BB King
The name BB King is synonymous with the blues, as one of the leading artists of the genre and a true guitar hero, the likes of which has not been seen since his arrival 50 years ago. To celebrate the career of this legend, a new boxed set of 194 tracks across 10 CD’s is being released to celebrate his signing to ABC-Paramount Records in 1962, presenting us with a complete collection to remind us why the name BB King is so important to music.
Featuring recordings from his entire career, as far back as 1949, through to his most recent studio album, the boxed set is housed in a deluxe box, including a 72-page silver gilded hardback book, featuring essays from Ashley Kahn and Dick Shurman. Add to this the collection of glorious images and memorabilia and the engineering work of Bill Levenson, and this is a collection that will stand proud on the CD shelf for many years to come. There is also going to be a 4-CD cutdown version and digital deluxe, so there is something out there for every fan of the great man.
What’s most striking is that despite his 85 years of age, BB King is still out there, still playing, and still touring. His combination of warm vocals, blues guitar style which almost speaks the words for him, and songs which encompass joy, love and hardship, BB King is one of the true greats of music, and a true pioneer of the electric guitar work which we now see across the spectrum. Having collaborated with the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, U2, Elton John, Etta James and Gary Moore, there isn’t a lot that hasn’t been crammed into the career, so what of the music?
Tracks like Whole Lotta’ Love seem to epitomise the sound of BB King, incorporating the blues style guitar, walking bass line and soft drum line, all backed up by the vocals which are full of the emotion of the track, forming into a sound that still sounds fresh even this far down the line. There Must Be A Better World Somewhere is a blues track in the truest sense of the word, with a soaring lead guitar line, matching piano work and bass line, and a real feeling that you just want to close your eyes, let the music do the talking and let the whole thing wash over you. ‘Flying high, some joker clips my wings, just because he gets a kick of doing those things’…a statement which echoes out of the track but still sounds just as relavent today, and the opposite of what BB King seems to have achieved in his career. Rather than letting them get him down – he’s gone on, pushed, and the music is here as testament to that.
Throughout all of the tracks we were sent through as a preview to this album release, I found myself sitting back and just listening. There’s no need to move, dance, shout, sing or join in, the real enjoyment comes from just sitting and listening, taking it all in and allowing yourself to realise that this is real music, put together by a real artist, and something which will live on forever. I’ve always looked up to BB King as a bit of a guitar idol but to sit and really listen to his tracks hasn’t been a chore or something I felt forced to do, it’s been an honour, and something which I know I am going to have to do a hell of a lot more often.
If you like the blues, or if you simply want to get hold of some music which is going to accompany every single mood on the spectrum, then this is a collection you need to own – and one I know I’ll be reaching out for myself.
The BB King Collection is released on 24th September.
Words: Dave Nicholls
Featuring recordings from his entire career, as far back as 1949, through to his most recent studio album, the boxed set is housed in a deluxe box, including a 72-page silver gilded hardback book, featuring essays from Ashley Kahn and Dick Shurman. Add to this the collection of glorious images and memorabilia and the engineering work of Bill Levenson, and this is a collection that will stand proud on the CD shelf for many years to come. There is also going to be a 4-CD cutdown version and digital deluxe, so there is something out there for every fan of the great man.
What’s most striking is that despite his 85 years of age, BB King is still out there, still playing, and still touring. His combination of warm vocals, blues guitar style which almost speaks the words for him, and songs which encompass joy, love and hardship, BB King is one of the true greats of music, and a true pioneer of the electric guitar work which we now see across the spectrum. Having collaborated with the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, U2, Elton John, Etta James and Gary Moore, there isn’t a lot that hasn’t been crammed into the career, so what of the music?
Tracks like Whole Lotta’ Love seem to epitomise the sound of BB King, incorporating the blues style guitar, walking bass line and soft drum line, all backed up by the vocals which are full of the emotion of the track, forming into a sound that still sounds fresh even this far down the line. There Must Be A Better World Somewhere is a blues track in the truest sense of the word, with a soaring lead guitar line, matching piano work and bass line, and a real feeling that you just want to close your eyes, let the music do the talking and let the whole thing wash over you. ‘Flying high, some joker clips my wings, just because he gets a kick of doing those things’…a statement which echoes out of the track but still sounds just as relavent today, and the opposite of what BB King seems to have achieved in his career. Rather than letting them get him down – he’s gone on, pushed, and the music is here as testament to that.
Throughout all of the tracks we were sent through as a preview to this album release, I found myself sitting back and just listening. There’s no need to move, dance, shout, sing or join in, the real enjoyment comes from just sitting and listening, taking it all in and allowing yourself to realise that this is real music, put together by a real artist, and something which will live on forever. I’ve always looked up to BB King as a bit of a guitar idol but to sit and really listen to his tracks hasn’t been a chore or something I felt forced to do, it’s been an honour, and something which I know I am going to have to do a hell of a lot more often.
If you like the blues, or if you simply want to get hold of some music which is going to accompany every single mood on the spectrum, then this is a collection you need to own – and one I know I’ll be reaching out for myself.
The BB King Collection is released on 24th September.
Words: Dave Nicholls