When he passed away back in May, the great Riley B. King – later the “Beale Street Blues Boy” and finally just “B.B.” – left a void as the King of the Blues that can never be filled.
At the top of his game for over 60 years, this Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Famer (inducted in 1987) left behind a musical legacy unparalleled in the genre, a legacy that is celebrated here.
As well as the two LPs made up of 17 tracks, this beautiful to look at package includes a 72 page hardback book, featuring contributions from renowned music writers Ashley Kahn and Dick Shurman.
I was lucky to see B.B. live on two occasions, both of them at London’s Royal Albert Hall, and it was an experience I’ll always cherish. Anyway, to the songs and there are certainly some crackers here.
Opening number “How Blue Can You Get,” the single version from 1964, is one of them, providing an immediate showcase for B.B.’s powerful voice and unique guitar playing. Indeed, one could never mistake the sound of “Lucille” for anyone else.
The first uptempo song is “Think It Over” and it leads nicely into B.B.’s biggest hit 1970’s “The Thrill Is Gone,” one of his most satisfying musical moments, where the strings combine exquisitely with his effortlessly soulful vocals and enchantingly shimmering guitar.
B.B. King was known for his non-stop touring and had no trouble selling out venues all over the world. His prowess as a live performer is represented on the first disc by “Worry Worry Worry,” recorded live at Cook County Jail in Illinois in 1970 and then by “Sweet Sixteen,” from a gig a year later at Sankei Hall in Tokyo, Japan. Needless to say, both are outstanding.
“There Must be a Better World Somewhere” is the first song on the second LP and it’s another reminder of why this man’s talent has been revered for so long. “When Love Comes to Town,” B.B.’s celebrated 1988 duet with U2, is possibly my favourite of all his tunes – and that’s saying something.
Other highlights among the nine tracks – none of which is sub-standard – on the second LP are “Blues Man,” “You Have a Way,” “Get These Blues Off Me” and “Key to the Highway,” the only live offering on disc two – this time coming to us from the B.B. King Blues Club.
For those wanting to remember the gift this much-missed music legend shared with the world, this is an essential and thankfully not overly-long compilation, unlike the mammoth 10 CD set that came out in 2012.
If you’re also one of the ever-growing disciples of vinyl and are looking to start your collection, then you can’t go far wrong with this.
Ladies and Gentlemen… Mr. B.B. King will be available to own on vinyl from November 6.
For more information on B.B. King, visit his official website.
