Sordid-1's Full Review: Riding With the King by Eric Clapton/B.B. King
I have to be honest with you, dear reader. This is not an unbiased epinion. Even if this album were entitled "Eric Clapton and B.B. King Banging on Tin Cans & Grunting a Lot", you could count on me making a beeline to the music store to be the first in line to purchase it. I'd trample old ladies... I'd strong-arm the teenie-bopper with the newest N' Synch release... hell, I may even take my chances pushing aside that big ole pointy-booted, cowboy-looking dude with the Alan Jackson CD. It doesn't matter. It's Clapton and the King of the Blues collaborating on their first studio release. I consider this a must-have.
I love the blues. Growing up in an era when disco reigned supreme and the rock scene was cluttered with the likes of the Bay City Rollers and Shaun Cassiday, there was me - a young lad about 10 years of age... rushing home from school to jam out to B.B. King and "Indianola Mississippi Seeds". I loved it, but I didn't know why. I didn't relate to it. I didn't grow up on a cotton plantation, I'm just a white kid from the country. I couldn't empathize with B.B when he belted out "Nobody loves me but my mother... and she could be jivin' me, too". I think I just realized that this was an honest music. And that's what the blues is... an honest, raw, powerful, no-frills expression of mood and emotion.
***** LIVING LEGEND #1: ERIC CLAPTON aka SLOW HAND *****
"Up to the mansion, over the hill, where you can get your prescription filled."
There was a movement in the drug-ridden psychedelic era of the late '60s that claimed "Clapton is God". Well... Clapton is not God. God is God. Clapton is, however, a fine guitar player. An extemely fine guitar player. Clapton was among the first of the British Invasion to deliver the "white boy blues" to the public. This helped redirect the future of rock music away from the doo-wop Motown sound to the bluesy, guitar-driven sound of the modern era. For this, I am eternally grateful.
Clapton gained prominence as the lead guitarist for the Yardbirds (an elite job that was also filled by Jeff Beck and Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page at other times). Seeming unwilling to be pushed to the forefront, he also played with super-groups of the late 60s and 70s including Cream, Blind Faith, and Derek and the Dominos before embarking on a solo career. He has been a radio mainstay for all of my life. I challenge you to listen to any FM rock/pop station for an afternoon without hearing at least one Clapton song. It can't be done.
TRIVIA: Eric Clapton was raised by his grandmother whom he thought was his mom until the age of 9, when he found out the woman he thought was his "sister" was his true biological mother. And people think family relations get confusing here in Arkansas?
***** LIVING LEGEND #2: B.B. KING aka KING OF THE BLUES *****
"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 just about waist high
And I'm gonna play this thing until the day I die."
B.B. King... the blues elder statesman... among the last of the great Southern bluesmen who provided the roots of rock 'n roll. I hope B.B. King lives forever. I hope he's still up on the stage playing fierce licks on Lucille and electrifying the audience when he's 115 years old. But the sad fact is, B.B. King is a 75 year old man whom (I think it is safe to say) is closer to the end of his career than the beginning. I'll tell you what, though, even at 75 years of age B.B. can still lay down a mean groove.
TRIVIA: B.B. King was born on a cotton plantation in Itta Bene, Mississippi.
***** THE COLLABORATION *****
"B.B. is my hero, always has been. The fact that we can go on the same record together has made [my] dream come true." - Eric Clapton
"Working with a true genius has been an inspiration and pure joy! I feel blessed to have such camraderie in a field I love so much." - B.B. King
B.B. and Clapton have quite a mutual admiration society going. This is not surprising. Eric Clapton has always had a deep reverence for the blues and has never failed to pay homage to those who came before him, while B.B. King has served as the willing teacher (Stevie Ray Vaughan, perhaps, being his greatest protege).
Eric Clapton and B.B. King's musical styles have some common threads. They are both innovative, master guitarists with a profound love and respect for the blues. But their styles contrast, as well.
Eric Clapton is the consummate professional. A perfectionist, he seems to lose himself in the music... become a part of the music. He is not his guitar's master, his guitar becomes an extension of him.
King, on the other hand, beats Lucille into submission (that sounds rather brutal... for those of you who do not know, King names every guitar he has 'Lucille'). He makes his guitar do his bidding, and does so in a powerful, powerful way. Whereas Clapton sometimes appears a passive participant, flowing along with the music, King is passionate and powerful. He puts every ounce of his energy, his heart and soul, into every note he plays. He lays himself bare up on the stage and all who watch his performance are affected in some way (unless they are clinically brain-dead).
TRIVIA: Eric Clapton sold the 1956 sunburst Fender Stratocaster he used to record "Layla" with in a 1999 auction for charity. The selling price? A tidy sum of $497,500. That's more than I make in a year.
***** ALBUM HIGHLIGHTS *****
"You're in good hands, you're riding with me."
The body of this album is comprised of a number of original B.B. King composed songs as well as a blend of recent & old-time blues cover tunes. King reigns supreme on this album. As with most of his collaborations with the blues greats, Eric Clapton is more complimentary than dominant. You can definitely hear Clapton's distinct style shining through (especially on "Marry You" and "I Wanna Be"), but make no mistake, "Riding With the King" is primarily a vehicle to showcase King's immense talent.
The music is solid, there is not one bad track on the album. A slower, Delta-style blues feel was prevalent on "Key to the Highway" and "Worried Life Blues" (both of which were acoustic pieces), while a funkier Chicago-style sound was evident in "Marry You".
"Days of Old" contained a honkytonk, rockabilly feel which was really appealing. This is one of the King compositions and really makes for good-time music.
"Hold on I'm Coming"* , the old soul standby, really worked well in the masters' hands. While missing the heavy brass of the original, this was compensated for by great axework on the part of the Dynamic Duo. Both Clapton and King had guitar solos on this song and it presents a good opportunity to contrast their playing styles within an identical framework.
The title track is superb. This John Hiatt-composed song leans more towards rock than blues, but anything King lays his guitarwork on has at least a touch of the blues. This is a song that definitely deserves radio airplay.
What I felt was the gem of the album is a track entitled "I Wanna Be". This is a medium tempo song with a great groove and real funky bass riffs. It is hard to put one's finger on what separates a good song from a great song, but this song definitely falls into the latter category.
It has been a long time since we have heard any new B.B. King music get any attention from rock radio. His last excursion into commercial success was a collaboration with U2 called "When Love Comes to Town" (a great song in its own right). I believe this album may catapult King back into the spotlight. These are songs that could have a lot of appeal to the rock crowd (especially "Riding With the King" and "I Wanna Be") & I believe that if exposed to this music, young listeners would embrace it.
Case in point, last year's release of "Supernatural" by Carlos Santana. This opened up the work of a great guitarist to a whole new generation of music lovers. "Riding With the King" could be this year's "Supernatural" if the marketing guys push it right and the radio guys give it a chance.
* NOTE: This song was composed by Isaac Hayes. **
** NOTE: Yes, the same Isaac Hayes who sang the theme song from "Shaft" ***
*** NOTE: Yes, the same Isaac Hayes who plays Chef on "South Park".
***** THE BALANCE SHEET *****
Assets:
1) History -
There is 80 some combined years of music history in the personage of Eric Clapton and B.B. King. That may not mean anything to the "What Have You Done for Me Lately" crowd, but I stand in awe experiencing their experiences.
2) Musicianship-
Both of these masters take a great deal of pride in their work and set high standards for themselves. These standards were met in the production of this album. Clapton and King don't release filler music.
3) "I Wanna Be" -
This song is destined to crack my Top 20 Greatest list. It is exquisite.
Liabilities:
1) You Can't Dance to It -
Well, I suppose you could if you tried, but you'd probably look pretty silly.
2) It's Not Their Best Work -
This is really not much of a criticism when one considers the incredible body of work that 80+ combined years in the music industry has accumulated. "Riding With the King" is an excellent album, but these are accomplished, but aging, musicians who have passed the pinnacle of their creative energy.
***** MY RECOMMENDATION *****
If you are a strong or moderate lover of the blues...
this is a no-brainer. This album MUST find its way into your collection.
If you are interested in the blues, but are not overly familiar with it...
this album would be a nice introduction. Other essentials for the aspiring blues fan are older B.B. King ("The Thrill is Gone" or "Indianola Mississippi Seeds"), some Elmore James, some Muddy Waters, and some Stevie Ray Vaughan. "Best Of" albums serve well as an introduction as do compilation albums. The Alligator label has some excellent compilation albums that really showcase the gamut of the blues spectrum. I highly recommend these.
If you dislike or have intense hatred for the blues...
why did you read this much of the review, are you mental or something?
I don't know how or why such angst-ridden tales of woe can make you feel so good, but the blues always does it for me.
When it comes to the greatest rockin bluesmen in history, at the top of the electrified traditional list is B.B. King; at the top of the contemporary ...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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