AVID Roots continues with its Four Classic Album series with a re-mastered 2CD second release by B.B.King complete with original artwork and liner notes.
“B.B.King Sings Spirituals”; “King Of The Blues”; “More B.B.King” and “Easy Listening Blues” plus 16 Bonus tracks
To most of us music fans living in the 21st century, B.B.King was the “real thing”, the epitome of the “Blues Man”, a genuine living legend! Here was a guy who had actually lived the classic blues story. He was born Riley B. King into poverty on a cotton plantation in Mississippi, the son of sharecroppers. A broken family was followed by being raised by his maternal grandmother and he was singing gospel in the local church from a very young age. Legend has it that he was given his first guitar at age 12 by a relative named Bukka White! Following White to Memphis in 1946 he stayed with the great blues man until returning home 10 months later. By 1948 he was singing and disc jockeying on local radio station WDIA and when he met T Bone Walker he made the decision to get himself an electric guitar. The rest as they say is a legendary blues history and the early results can be heard on our four classic selections alongside 16 great bonus tracks. For our second visit to the King catalogue we have added a couple of more unusual titles, one that shows B.B. as the great singer he was rather than the fabulous guitarist we are all aware of. “Sings Spirituals” finds B.B. supported by organ, piano, bass and drums, here he lets his amazing voice tell the story. By complete contrast on the strangely titled “Easy Listening Blues” we hear B.B.King without any vocals at all! B.B. King plays the “Shads”!! See what you think? Oh and don’t forget the 16 Bonus tracks, gems one and all!
Check out:- Muddy Waters / Howlin’ Wolf (AMSC1162); Lightnin’ Hopkins (AMSC1225, AMSC1254 &1363); Jesse Fuller / Josh White (AMSC 1344); Jimmy Reed (AMSC1214); John Lee Hooker (AMSC1234 & 1382); B.B. King (AMSC1203); Lonnie Johnson (AMSC1207); Rev. Gary Davis (AMSC1271); Sonny Terry & Brownie McGhee (AMSC1361); T. Bone Walker (AMSC1359); Big Joe Williams (AMSC1385); Rural Blues: The Eseential Collection (AVC942)
CD1
1-10: ‘B.B. King Sings Spirituals’
1. Precious Lord
2. Save A Seat For Me
3. Ole Time Religion
4. Sweet Chariot
5. Servant’s Prayer
6. Jesus Gave Me Water
7. I Never Heard A Man
8. Army Of The Lord
9. I Am Willing To Run All The Way
10. I’m Working On The Building
11-20: ‘King Of The Blues’
11. I’ve Got A Right To Love My Baby
12. What Way To Go
13. Long Nights (The Feeling They Call The Blues)
14. Feel Like A Million
15. I’ll Survive
16. Good Man Gone Bad
17. If I Lost You
18. You’re On Top
19. Partin’ Time
20. I’m King
21. Everyday I Have The Blues (Bonus Track)
22. Yes Indeed! (Bonus Track)
23. Jump With You Baby (Bonus Track)
24. Lonely And Blue (Bonus Track)
25. Ruby Lee (Bonus Track)
26. I’m In Love (Bonus Track)
27. Bye! Bye! Baby (Bonus Track)
CD2
1-10: ‘More B.B. King’
1. Bad Case Of Love
2. Get Out Of Here
3. Bad Luck Soul
4. Shut Your Mouth
5. Baby, Look At You
6. You’re Breaking My Heart
7. My Reward
8. Don’t Cry Anymore
9. Blues For Me aka Groovin’ Twist
10. (Ain’t That) Just Like A Woman
11-20: ‘Easy Listening Blues’
11. Easy Listening Blues
12. Blues For Me
13. Night Long
14. Confessin’
15. Don’t Touch
16. Slow Walk aka Slow Burn
17. Walkin’
18. Hully Gully Twist
19. Shoutin’ The Blues
20. Rambler
21. Things Are Not The Same (Bonus Track)
22. Tell Me Baby (Bonus Track)
23. Going Down Slow (Bonus Track)
24. Whole Lot Of Lovin’ aka Whole Lotta Love (Bonus Track)
25. When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer aka Million Years Blues (Bonus Track)
26. Three O’Clock Blues (Bonus Track)
27. Three O’Clock Stomp aka Poontwangie (Bonus Track)
28. Talkin’ The Blues (Bonus Track)
29. Boogie Rock aka House Rocker
