Riley B. King was also known as the Boy from Beale Street, the Beale Street Blues Boy, and eventually just the Blues Boy King. Over the years it was shortened to just B.B. King. This album is a nice live recording, because it captures B.B. King, not in a large concert hall, nor a prison yard, but in the intimacy of a small club. This album was recorded in a Chicago Club on November 5th, 1966, and it sounds great.

The first thing I liked about this album, before even popping it into my Pioneer Elite DVD player (yes, I play my CD's in my DVD player, its a very well made unit), was the liner notes. It gave a really great background to the early days of B.B. King and had the information about how he got his name. I only wish that the name of the Chicago club was given. King is introduced at this 1966 club show as the greatest blues player.

The show began with Waitin' On You. The band sounds great, providing a backdrop of steady bass and drums, with a nice horn section. The sax player can be heard on the right, and B.B. King and his guitar sing out from the right. B.B. King introduces his band; Sonny Freeman on drums, on the organ, Duke Jethro, on trumpet Kenneth Sands, and on tenor sax, Bobby Forte. (thankfully the liner notes give the bass player Louis Satterfield) He then introduces Lucille before launching into Gambler's Blue's with some scorching guitar. The sound definitely has that club sound to it, but in a good way. It doesn't have the "recorded in a barrel" sound that some club sets have, but it does have that, "everyone's having fun at the club" sound. B.B.s lamentations on vocals are echoes by his saxaphone player to the delight of the rambunctious audience. Tired of Your Jive starts off with some deep organ in the left with B.B.s guitar and vocals, while a steady bass beat is held down in the right. I REFUSE to be Your fool Mama, I'm TIRED of your Jive!. Lucille wails out with crystal clear notes at the start of Night Life above the din of the club crowd. Although the crowd on this album can always be heard, it really adds to the feel of the show, and never detracts. Buzz me follows with some great organ playing.

My favorite song of all on this club show recording was Don't Answer the Door. It's a man singing to his woman that he does NOT want under any circumstance to have anyone at his house when he is out at work. B.B. King expresses the songs sentiment so well, I could just picture the guy at home yelling at his poor wife to get all the in-laws out. and if your sister might want visit us, but the little girl just talks too much, so if she must come, tell her, Tell Her, TELL HER to meet us Sunday at church..... your mother might want to visit us, but you tell your mama I get home about the break of day, and you know thats too late to visit anybody, so tell your mama please Please PLEASE STAY AWAY. As B.B. screams out the triple words of the song, the band hits each word with a riff, matching King's volume loud, louder and loudest. It's the highlight of the album, and you could just feel the excitement of the audience as the song is performed.

Blind Love, I Know What You're Puttin' Down, Baby Get Lost and Gonna Keep on Lovin' You round out this great live club performance.

The recording quality of this show was terrific, I really felt like I was pressed up against the stage, listening to the show. All I needed to complete the experience was for someone to spill a beer on my back.

If you want to hear what B.B. King sounded like in a small club, Blues is King is a fine choice. It gets an easy five stars.

I purchased this as part of an outstanding live concert trilogy ,B.B.King Chronicles.
If you like B.B. King, you may also want to read some of my other reviews:

B.B. King's 80th Birthday Bash about actually seeing B.B. King live at Boston's Symphony Hall on January 29th, 2006.
Reflections one of B.B. King's latest releases on SACD and
Riding with the King a fine DVD-Audio that B.B. King released with Eric Clapton

Recommend this product?