B.B. King

What a wonderful late career tour d'force. So good to hear the King on songs he hasn't recorded before, supported by world beating production from T Bone Burnett and magnificent players like Dr John and Jim Kelter. Nathan East's acoustic bass is a special stand out.
This record is just a gem, the warmth of tone, understated playing and love of blues oozes out of every track.
If you love the blues, you'll loves this. Buy it, play it, recommend it.

83 years old! 83 years old for God's sake, and he's still not only putting out albums, but damn good albums!! BB King's new album is a wonderful experience. He plays covers of classic blues tunes in his own special way, and sounds as fresh as he ever did. I had read that in the studio the aim was to sound like his older 50s recordings, and this was achieved for sure. I still just get constantly amazed when I think of King's age and track record. You think 50 Cent or the friggin' Jonas Brothers are gonna be recording albums at 83?
Not much else I can say about BB King here except that the album is great(as to be expected anyway), and it's more than worth the purchase. If King still sounds this invigorating I can only hope he's got at least two more albums left in him!

Amazing he can still sing this way at his age.
Best stuff in years.

As a Blues fan this album is a big favor for me. I like better B.B. King of the old times. But this new cd is something else. Like his early days, B.B. King is focused on creativity in singing as well as playing the guitar.

There are those Blues Ballads only B.B. King can make the justice with: "Get These Blues Off Me", "My Love Is Down", "Waiting For Your Call".

Some songs are in style B.B. King didn't do so far. "Tommorow Night" , a sweet Ballad B.B. challenges himself it is a bit outside most of his repertoire over the years, "How Many More Years" the rough Chicago Blues, both are dealt well in his hands.

My 3 favorite were "I Get So Weary", because the power singing, "The World Gone Wrong", because this old melody was revived so beautifully in the hands of B.B. King, and "Backwater Blues" for the guitar on this slow Blues.

Memphis, TN lays claim to two Kings and one still rules with his Queen, Lucille, by his side. BB King hardly sounds like he's over 80 in this collection of blues standards. You've heard this music before and you'll hear it again, but mark my words you will remember these versions of the songs.

Other reviewers have said it better. I'm just contributing to this product's star rating, but I will say honestly. You are doing yourself a good dozen kind favors when you buy this CD.

BB, may you reign long and prosper.

Rebecca Kyle, October 2008

This is not a serious BLUES ALBUM. It is fun to listen to......but I exspected a much more serious SONG SELECTION for these 2 great singers. The "TITLE SONG", is some-what of a joke song. The song "DAY's OF OLD", just doesn't sound like blues. And "I WANNA BE", sounds almost like a rock ANTHEM. The rest is really good, but at 12 songs it's rather short. I would suggest, since BB KING is 82 yrs. old, that these guys get back together and make a serious sounding......DEEP.....blues album ( OLD GRITTY, RAW BLUES SONGS ). BB ain't going to be around forever ( THOUGH HE SINGS LIKE IT ), so hurry up...CLAPTON.

It was good to hear these two together,both admirable in their own styles.
Particulary fond of BB's penny arcade,its so relatable.Sounds like they had a good time recording it.

Not completely a crossover album, since Clapton is almost as closely associated with the blues as is King. But the age difference, difference in era, styles and voice types makes this a unique project.

Most interestingly is the heavy, "opinionated" musical styles of both artists. At times, there is an ungraceful colliding of voices as beef smacks up against beef. But instead of being uncomfortable and strange, it's like a couple of blues masters jamming together.

It's the guitarists who will likely find this album most interesting. The combination of steel & acoustic styles and sounds blend into a sweet sound, requiring only a snare drum and organ (Key to the Highway) to make it the perfect accompaniment to the soulful voices. It's almost like master and star student are performing together. They seem to work together as one, yet each incorporating their distinct ideas into the album.

This is the third modern Clapton cd I purchased within a short time. I particularly love the first five tracks on this disc, with the opening title track, Key to the Highway and Three O' Clock Blues being my favorites. The rest of the cd isn't bad, but for me, the first half of the disc is so strong, that I rarely make it to the end. That's the biggest problem I have with this cd and it's really not a problem at all.

Great compilation of relaxing blues toons. Unfortunately relaxing is all you'll get here. I would have enjoyed it a little more if it had included a couple of toons that had made me want to get up and move a little though.

I lived the 90's, this is the BEST and FEW ( IF any ), albums made that a FAMILY ( kids and adults ) could listen to. This is the best album of the 90's. BB KING is 10 times better now then in the 50's. And the work he is putting out is 10 times better then any-band on earth. WHY, don't no. The man tries. Other bands and singers......just don't care. You don't have to like BLUES, to love this album. THAT's BB KING's SECRET.

You like Blues? You like B.B. King? You like Slow Hand Clapton? You will love Ridin with the King! Foot stomping, finger tappin and you will feel like dancin!

What can you say,its BB King! Lots of great instrumentals and the songs just keep coming. Not a bad track in the bunch, no disappointment here.

I just checked out this release from the library yesterday and was totally surprised at how good it is and will order a copy of my own through Amazon.I like the "live in the studio" feel.Its also a great practicing tool for any pickers out there to work on your "in the style of BB King" licks.Heck,I was plugged halfway through the first song,the beautiful minor key "Blues Boys Tune".Inspiring stuff and a solid cd.Thanks,Blues Boy!

I've always liked B.B. King's music ever since I was a kid when I'd catch him on TV periodically. He just seemed genuine in his playing and the style and sound was something that appealed to me personally. So I started to collect some of his music in the late 70's after I got out of college.

Then I had the privilege of seeing him perform "live" twice in the mid 90's while I lived in Spokane, WA. His love of the music and his joy in bringing it to you was palpable. The thrill was definitely not gone for Riley B. King.

So I started to revisit his catalog and I came across Blues On The Bayou. The reviews were sterling across the board, but what attracted me to this particular disc out of all 15 or so that I have was that he used his ROAD BAND in the studio. For many artists, this is not standard practice. They use producer chosen studio folks for their recording sessions. This is one reason that mainstream music coming out of Nashville has that "sameness" to it - it's all the same guys playing in different configurations behind a variety of artists. The music might as well come off the end of a conveyor belt coming out of a factory for all the originality it displays.

Well, not in this case. First thing they did here was use a little recording studio somewhat off the beaten track. This is good strategy because it eliminates the distractions over the course of the days given over to recording. There's just pretty much you and the music and so you can get deeper into it as you attempt to find the best sounds in recording it. In the case of this disc, it paid off in spades.

The choice of songs fits the title and the musicianship is top notch across the board. If you like lively, smooth sounding blues, you can't go wrong here. Sample the various tunes and I dare you to tell me I'm wrong....

This is a super album. We enjoyed every song on the album. It would be great to give as gift. I rate the album a five.

In classic B.B. King style this is soulful and a pleasure to listen to. A welcome relief from the same old songs you hear on the radio around Christmas. Treat yourself and anyone else you know while you're at it :)

I pick this up the day before Christmas because I had gotten sick of "standard" Christmas music. I really enjoyed BB (as I usually do) and I liked the selections. My wife is not a big blues fan but even she remarked about how much she enjoy this set. This was definitely worth buying!

This CD has a very warm sound throughout. You can't go wrong riding with The King this holiday season.

Well produced, with BB sounding like he is enjoying himself. "Back Door Santa" similar to Johnny Winter's "Back Door Friend" in its meaning.

From one of the most renonwned blues legends ever, this album of his greatest hits is awesome. If you love guitar, and blues then check this album out.

B.B. King is the most influential blues guitarist of all time. B.B. is the real deal for so many reasons, and this greatest hits complination is the very best. The first two tracks are taken from Live At Regal one of the best live B.B. King recordings including Every Day I Have The Blues, and Sweet Little Angel. Some other known tracks for the early listner are The Thrill Is Gone, and Hummingbird those are both two tracks that really stand out. Their is a track called Playin' With My Friends (with robert cray), and When Love Comes To Town(with U2). I highly encourage anybody to try this bb. king's greatest hits complination. I also would highly recomend Live At The Regal!

Later in life I`ve discovered the power and energy of B.B.King, and amazed I`ve become his fan. This is a good sample of his style and tempo, and no matter he gets old, his quality remains intact.

This certainly isn't everything you could ever want from the Beale Street Blues Boy, but it does give the first-time listener a pretty accurate idea about what to expect from B.B. King. For better or worse.

His excellent and highly influential 50s singles are missing, which is a shame, especially since some of those were actually sizable hits and this compilation has the audacity to call itself "Greatest Hits".
There are lot of great moments here anyway, like the swinging "Paying The Cost To Be The Boss", the epic "Why I Sing The Blues", and the slow burner "How Blue Can You Get" among them, and they sit next to two cuts from King's highly succesful "Live At The Regal" album, an excellent "Sweet Little Angel" and a hideous "Every Day I Have The Blues" which falls miles short of Memphis Slim's potent original ("Nobody Loves Me").

And there are just too many mediocrities on this album. B.B. King experimented with some sort of pop-blues fusion in the 70s and 80s, and the compilers have included "To Know You Is to Love You", "I Like To Live The Love" and "Hummingbird" from that unfortunate era. The duets with Robert Cray on "Playin' With My Friends" and rock group U2 on "When Love Comes To Town" are not much more uplifting, and too much of this material was recorded well after King's prime.

If you like B.B. King at his most pop-friendly, you will probably enjoy this compilation. If you like him at his grittiest, you will certainly be disappointed. May I suggest the new "Ultimate Collection" instead.

A nice compilation of this blues legend. Some catchy lyrics and strong guitar solos exist throughout this collection. The first seven songs are strictly three chord blues progressions which can be a bit tiresome for some audiences. However, the catchy lyrics make you pay attention to such gems as Paying The Cost To Be The Boss, How Blue Can You Get?, and The Thrill Is Gone.

The next few tracks have a more varied arrangement and get away from the standard three chord progression. BB King gets funky in spots and the use of strings and horns in the background add a nice touch. The duets with Bono and Robert Cray are quite good. A nice intro to this legend, indeed.

So they finally went back and remastered the muddy audio on this classic album! The new sound is fantastic -- clear as a bell. Sadly, while the audio was being cleaned up, no one bothered to clean up the very, very sloppy edits (especially in the second half), such as when the second intro of B.B. (why two separate intros, anyway?) gets abruptly chopped off and goes right into a song that from the background crowd noise came at some other point in the show. If you're going to do a live album, the tracks should at least create the illusion of a live show, especially in this digital era when fade-outs and fade-ins are no longer used, and audience applause can be smoothly edited in to create seamless transitions!

The performance is powerful and this is definitely a 5-star recording that has been royally botched by sloppy and oh-so-obvious edits. In addition, many remasters go back and add in some bonus tracks. If no original source material survives (which may be the case 42 years after this performance!), then something from the era is added as a bonus and the CD is fleshed out to anywhere from 60 to 79 minutes long. Not here. You get the original 35 minutes. No more. No less.

Anyone who's seen what Legacy is doing with classic LPs (adding more to the original CD, plus a second CD of extra material) by Bob Marley, Eric Clapton, The Who, etc., surely have some idea how this great LP could have been updated for the 21st century. What we get is clearer audio, and nothing else. What a disappointment!

B.B. King-Live At The Regal *****

Recorded live at the Regal in Chicago in 1964 this went on to become what is now widely considered the all time greatest live blues album. This is rightly deserved as this is in fact the greatest live blues album of all time.

King's single note guitar lines are crisp as ever, and his vocals are beyond comparison. Aside from being obviously his best live recording, Live At The Regal is the best recording of King period. This is with out a doubt the best version of 'Sweet Little Angel' ever released. The essential version is more correct. 'Every Day I Have The Blues' and 'Its My Own Fault' are among some of the most inspired performances ever caught on tape. The albums closer 'Help The Poor' is just gut-wrenching. Pure bliss!

This performance is pure electric. With every passing listen to Live At The Regal I still get chills all down my spine, and if you ask me that is the mark of a fantastic album after all these years and listens.

As a Memphis native, I have heard B.B. on many occasions. Never have I seen or hear him play with the same passion he did here in 1964. The quality of the recording is outstanding, with Lucille giving the center-stage on many occasions. The clarity and quality is amazing for a forty year old recording. This is the live B.B. King recording to buy. The Cook County Jail performance from 1971 is a close second, but the quality is not nearly as good.

recorded live at the regal theatre, chicago in 1964, this is generally considered b.b. king's best album, and deservedly so. this is simply one of the great urban blues albums of all-time. b.b.'s singing is as powerful and nuanced on this recording as it was ever to be, before or after. his guitar playing is at a peak of expressive beauty here, far more tasteful and beyond the technic, at this point, of what any rock and roll guitarist was yet capable of. yes, the rock and rollers would improve greatly in time, but this was 1964, and King was the undisputed guitar king. a fine horn section, it should be mentioned, also graces the album. the whole affair is magical. a great night in recording history.

BB King's Live at the Regal is a recording of a great show performed at the Regal Theater in Chicago in 1965. Considered among many, including myself, as his greatest album its a must for any blues collection. King is at the top of his form and you can hear it in his guitar playing. His band gives their all and, importantly, the song selections are magnificent.

Its a great recording of a great performance. Its also a perfect introduction to the blues for neophytes as well. Highly recommended.

Great CD. I bought it for my husband, he's always been a Fats fan and he loves it. All the artists did a wonderful job. Worth every penney.

If you are a fan of Fat's or the New Orleans sound you gotta purchase this CD. This is a veritable lovefest of the Fat man and it shows in the music. You can certainly tell these folks really cared about this man, his music and the City of New Orleans. The songs keep sounding better and better. The coolest thing, is the proceeds from the sale of this CD go toward buying new musical instruments for the students from N.O. public schools and also benefit other community programs. This is a win, win propostion.

LOVE THIS ALBUM - It is packed full of Fats Domino classics performed by some wonderful new artists and some legends of our own time. This CD brings back many memories of when I used to ride around in my first car with my Fats Domino 8 track. One of the best CDs I now own.

Diversified cast performs a lovely tribute one of the fathers of American music. Must have

The reason for this CD and the status of the man in the history of his city and rock 'n roll and the plight of New Orleans post Hurricane Katrina are not in doubt but judged on the musical content alone, this double CD offering does come across as a mixed bag overall I fear.

While some of the new recordings are great interpretations (Tom Petty, Lucinda Williams and Randy Newman) some are frankly disappointments (Elton John, Paul McCartney, Los Lobos and Lennie Kravitz), but given two discs worth the chances of getting a high level of consistency was always going to be a high goal. What is the real gem however is the existence of a number of alternative interpretations which come across as real finds - my own surprises being the two Robert Plant contributions (each very different and a precursor to his more recent work with Alsion Krause and T Bone Burnett) and Taj Mahal, Toots and the Maytals and Willie Nelson in putting their own personal stamp on their interpretations.

I was left feeling after several plays that judicious choice would have produced a killer single CD rather than a variable double such as we have here.

BB King had already recorded over 300 songs when this album was recorded. Prime arrangements of some standards and a few lesser known tunes. If you've never seen him live, this is close to it.

great fun.takes you into the hall ,the booing of the sheriff and judge sets the tone for a fun gig.foot tapping and air guitar.

B. B. King is more than a talented musician and songwriter, he is a phenomenal entertainer as well. He works a crowd like few others with his obvious love for people and his devotion to giving his best. This album captures BB as he is best, live and in action. He does not need light shows or other props to sell his work, he just plays and sings with a style and an infectious joy that few entertainers can match. One of his best albums.

Fans often call B.B. King the king of the blues guitar, but if B.B. were only a brilliant guitarist he wouldn't be a household name for decades. B.B. King is also a powerful singer, a terrific interpreter of others' material, an effective bandleader and - most importantly - a thoroughly professional entertainer. You can experience all B.B. King's sides on the "Cook County Jail" CD.

Virtually every cut on the CD is a powerhouse. Although the Cook County Jail setting might lead one to expect that B.B. King would play up the outlaw aspects of the blues (the way that Johnny Cash did with his prison LPs), B.B. takes the opposite approach. He delivers a well-rehearsed and utterly professional show. It must have seemed a revelation to rock fans, as most blues-rock concerts at the time were notoriously sloppy affairs. But it's what we expect from B.B. King. He may define himself as a bluesman, but B.B. applied many lessons learned from tight jazz combos.

For the uninitiated, the strong performances of B.B. King's best-known hits "Sweet Sixteen" and the "Thrill is Gone" will be the selling points, but every track has its delights. For me, the strongest moment comes with "How Blue Can You Get?" Here, we clearly get to experience how B.B. King is able to feed off the energy of a responsive audience, to the point where the inmates are practically bandmembers. When we hear their laughter and applause, we know that B.B. King has won over one of the most difficult audiences to please. Every solo on the CD is well-constructed, and at no time does B.B. allow himself to become self-indulgent.

The CD's short running time is the only deficit. While appropriate for an early 1970s LP, this is one short concert by modern CD standards. It would be nice to see this CD reissued with material cut from the original release (as is the usual trend for live album reissues), but there is no denying this is one of the very few live albums worth revisiting again and again. It belongs in the collection of anyone who truly loves post-war blues.

This CD captures the very essence of what makes Blues Boy King the King of the Blues. The power of BB's music thunders througout the CD. This album has the best rendition of "The Thrill is Gone" I have ever heard, and I've heard just about all the versions he has done over the years. You can almost see him crooning to the microphone with his eyes closed, and Lucille gives this song so much more with her solo at the end. If anything buy this CD for the "The Thrill is Gone"; as soon as you get it turn it up, sit down and close your eyes...

I'm sure this was a fun cd for BB King (and friends)to make. If you have any "soul" you can't sit still to the Heavy D jam. I LOVE EVERY JAM! The Van Morrison cut is the BOMB, Dr. John, ALL of them bring something to the table. U can also "hear" the respect they all have for each other. I'm sure they enjoyed making this CD. I think they did a wonderful job and it's a really a well put together cd. THEY ALL GOT DOWN for BB!!! HAIL TO THE KING!!

First let me point out to my loyal "The King Of The World Blues Reviewer" fans: Obviously BB is an all-time icon, but he is not in my personal top 6 electric blues guitarists, nothing negative in that statement, he's just a little too sedate for me overall. Now, moving on to the review. Talk about the word "fun"! If you could use that anywhere, it is here! BB performs "duets" with everyone from Van Morrison, Tracy Chapman, Clapton, Bonnie Raitt, The Stones, Joe Cocker, Willie Nelson, and a few others. BUT! THE MOST FUN ONE OF ALL, THAT ME AND MY SON SHAQ JR. LOVED, WAS WITH THE RAPPER "HEAVY D"! They perform a rap/rock duet, where "Heavy D", talks about making a "move" on BB's sweetheart "Lucille"! I'm sure anyone reading this review knows who that fine lady is! This CD is a definite "buy" and can be enjoyed by all ages, and musical tastes!

While not the greatest blues album of all time or even the best from B.B. King, this is still a very good blues album that is a lot of fun to listen to. Album is worth the price of admission just for 'The Thrill is Gone' with Tracy Chapman. My favorite version of that song not to mention great cuts with Van Morrison, who in his own right is a great blues sing, Eric Clapton, and more. Just sample the first three cuts and you will be hooked. Sure there are a couple of sinkers on the album, like BB trying to do a Hip Hop song, which makes me a little sick to my stomach right before a I hit the forward button. The gems far our weigh the sinkers (which are few) and if you don't take the album so seriously you may end up really enjoying yourself. If you like BB King or just want to get more into the blues this is a great place to start. Also, BB's album with Eric Clapton - Riding with the King - is also very good.

A few years ago, before I moved to Minneapolis, I was in town visiting a friend and was having a hard time finding my way back to his house at night. Because I was trying to find the correct street that lead to the freeway I was having problems concentrating on the radio, so I gave up and left it the radio on the next station to come up on seek. It happened to be the local blues station playing "The Thrill is Gone" by B.B. King and Tracy Chapman (from this album), and a few seconds later the blues had a new fan.

With one or two exceptions, the entire album is great.

Highly Recommended!

Okay folks . . . take it from me. Buy this album. But please promise me to buy another couple of albums if you like this one, okay?

I don't care if you've new to the blues, have never before heard a BB King song before, or have never seen BB King in concert. This is perhaps the best introduction to the blues as you'll ever hear. From the Rolling Stones to Heavy D, there's something for everybody.

Typically the phrase "something for everybody" means lukewarm acceptance across a wide range of genres. I tried so hard to hate this album, but I just can't help loving it. Every artist here really sounds like they're pouring their best into the recording.

I defy you to tell me Bonnie's not leaning back and gritting her teeth when she plays slide guitar. Tell me that Heavy D wasn't breaking more than his usual room-temperature sweat when BB kicks the track back to him. My money's on Mick Jagger wishing he had some of Keith's alcohol-sodden blood running in his veins when the first few riffs of BB's guitar hits back harder than Mick expected.

Now that you've listened to it, go buy Blues on the Bayou. Then buy a Susan Tedeschi album. Grab some Little Milton too. Oh, and it wouldn't hurt at all to round it out with some Albert King, Ronnie Earl, and maybe some Johnny Lang or Kenny Wayne Shepherd if you're feeling spunky. But overall, shame on you if you don't have any John Lee Hooker!

THIS IS NOT ONLY THE BEST BLUES FROM ONE OF ITS BEST BLUESMAN, BUT IT IS ALSO A HISTORY OF B.B. FROM START TILL NOW. THE BOOK IT COMES WITH IS OUTSTANDING

When it comes to the blues, almost no one has mastered it better than B.B. King. He is truly a legend in the music business. His guitar playing skills are comparable to but a few (and those few were heavily influenced by him), his voice is one of the most distinct and powerful in music, and his career spans almost 60 years. How many other artists can boast not only having that longevity, but also still being able to thrive even as they hit their 80s'.

The 77 songs on the aptly titled "King Of The Blues" boxed set are astonishing. Every classic B.B. song is available, from his early recordings spanning all the way back to 1949 all the way up to 1991. That's 42 years of some of the finest blues and R & B ever recorded. The sound quality is highly commendable, and the liner notes are exceptional. This is a boxed set that belongs in everyone's record collection.

BB King ranks at the top of blues music and belongs in company with some of the greatest blues artists of all time (i.e. Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, John Lee Hooker, Howlin' Wolf, etc). His contributions cannot be overstated. This boxed set, "King of The Blues", is a masterful collection of his best works whether obscure or well known. This is a must own for any fan of blues, jazz or music in general and covers King's contributions from 1949-1991. The thrill is definitely NOT gone.

I am fairly young and still feel like I missed something by not learning about BB King and Muddy Waters at an earlier age. It is almost like coming upon buried treasure, to listen to these songs.

The energy and emotion of a song such as "I'm Gonna Sit in 'Til You Give In (and give me all of your love)" is unbelievable with raw power and energy. What is especially surprising to me is that I had never heard practically all of these songs played even on oldies stations. My personal favorites are his early years, but there are no bad songs here on any of the four CD's. Every person has their own favorite song.....mine is "Lucille." I am simply amazed that I never heard this song before having made this purchase. There are so many songs which can only be described with superlatives, and this is much too short of a space to do that in. I bought this box set and can honestly say that I am not skipping songs. BB King also is on here with the Duke Ellington band, with songs you will not get on any "Best of" collection.

I had picked this up and put it down many times, because I was unsure because of the price of it. But I have not regretted it one iota since buying it....quite the contrary in fact, as I look at this as one of the best purchases of music I ever made(even paying full price!). If you are at all interested in the blues, look into buying this piece of gold from one of the masters.

Highly recommended.

I just bought this box set last week and have been enjoying it like no tomorrow. I have many records of the top Blues singers going back to Robert Johnson and Bessie Smith, but I do believe that this is the best "complete" set on one artist! Man can them songs take you back. If I knew that this collection was this good I would of bought it years ago when it first came out (1992). No matter what your Budget is ,if you are really into the Blues you should buy this set - even if it means eating half lunches for a week or two, you won't be sorry. After hearing these tunes "The Thrill is Back"!