1976, played with picks on his fingers and thumbs. That allowed him to play rhythm and lead at the same time, and his tone and technique was unsurpassed. Check out “Man Hole,” “Remington Ride,” “Funny Bone” and “Surf Monkey to hear a guitar player’s guitar player. His vocals are no less satisfying, and “Full Time Love” and “Use What You Got” are two of his best. There’s a solid New Orleans connection here, too. King used New Orleans as a base when he first hit the charts in 1961 for a couple of months, and he covered two Tommy Ridgley numbers, “The Girl From Kookamonga” and “Double-Eyed Whammy.” Mandatory listening if you’re a blues guitarist or in the groove, baby.