Gangster of Love
by Bill DahlThe innovative guitar wizard when he was young and wearing his Texas blues roots prominently on his sleeve. Watson spent two stints at King/Federal, both of them sampled here: his 1953-54 output includes the incomparable "Space Guitar," and a sizzling "Half Pint of Whiskey," and a woozy "Gettin' Drunk." The 1961-63 King stuff is headed by the definitive version of "Gangster of Love," the searing soul-tinged "Cuttin' In," and a chunky "Broke and Lonely."