B.B. King: Completely Well 1969 + Deuces Wild 1997 + The B.B. King Blues Band: Soul Of The King 2010

 

Riley B. King (September 16, 1925 – May 14, 2015), known professionally as B. B. King, was an

American blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He introduced a sophisticated style of soloing based on fluid string bending, shimmering vibrato, and staccato picking that influenced many later blues electric guitar players. AllMusic recognized King as "the single most important electric guitarist of the last half of the 20th century".
                        

King was born on a cotton plantation of Berclair, near the city of Itta Bena, Mississippi, and later

worked at a cotton gin in Indianola, Mississippi. He was attracted to music and taught himself to play guitar and began his career in juke joints and local radio. He later lived in Memphis and Chicago; then, as his fame grew, he toured the world extensively.  
               

 
Country and gospel music left an indelible impression on King's musical mindset as he matured, along with the styles of blues greats (T-Bone Walker and Lonnie Johnson) and jazz geniuses (Charlie

Christian and Django Reinhardt). In 1946, he set off for Memphis to look up his cousin, a rough-edged country blues guitarist named Bukka White. For ten invaluable months, White taught his eager young relative the finer points of playing blues guitar. After returning briefly to Indianola and the sharecropper's eternal struggle with his wife Martha, King returned to Memphis in late 1948. This time, he stuck around for a while.
                              

                 
King was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and is one of the most influential blues

musicians of all time, earning the nickname "The King of the Blues", and is considered one of the "Three Kings of the Blues Guitar" (along with Albert King and Freddie King, none of whom are related). King performed tirelessly throughout his musical career, appearing on average at more than 200 concerts per year into his 70s. In 1956 alone, he appeared at 342 shows.
                

King had a four-star breakthrough year in 1949. He cut his first four tracks for Jim Bulleit's Bullet

Records (including a number entitled "Miss Martha King" after his wife), then signed a contract with the Bihari Brothers' Los Angeles-based RPM Records.
                  

It was during this era that King first named his beloved guitar "Lucille." Seems that while he was

playing a joint in a little Arkansas town called Twist, fisticuffs broke out between two jealous suitors over a lady. The brawlers knocked over a kerosene-filled garbage pail that was heating the place, setting the room ablaze. In the frantic scramble to escape the flames, King left his guitar inside.
         

He foolishly ran back in to retrieve it, dodging the flames and almost losing his life. When the smoke

had cleared, King learned that the lady who had inspired such violent passion was named Lucille. Plenty of Lucilles have passed through his hands since; Gibson has even marketed a B.B.-approved guitar model under the name.
                 

The last eight shows of King's 2014 tour were canceled because of health problems caused by

complications from high blood pressure and diabetes. On May 14, 2015, at the age of 89, he died in his sleep from vascular dementia caused by a series of small strokes as a consequence of his type 2 diabetes. Two of his daughters alleged that King was deliberately poisoned by two associates trying to induce diabetic shock; an autopsy showed no evidence of such.

B.B. KING - COMPLETELY WELL 1969

            

Completely Well was B.B. King's breakthrough album in 1969, which finally got him the long-deserved acclaim that was no less than his due. It contained his signature number, "The Thrill Is Gone," and eight

other tunes, six of them emanating from King's pen, usually in a co-writing situation. The plus points include loose arrangements and a small combo behind him that never dwarfs the proceedings or gets in the way. King, for his part, sounds like he's having a ball, playing and singing at peak power. This is certainly not the place to start your B.B. King collection, but it's a nice stop along the way before you finish it.

B.B. King – Completely Well
Label: Geffen Records – UICY-94841
Format : CD, Album, Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered Dec 19, 2012
Released: 1969    
Genre: Blues
Style: Electric Blues

TRACKS

                    

01. So Excited   5:34
Written-By – Gerald Jemmott
02. No Good   4:35
Written-By – F. Washington
03. You're Losin' Me    4:54
Written-By – F. Washington
04. What Happened    4:41
05.Confessin' The Blues   4:56
Written-By – J. McShann, W. Brown
06. Key To My Kingdom    3:18
Written-By – Claude Baum, Joe Josea, M. Davis
07. Cryin' Won't Help You Now    6:30
08.You're Mean   9:39
Written-By – H. Lovelle, H. McCracken, G. Jemmott, P. Harris
09. The Thrill Is Gone   5:30
Written-By – Art Benson, Dale Pettite
10. Fools Get Wise / Bonus Track    2:38

LINE - UP

Bass – Gerald "Fingers" Jemmott
Drums – Herbie Lovelle
Guitar – Hugh McCracken
Guitar, Vocals – B. B. King

Flac Size: 305 MB

B.B. KING - DEUCES WILD 1997

            

In theory, a B.B. King album featuring 13 duets with a variety of different artists could be spectacular,

but Deuces Wild feels like it was conceived with the bottom line in mind.  It also comes as no surprise that the veterans acquit themselves the best -- Van Morrison, Bonnie Raitt, Dr. John, Joe Cocker, and Willie Nelson all sound terrific, while the Rolling Stones' support on "Paying the Cost to Be the Boss" positively smokes -- while Tracy Chapman sounds surprisingly soulful on "The Thrill Is Gone."

B.B. King – Deuces Wild
Label: MCA Records – MCD 11722
Format: CD, Album, Stereo
Country: Europe
Released: Nov 4, 1997
Genre: Blues
Style: Electric Blues    

TRACKS

                      

01. B.B. King With Van Morrison – If You Love Me   5:47
Arranged By [Strings], Conductor [Strings] – Phil Marshall
Bass – Pino Palladino
Cello – Dane Little, Larry Colbert, Marston Smith
Drums – Andy Newmark
Guitar – Neil Hubbard
Keyboards, Electric Organ [B3 Hammond] – Paul Carrack
Piano – Jools Holland
Viola – Robert Becker
Violin – Andrea Byers, Armen Garabedian, Berj Garabedian, Bruce Dukov, Kenneth Yerke, Norman Hughes, Sid Page, Tamara Hatwan
02. B.B. King With Tracy Chapman – The Thrill Is Gone   5:01
Arranged By [Strings], Arranged By [Horns], Trumpet – Darrell Leonard
Bass – Reggie McBride
Cello – Martin Tillman, Miles Tackett
Drums, Percussion – Tony Braunagel
Electric Organ [B3 Hammond] – Paul Carrack
Electric Piano [Wurlitzer] – Tommy Eyre
French Horn – Daniel Kelley, Kurt Snyder, Yvonne Moriarty
Guitar – Johnny Lee Schell, Neil Hubbard
Percussion – Lenny Castro
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Sublett
03. B.B. King With Eric Clapton – Rock Me Baby   6:37
Bass – Pino Palladino
Electric Organ [B3 Hammond] – Paul Carrack
Guitar – Eric Clapton
Percussion – Paulinho Da Costa
Programmed By – Paul Waller, Simon Climie
04. B.B. King With Mick Hucknall – Please Send Me Someone To Love   4:15
Arranged By [Strings], Conductor [Strings] – Phil Marshall (2)
Bass – Pino Palladino
Cello – Dane Little, Larry Colbert, Marston Smith
Drums – Andy Newmark
Electric Organ [B3 Hammond] – Paul Carrack
Guitar – Neil Hubbard
Piano, Keyboards – Chris Stainton
Viola – Robert Becker
Violin – Andrea Byers, Armen Garabedian, Berj Garabedian, Bruce Dukov, Kenneth Yerke, Norman Hughes, Sid Page, Tamara Hatwan
05. B.B. King With Bonnie Raitt – Baby I Love You   4:01
Backing Vocals – Sir Harry Bowens, Terence Forsythe, Vincent Bonham
Bass – Pino Palladino
Drums – Steve Jordan
Guitar – Bonnie Raitt, Hugh McCracken
Organ – Leon Pendarvis
Piano – John Cleary
06. B.B. King With D'Angelo – Ain't Nobody Home   4:59
Arranged By [Horns], Conductor [Horns] – Wardell Quezergue
Baritone Saxophone – Carl Blouin
Bass – Pino Palladino
Drums – Steve Jordan
Electric Piano [Wurlitzer] – John Cleary
Guitar – Hugh McCracken
Keyboards – D'Angelo
Organ – Leon Pendarvis
Percussion – Lenny Castro
Tenor Saxophone – Joseph Saulsbury Jr.
Trumpet – Brian Murray, Jamil Sharif
07. B.B. King With Jools Holland – Pauly's Birthday Boogie   3:38
Baritone Saxophone – Greg Smith
Bass – Pino Palladino
Drums – Andy Newmark
Guitar – Neil Hubbard
Keyboards, Electric Organ [B3 Hammond] – Paul Carrack
Piano – Jools Holland
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Sublett
Trumpet – Darrell Leonard
08. B.B. King With Dr. John – There Must Be A Better World Somewhere   4:28
Arranged By [Horns], Conductor [Horns] – Wardell Quezergue
Baritone Saxophone – Carl Blouin
Bass – James "Hutch" Hutchinson
Drums – Jim Keltner
Guitar – Randy Jacobs
Keyboards – Billy Payne*, Tommy Eyre
Percussion – Lenny Castro
Tenor Saxophone – Joseph Saulsbury Jr.
Trumpet – Brian Murray, Jamil Sharif
09. B.B. King With Marty Stuart – Confessin' The Blues   4:21
Bass – James "Hutch" Hutchinson
Drums – Jim Keltner
Electric Organ [B3 Hammond] – Tommy Eyre
Guitar – Marty Stuart
Keyboards – Billy Payne
10. B.B. King With Dionne Warwick – Hummingbird   4:20
Backing Vocals – Sir Harry Bowens, Terrence Forsythe, Vincent Bonham
Bass – Reggie McBride
Cello – Martin Tillman
Drums – Tony Braunagel
Guitar – Johnny Lee Schell
Percussion – Lenny Castro
Piano – Tommy Eyre
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Sublett
Trumpet – Darrell Leonard
11. B.B. King With Paul Carrack – Bring It Home To Me   3:10
Arranged By [Horns], Trumpet – Darrell Leonard
Backing Vocals – Sir Harry Bowens, Terrence Forsythe, Vincent Bonham
Bass – Pino Palladino
Drums – Andy Newmark
Electric Organ [B3 Hammond] – Paul Carrack
Guitar – Neil Hubbard
Percussion – Lenny Castro
Piano – Jools Holland
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Sublett
12. B.B. King With The Rolling Stones – Paying The Cost To Be The Boss   3:33
Bass – Darryll Jones
Drums – Charlie Watts
Guitar – Keith Richards, Ron Wood
Keyboards – Tommy Eyre
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Sublett
Trumpet – Darrell Leonard
Vocals, Harmonica – Mick Jagger
13. B.B. King With Zucchero – Let The Good Times Roll   5:12
Arranged By [Horns], Trumpet – Darrell Leonard
Baritone Saxophone – Greg Smith
Bass – Pino Palladino
Drums – Steve Jordan
Guitar – Hugh McCracken
Organ – Leon Pendarvis
Piano – John Cleary
Tenor Saxophone – Joe Sublett
14. B.B. King With Joe Cocker – Dangerous Mood   4:53
Bass – James "Hutch" Hutchinson
Drums – Kenny Aranoff
Electric Organ [B3 Hammond] – C. J. Vanston, Tommy Eyre
Guitar – Dean Parks, Michael Landau
Piano – Chris Stainton
15. B.B. King With Heavy D – Keep It Coming   3:55
Bass – Pino Palladino
Drums – Steve Jordan
Guitar – Hugh McCracken
Organ – Leon Pendarvis
Percussion – Lenny Castro
Piano – John Cleary
16. B.B. King With David Gilmour & Paul Carrack – Cryin' Won't Help You Babe   3:54
Backing Vocals – Sir Harry Bowens, Terrence Forsythe, Vincent Bonham
Bass – Pino Palladino
Drums – Andy Newmark
Guitar – David Gilmour, Neil Hubbard
Piano – Chris Stainton
Piano, Keyboards – Paul Carrack
Vocals – Paul Carrack
17. B.B. King With Willie Nelson – Night Life   4:30
Bass – James "Hutch" Hutchinson
Drums – Jim Keltner
Electric Organ [B3 Hammond] – Tommy Eyre
Guitar – Randy Jacobs
Harmonica – Mickey Rafael
Keyboards – Billy Payne

Flac Size: 539 MB

THE B.B. KING BLUES BAND (Taj Mahal, Joe Louis Walker, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Michael Lee & Kenny Neal) - THE SOUL OF THE KING 2010

               

Ruf is best known for its roster of blues-rock artists but here diversifies its catalogue with this album

which unites long-serving members of BB King’s band with A-list guests like Taj Mahal, Kenny Neal, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and Joe Louis Walker; also featured are Diunna Greenleaf, Mary Griffin and Jonn Del Toro Richardson on vocals, Kirk Joseph on tuba and Michael Lee on guitar and vocals. However, despite the quality of the guest stars it is the horn-heavy arrangements of the band that really bring home the memory of the King. Nine strong with five horn players, this full-

throated band plays superbly across a programme of four BB classics and nine songs composed by members of the band or the guests. Bassist Russell Jackson and trumpeter James ‘Boogaloo’ Bolden share seven vocal leads, sax player Eric Demmer sings one and the guests sing the rest. Also in the band are Walter King on sax, Lamar Boulet on trumpet, Raymond Harris on trombone, Wilbert Crosby on guitar, Darrell Lavigne on keys and Herman Jackson on drums.

             

The BB King Blues Band Featuring: Taj Mahal, Joe Louis Walker, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Michael Lee & Kenny Neal – The Soul Of The King
Label: Ruf Records – RUF 1268
Format: CD, Album
Country: Germany
Released: May 10, 2019
Genre: Blues
Style: Electric Blues    

TRACKS

      

01. Irene Irene   4:28
02. Sweet Little Angel   4:54
03. There Must Be A Better World Somewhere   3:26
04. Paying The Cost To Be The Boss    4:48
05. Low Down   4:41
06. She's The One   5:27
07. Taking Care Of Business   3:17
08. Becoming The Blues   5:19
09. Hey There Pretty Woman   4:09
10. Here Today, Gone Tomorrow   4:02
11. Regal Blues (A Tribute To The King)   5:15
12. Pocket Full Of Money   6:07
13. The Thrill Is Gone   3:34

Flac Size: 677 MB