Lucille wails from the center. B.B.s voice fills the front sound stage. Eric "Slowhand" Clapton's Fender Strat jams behind you and Clapton's voice is in your left ear. Whoever had the idea to release an album with B.B. King "King of the Blues" and Eric "God" Clapton on CD was brilliant. But whoever decided to release that same album on DVD-Audio with a stunning sonic surround sound track was a genius! I never had the album on CD, but if you've read any of my reviews you know that I love Blues, and certainly love B.B. King, and I also love good rock guitar and certainly Eric Clapton. This album came out in 2000, and I'm not sure exactly when the powers that be put it out on DVD-Audio, but I'm sure glad that they did, because when I popped this disc into my Pioneer Elite 45A and listened to it, I just sank back into my leather recliner, hit the button and let it slide all the way back, picked up the remote control, and turned the volume up so that the sound was loud, not too loud, but just loud enough to really appreciate the subtleties of two legendary musicians just play play play. Wow, I just didn't move until the album ended, completely satisfied and knowing that this album was one of the finer choices I have made in DVD-Audio. This album was love at first listen. (I started writing this review after my second listen the night I purchased it)

DVD - Audio track info

First, the album is presented in four separate tracks, the first, my favorite, a 5.1 surround sound advanced resolution track, an advanced resolution stereo track, and surround tracks in Dolby Digital and DTS for those who don't have DVD-Audio players. The advanced resolution tracks do require a DVD-Audio player, and do sound better than the Dolby Digital and DTS surround tracks, but the DTS track is really excellent, and gives you a great taste of why the surround sound format on dual discs, SACDs, and DVD-Audios are so popular. It is close to the advanced track, and makes this album very worth picking up for the blues aficionado who has a DVD player with surround speakers. For those stereo purists, again, you will need a DVD-Audio player, the high definition stereo track is only in DVD-Audio format. However, seriously, even if you believe yourself a stereo purist, LISTEN to the surround track, it adds a depth to the music that is incredible. This album is really on full in all channels, and really takes full advantage of the format. It is used to place the listener right in the middle of the recording studio with instruments miked into specific channels. B.B.'s Lucille is usually front right, and his voice is center, while Clapton and his strat are diagonally opposite in the rear left. Keyboards and other instruments are in the remaining channels. The bass is deep on this album, and the .1 low frequency channel is certainly present, and a good subwoofer will be well appreciated listening and feeling the depth of this album.

The album has 12 great songs on it, a few I will describe in detail to try to impart why I instantly fell in love with this album, the others I will just list, and leave it to you to hear. Let me say this for those tracks not described in detail. This is a great album start to finish, there are no weak tracks, every single song just stands on its own as a tribute to just how damn good two legends can sound when they decide to get together and rock out.

The album kicks of with Riding with the King a song written by John Hiatt for his album of the same name. (this from the blurb on the DVD-Audio that displays while the song plays). Twin guitars attack with B.B. to the right and Eric to the left. A honky tonk style piano is in the rear left and drums are center stage. Its a great bluesy honky tonk number that just rocks from the get go. I dreamed I had a good job, I got well paid, I blew it all at the penny arcade. The two trade vocal and guitar licks throughout the song to excellent effect. About half way through the song, B.B.'s voice booms from the center I stepped out of Mississippi when I was 10 years old, with a suit cut sharp as a razor and a heart made of gold, I had a guitar hanging from just about waist high, and I'm gonna play this thing until I die. The band gives a rich multilayered sound to this song, and the DVD-Audio sets you right in the middle of the studio.


Ten Long Years begins with a classic blues riff, thumping bass, rhythmic drums and piano as BB howls in the way only he can about the woman for ten long years, she was my pride and joy, I used to call her my little girl, and she used to call me her little boy. The guitar work is so precise and controlled in the song, you can just picture Clapton's fingers flying off the fret board of his Fender strat. You can clearly differentiate from Claptons stratocaster and Lucille (B.B.Kings guitar, for the uninitiated). Each has a rich clear sound and the DVD audio really lets you hear the instruments resonate. Since its a blues song, soon B.B.s joy turns to sorry as he tells us that his baby of ten years she's gone, you know she's gone, she's gone

Key to the Highway seems an appropriate song for an album titled Riding with the King and starts of with Clapton's signature guitar sound and unique vocal styling. Soon B.B.'s voice joins him. This is called one of the most influential blues songs of all time, and it was written by Big Bill Broonzy in the 30s. (this again from the handy on screen notes displayed with each song). Its a slow sad song. I could picture the two playing it sitting on the porch of a big ole house by a dusty road, just singing and trading guitar licks.

I Want to Marry You kicks out with both singing in full deep voices I wanna marry you! When I told one of my friends about how great this DVD-Audio was, he told me that he had bought the CD when it first came out, and played this song at his wedding. Its a great song! Again, its Clapton and King trading off the vocals and guitar riffs, while the rest of the band just jams from all corners of the room.

Three O Clock Blues More great guitar work by the two masters, accompanied by some great piano too! This is a slow steady blues number.

Help the Poor Oh, this one was one of my favorites on this album, which says a lot, cause I really loved every song on here. Its bluer than blue, and also features female backing vocals that give the song that slick produced sound. This one is all B.B. singing, with a great steady rocking drum track, you can really hear the drumming laying a steady dum dum dum dum dum in the background (if any other reviewer has some suggestions on words to describe different drum effects, please leave them!) The blurb told me that this was a song made popular from King's famous live blues album Live at the Regal which I have added to my must acquire list.

The remaining songs on the album are:
I wanna be
Worried Life Blues
Days of Old
When My Heart beats like a Hammer
Hold on, I'm Coming
Come Rain or Come Shine

Other Stuff Each song has a little blurb on the song, such as who wrote it, and a bit about the writer. This particular DVD-Audio really doesn't have a lot in the way of extras. The only thing I missed though was a set of lyrics, which most DVD-Audios feature. The insert has info on who played what on each song, and a few nice photos of B.B. and Eric with their guitars and one sweet looking vintage black Cadillac convertible.

Summary Did I mention that I loved this album? I did! Listening to the Advanced Resolution Stereo track gave me an idea of what the CD must have sounded like, which was awesome, but if you loved the CD, its so worth it to get the DVD-Audio. It adds a richness, depth and spaciousness to the album that truly improves the already great sound in the stereo mix. Being stuck between a rock and a hard place isn't good, but being in the middle of Eric Clapton and B.B.King is sonic nirvana.

Recommend this product?