B. B. King

5 STARS MOJO MAGAZINE

INCLUDES 1 BONUS TRACK

This quintessential LP collector’s edition includes one of his finest albums: King of the Blues (Crown CST195) – the blues-meets-urbansoul style masterpiece originally released by Crown Records in 1960. The label owners, the Bihari brothers (who also ran the Modern and RPM labels), were able to use the proud album title with justification because B.B. had just come off his big comeback hit “Sweet Sixteen” after a year of inactivity in the charts. The set opens with the B-side of that single, “I’ve Got a Right to Love My Baby,” and also includes “Partin’ Time,” which also rose to #8 in the charts. “I’m King” is B.B. King at his boasting best; his modern style that crosses rock & roll and R&B with the jump blues is fully developed here, and his consistency from track to track is remarkable. As a bonus track we also have included “Someday Baby,” recorded that same year.

Contained here is the cream of the crop from B.B. King’s hitmaking stretch during his most inspired years. Without a doubt, this is the material upon which B.B.’s kingdom was built.

B.B. KING, vocals and guitar, plus:

LLOYD GLENN (piano)
RALPH HAMILTON (bass)
JESSIE SAILES (drums).
Unidentified horns.

Recorded at Radio Recorders Studios, 7000 Santa Monica Boulevard, Hollywood, California. March 1960.

SIDE A:

01 I’VE GOT A RIGHT TO LOVE MY BABY
02 WHAT WAY TO GO
03 LONG NIGHTS (THE FEELING THEY CALL THE BLUES)
04 FEEL LIKE A MILLION
05 I’LL SURVIVE

SIDE B:

01 GOOD MAN GONE BAD
02 IF I LOST YOU
03 YOU’RE ON THE TOP
04 PARTIN’ TIME
05 I’M KING
06 SOMEDAY BABY (*)

(*) Bonus track