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B.B. King is known world wide as one of the best blues men of our time. MCA has recognized King as well as many others with its 20th Century Masters collection. The Best of B.B. King traces some of his greatest known works.
The CD starts out with his most recognized song, “The Thrill is Gone.” This was his best pop chart-topping song of the 70s. It has recently been redone as a duet with another blues great, Eric Clapton.
Nothing makes an album truly blues without a live rendition. “Let the Good Times Roll” pulls out the true feel of a blues song. The audience is electric and fuels this song to great heights. The feel of the music can create a sense of a smoke-filled bar, hopping into the wee hours of the morning.
King’s true vocal range and guitar picking genius can be appreciated with the song, “Don’t Answer the Door.” Originally recorded in Chicago in 1966, the song flows along in a tranquil buzz on a calm evening around 1 a.m., holding your love in your arms in a slow, swaying dance. This feeling permeates once more on the next track, entitled “Sweet Sixteen,” recorded live in Chicago in late 1966.
There are nine incredible songs on this album. Then there’s song ten, “Into the Night,” which was recorded for a movie of the same name back in 1984. I’d rather have a flaming bag of crap sitting on my front porch than listen to this song. I consider it an extra that should have been forgotten.
Overall, this album traces some great music from 1966 through 1976. It captures the true essence of blues music. King and his guitar lay down some mighty tracks, which show why he has been inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame.
