Artist: B.B. King
Album: Live at the Regal
Year: 1965
B.B. King is among the most famous of all guitarists. He's a bluesman--his music isn't too far from Muddy Waters and Ray Charles terrain.
This album was a real treat. I think this might be my favorite of all the blues albums I've heard. King has a smoothness to his delivery and the guitar on this album really soars. If you've been following along here you'll know I'm not too much of a blues/soul aficionado, but this guy lends more of a "rock vocal" to the proceedings, somehow making it a little more palatable to my honky ass. King has a really nice rapport with the crowd, doing little introductions for a number of the songs. It's one of those live albums that makes you feel like you're there.
The highlight here for me was "How Blue Can You Get" -- which features the lyrics: "I've been downhearted, baby, ever since the day we met." Immediately, I was like, damn...I've heard that before!
It's sampled in the Primitive Radio Gods' "Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand," a damn fine song by one of the 1990's long-forgotten one-hit wonders. It was nice to hear the original, in its intended context. Great tune, any way you slice it.
Rating: Worth repeated listens
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