# B.B. King **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 17, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861 "2007-11-17T20:31:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/1 "2007-11-17T20:31:31Z")
I feel like a complete moron for admitting this – but I don’t own a single one of his albums. His discography is intimidating – where should I start? ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2007, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/2 "2007-11-17T20:48:53Z")
_Completely Well_. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2007, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/3 "2007-11-18T00:32:09Z")
His _Chronicles_ dual CD set would give you a good cross section of studio and live recordings. ---
**Author:** ![flickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7bcc69/32.png) [@flickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flickster)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2007, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/4 "2007-11-18T00:45:46Z")
Another 2 CD set of Special Note: _How Blue Can You Get_ The cut of “ **Please Send Me Someone To Love** ” w/Gladys Knight & Paul Butterfield is worth the price of the CD all in itself In fact I’m listening to this CD set right no and it’s just as good or maybe better than the _Chronicles_ CD. Only thing is a few of the cuts were recorded with guest performers (as above) but all well done. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2007, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/5 "2007-11-18T00:50:09Z")
ITunes has an Essential Blues collection that includes several BB King songs; you can select those for a start. (I’m not sure how specialized their ‘essential’ lists are, but they may have one for BB himself.) ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2007, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/6 "2007-11-18T00:51:42Z")
I’m particularly fond of [this “best of.”](http://http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000002PB8/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top). Yes, it’s quite short, but as you say, his body of work can be overwhelming. It’s a nice little taste of what his music is all about. I also like his 1997 album [Deuces Wild](http://www.amazon.com/Deuces-Wild-B-B-King/dp/B000002P86/ref=m_art_li_7). It’s a series of duets with contemporary artists. ---
**Author:** ![Labdad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/439d5e/32.png) [@Labdad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labdad)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2007, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/7 "2007-11-18T14:43:43Z")
“Live in Cook County Jail” as example of B. B. at his best in concert; “Indianola Mississippi Seeds” as an example of B. B. at his best in the studio. ---
**Author:** ![hawthorne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@hawthorne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hawthorne)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2007, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/8 "2007-11-18T15:28:04Z")
“Live at the Regal”. King’s in great form, the crowd is great and the set captures the encroaching nostalgia that was the blues even in the mid 1960s. ---
**Author:** ![raindog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@raindog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raindog)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2007, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/9 "2007-11-18T15:37:24Z")
[QUOTE=Labdad] “Live in Cook County Jail” as example of B. B. at his best in concert; “Indianola Mississippi Seeds” as an example of B. B. at his best in the studio. [/QUOTE] Seconded. LiCCJ is a wonderful album. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2007, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/10 "2007-11-18T15:54:44Z")
Well, since “Chronicles” is “Live at the Regal” and “Live in Cook County Jail,” plus “Blues Is King,” it seems like the consensus is I should start there. Many thanks, all! ---
**Author:** ![Cherry2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/59ef9b/32.png) [@Cherry2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cherry2000)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2007, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/11 "2007-11-18T17:04:52Z")
[QUOTE=Green Bean] I also like his 1997 album [Deuces Wild](http://www.amazon.com/Deuces-Wild-B-B-King/dp/B000002P86/ref=m_art_li_7). It’s a series of duets with contemporary artists. [/QUOTE] I’ll 2nd _Deuces Wild_. Also, if you want to ease into things, his _Ridin’ With the King_ with Eric Clapton ani’t bad. Or better yet, just try to go see him play live. I have had the pleasure three times, and it’s incredible. ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/12 "2007-12-07T15:55:25Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] Well, since “Chronicles” is “Live at the Regal” and “Live in Cook County Jail,” plus “Blues Is King,” it seems like the consensus is I should start there. [/QUOTE] And I have, and I’m enjoying it – thanks for your advice! Overall, though, I find his singing far less interesting than his playing – are there any albums where the emphasis is on the instrumentals? ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 4:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/13 "2007-12-07T16:11:22Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] And I have, and I’m enjoying it – thanks for your advice! Overall, though, I find his singing far less interesting than his playing – are there any albums where the emphasis is on the instrumentals? [/QUOTE] Nah, not that I know of - although he has released so many albums and songs of his have been collected on so many compilations that I am sure there is something out there. The thing is, \*\*twick \*\*- BB’s singing _and_ playing is what his “thing” is. His signature style is the call-and-response between his vocals and his stinging guitar lines. In fact, BB never plays chords when he sings, and only plays single-note lines when he is not singing (and always closes his eyes when he sings, but that’s another story) - so the whole point is the give and take between the two. Therefore, instrumentals are rare in his canon… If you want to hear blues instrumentals from an acknowledged master and primary influence to modern music and whose last name is King, look no further than [Freddie King](http://www.amazon.com/Hide-Away-Best-Freddy-King/dp/B000003356/ref=sr_1_25?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1197043648&sr=1-25) (link to a best-of CD on Amazon - looks like a good one). On the CD I linked to, it has at least 4 instrumentals - Hide Away, San-Ho-Zay, Sen-sa-shun and The Stumble - which are legendary in their influence on Clapton and the other blues gods of the 60’s. Clapton’s seeing the photo of Freddie King playing a Les Paul on the album cover deeply influenced his choice of a Les Paul with the Bluesbreakers, and Clapton’s cover of Hide Away that led to Clapton is God graffiti. And the songs rock, so what’s not to love? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2007, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/14 "2007-12-07T16:15:32Z")
Hm, a change in perspective _and_ a suggestion for other new music – that’s mucho bang for your posting buck, **WordMan**! Many thanks! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/15 "2007-12-27T13:48:11Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] If you want to hear blues instrumentals from an acknowledged master and primary influence to modern music and whose last name is King, look no further than [Freddie King](http://www.amazon.com/Hide-Away-Best-Freddy-King/dp/B000003356/ref=sr_1_25?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1197043648&sr=1-25) … [/QUOTE] Got a different best-of compilation (one that cost about half as much), which arrived yesterday, and which I listened to on my way to work this morning. Oh. My. Goodness. Excellent recommendation – many thanks! ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/16 "2007-12-27T17:14:40Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] Got a different best-of compilation (one that cost about half as much), which arrived yesterday, and which I listened to on my way to work this morning. Oh. My. Goodness. Excellent recommendation – many thanks! [/QUOTE] We aim to please here at the SDMB Music Labs - so glad you like it!! Any particular tracks stand out to you? And, if you are the least bit interested in geek trivia, let me know…for instance, the photo on the cover of the original “Let’s Hide Away” album for Freddy (the spelling varies) is supposed to be THE direct influence on Clapton, Mike Bloomfield and Keith Richards that led to them buying Les Paul guitars (further trivia - it wasn’t a sunburst, the version that became legendary, but instead a Goldtop with older, P-90 pickups…not sure why the Brits and Bloomfield picked up sunbursts, except maybe the newer, “humbucker” pickups were quieter (they “bucked the hum”) at louder volumes needed for rock…) - sorry, couldn’t resist. By the way, why the _heck_ are the Google links at the bottom of this thread related to “undo circumcision damage”?!?!?? ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/17 "2007-12-27T17:29:26Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] Any particular tracks stand out to you? [/QUOTE] Not yet – let me listen to it a dozen or so times and get back to you. (And, alas, all that geekery was completely lost on me – I’m not an equipment buff even in my areas of expertise, let along the areas where I only “know what I like.”) ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2007, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/18 "2007-12-27T18:00:26Z")
[QUOTE=twickster] Not yet – let me listen to it a dozen or so times and get back to you. (And, alas, all that geekery was completely lost on me – I’m not an equipment buff even in my areas of expertise, let along the areas where I only “know what I like.”) [/QUOTE] All good - the whole point is the music, right? Geekery comes well after that and only if you have a predilection for it… I happen to be a big fan of Hide Away and the Stumble. In both cases, there are prominent spots where Freddie does “his thing” - he plays with a thumbpick and two fingerpicks and rips off licks where he is simultaneously plucking with his thumb and at least one finger. In Hide Away, there is the part where it Stops, Stops again and then he does a cool descending lick and then everyone kicks in? That’s an example of what I mean… He was known for getting guests up on stage - nice white-boy blues players who loved and emulated the Texas Cannonball - and he would just slay them with his licks. Not particularly fast - although he could be - but stinging and authoritative. Check this out: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdyvPg0c6bI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vdyvPg0c6bI) So many cool things about this - - NOBODY sports the butterfly collar the way Freddie does - Great shots of him working his fingerpicked style - look how much time he spends muting the strings - he spends more time making then NOT sound as he does hitting licks - Could that Hammond B3 Organ and Leslie Speaker cabinet (that big honkin’ piece of furniture on the right that looks like an old radio) be ANY cooler?!?!? - Yes, Freddie is about 6’6" and 300 pounds - he makes that huge Gibson ES-355 guitar look like a toy. And yeah, he wears his strap on his right shoulder - it’s a Texas Blues thing, like Albert Collins and Gatemouth Brown (I think…)… Sorry, geeking again - can’t resist! ---
**Author:** ![twickster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@twickster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/twickster)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/19 "2007-12-28T14:11:10Z")
Okay, three listens into it, and I’ve identified _Hide Away_ as a fave, and _Big Legged Woman_ as having the [Worst. Lyrics. Evah!](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=9310809#post9310809) ---
**Author:** ![Euthanasiast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Euthanasiast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euthanasiast)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861/20 "2007-12-28T14:20:07Z")
**Love** Fredie King, and Hideaway is one of my all time favorite blues numbers. I also like most musician’s take on that song. I particularly love SRV (big surprise there) and Jeff Healey’s version of that song. Excellent recommendation. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/b-b-king/426861.md?page=2)