The very first full length album from BB King – a killer collection of previous singles for the RPM Records label, served up as a bold statement of King's early genius! The record announces its presence right from the very first note – that brilliant blend of effortless electric guitar solo work and completely charismatic vocals that made BB such a star, right from the get-go – and which maybe comes through even more clearly here than in some of his overproduced material from later decades! Many tracks have nicely jumping backings by the great Maxwell Davis – and titles include "Please Love Me", "Bad Luck", "3 O'Clock Blues", "Ten Long Years", "Sweet Little Angel", "You Upset Me Baby", and a classic early take on "Every Day I Have The Blues". LP, Vinyl record album

Includes 6 non-album bonus tracks. CD

... CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

... CD

... CD

Includes "Hummingbird", "How Blue Can You Get", "Caldonia", "Sweet Sixteen", "Ain't Nobody Home", "Why I Sing The Blues", "The Thrill Is Gone", and "Nobody Loves Me But My Mother". LP, Vinyl record album

Duets with Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Etta James, Lowell Fulson, Albert Collins, John Lee Hooker, Ruth Brown, Irma Thomas, and others. CD

The definitely got the title right here – as BB King is plenty great, and already a powerhouse in these early years of his career! King sprung forth from the Memphis scene almost fully-formed – and in addition to his famous guitar work, he was also a hell of a singer who could bring a new sort of soulful presence to blues music – able to croon with the charm of a jazz singer in the right moments, join with a doo wop group at others, yet come on with the power of a bluesman whenever he stepped in front of the mic! This great album has BB in all these modes – recorded with brilliantly bold sound – and titles include "I Had A Woman", "Sweet Sixteen", "Someday Baby", "I'm Gonna Quit My Baby", and "I Was Blind". CD features 8 bonus tracks – including "Down Now", "Bim Bam", "Young Dreamers", "Shotgun Blues", "Woman Don't Care", and "Broke & Hungry" – some in rare unissued takes. CD

BB King at his late 60s best – working here in the company of producers Johnny Pate and Quincy Jones, and serving up a great blend of blues and soul in the process! The set's less a "best of", than a collection of ABC work that doesn't seem to be on the other full albums of the time – mostly produced by Johnny Pate, with those great Chicago soul touches that helped his work with King really cross new boundaries – and finally give BB the kind of full, forceful approach that Bobby Blue Bland had been getting for years. The Quincy Jones cuts are two from the soundtrack to For Love Of Ivy – both pretty groovy, with a socking soul punch – and titles on the full album include "Tired Of Your Jive", "Don't Answer The Door", "The BB Jones", "Paying The Cost To Be The Boss", "All Over Again", "I Don't Want You Cutting Off Your Hair", "Sweet Sixteen", "Meet My Happiness", and "You Put It On Me". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

One of the standout classics from BB King's legendary run at Kent – a classic album with a cool little cover to boot! Arrangements on the set are by Maxwell Davis – who has this great way of bringing out some of the jazzier currents in BB's music – almost the same Memphis blend that Bobby Blue Bland was using at the time – really showing a new level of sophistication added to the blues! BB's guitar and vocals are wonderful – with this bold, youthful power that's free from any cliche or easy modes – and titles include "Beautician Blues", "The Jungle", "5 Long Years", "Eyesight To The Blind", "Blue Shadows", "The Worst Thing In My Life", "Blues Stay Away", "Got Em Bad", and "It's A Mean World". CD

BB King brings in a sweet dose of jazz to his work – just a touch of the funkier backings that some of his electric contemporaries were getting at the time – maybe not as hard-wailing as some of the Chess funky blues records, but definitely somewhere in that direction! Players on the date include Mel Brown and Jesse Davis on guitars, Bobby Bryant on trumpet, Red Holloway on tenor, Plas Johnson on baritone, Clifford Coulter and Victor Feldman on piano, and the great Earl Palmer on drums. Titles include "Help The Poor", "Can't You Hear Me Talking To You", "Midnight", "I Got Some Help I Don't Need", "I've Been Blue Too Long", "Lucille's Granny, and "Can't You Hear Me Talking To You". LP, Vinyl record album

An excellent set by BB King – one of his best from the 60s, and a smoking live set recorded at Chicago's legendary Regal Theatre! The enthusiasm at the venue shows that BB's Memphis-honed style is a perfect fit for the electrified Chicago sound of the 60s – and the recording really brings out some wonderful responses from the audience – making the record a blues equivalent of James Brown's famous Live At The Apollo set! The record features introductions by Chicago DJs Pervis Spann and E Rodney Jones – and tracks include "Every Day", "Please Love Me", "Worry Worry", "Woke Up This Morning", "Help The Poor", and "You Upset Me Baby". CD

... LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Sweet Sixteen", "Rock Me Baby", "Woke Up This Morning", "You Upset Me Baby", "Sneakin Around", "Sweet Little Angel", "Bad Case Of Love", and "Ten Long Years". LP, Vinyl record album

The vintage years are some of the best years for the legendary BB King – served up here in a package that focuses strongly on the music he made during his first 15 years in the studio, with lots of rare tracks for the RPM, Crown, and Kent Records labels – including a few titles that appear here for the first time ever! King at this point was a genre unto himself – able to play a raw electric guitar with the best of his Texas precursors, but also able to fit it into smoother, more sophisticated arrangements – often with that current of jazz that was showing up in the Memphis scene in the 50s, and given that undeniable BB King charm on the vocals! The package features a whopping 86 titles on four CDs, all with a wonderful level of packaging – typical of the usual Ace Records style, which means wonderful notes, great graphics, and a presentation that's way better than the usual clunky longbox set. This is hardly a "hits" collection, and instead digs very deep – and then lays out the material in a wonderful way that shows the huge evolution in King's music before his bigger 60s fame on ABC Records. CD

BB King in London – not playing live, but working in the studio with a host of British musicians he'd inspired over the years! The lineup varies from track to track, giving a nice sort of variety to the album – and the overall feel is a bit like some of the Chess London sessions of the time – but maybe more blues overall! Features work by Peter Green on guitar, Steve Marriott on harmonica, Alexis Korner on acoustic guitar, Gary Wright on electric piano and Hammond, Ringo Starr on drums, and The Mystery Shadow on Hammond – and titles include "Ghetto Woman", "Wet Hayshark", "Part Time Love", "We Can't Agree", and "Blue Shadows". LP, Vinyl record album

... CD

BB King's collapsed here on the beach in California – and maybe that's because he gave so much energy to the session – which is a lot more full than some of his previous work from the 60s! The whole thing is a mix of blues and soul – some larger charts that really provide a great backdrop for BB's vocals, which dominate a bit more in the set than his guitar – although there's definitely a few tracks here that feature that trademark King magic on the strings! Titles include "Just Can't Please You", "Any Other Way", "Guess Who", "Better Lovin Man", "Five Long Years", and "Shouldn't Have Left Me". LP, Vinyl record album

4CDs, and loads of vintage work – including great work from BB's ABC and MCA years, plus rare singles, early material, and even some unissued tracks! CD

Kent recordings by BB – issued here in a mid 60s package with a pretty slick photo on the front! Cuts include "Good Man Gone Bad", "I'm King", "Partin Time", "You're On The Top", "Feel Like A Million", "I'll Survive", "Long Nights", "What A Way To Go", and "I've Got A Right To Love My Baby". LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

... LP, Vinyl record album

Titles include "Back In LA", "I'm Moving On", "Mean & Evil", "Roll Roll Roll", and "The Lowdown". CD

A mid 70s meeting of two seminal blues talents from the Memphis scene – singer Bobby Blue Bland, and legendary guitarist BB King! The pair were both working for ABC at the time – major label fame after years woodshedding in the indies – and hitting well-deserved fame for their huge talents – still as fresh here as they were a decade before, and unmarred by any studio sanitization in this great live set! The record does an especially good job of bringing together the artists verbally – letting Bobby and BB open up and rap a bit during the songs – yet still having plenty of space to go into their own thing musically, too. Titles include "It's My Own Fault", "I'll Take Care Of You", "I'm Sorry", "3 O'Clock Blues", "Goin Down Slow", and a great long Medley track. CD

... CD

... CD

A 60s set from Memphis bluesman BB King – but one put together with a very distinct Chicago touch as well! The set's produced by Johnny Pate, and recorded live with a vibe that's similar to King's classic recording at The Regal – but it's almost got even more of a soulful punch, thanks to backing from a cool small combo that includes Bobby Forte on tenor, Kenneth Sands on trumpet, Duke Jethro on Hammond, and Louis Satterfield on bass! BB's vocals are great – in his best early form – and the tunes are bluesy, but also smoke with a nice degree of soul – and almost some jazzy touches at times from the tenor and organ. Titles include "Don't Answer The Door", "Blind Love", "Tired Of Your Jive", "Night Life", "Buzz Me", and "Waitin On You". CD

A great document of the early genius of BB King – a set that brings together material recorded just over the space of a decade for the RPM/Kent label in LA – the company who gave BB a wonderful showcase in the years before he hopped over to a larger label and bigger fame! The material here is fantastic – and often has that light touch of jazz that would come when BB was working with like-minded players – mixing his own raw touches on guitar with sweet piano and tenor lines, the topping the whole thing with that vocal approach that really helped blues evolve more than a few notches, thanks to material like this! The set features 16 tracks in all – and titles include "Woke Up This Morning", "My Own Fault", "Whole Lotta Love", "You Upset Me Baby", "The Jungle", "Your Fool", "You're Breaking My Heart", "3 O'Clock Blues", "My Sometime Baby", and "Sweet Little Angel". CD

BB King at his late 60s best – working here in the company of producers Johnny Pate and Quincy Jones, and serving up a great blend of blues and soul in the process! The set's less a "best of", than a collection of ABC work that doesn't seem to be on the other full albums of the time – mostly produced by Johnny Pate, with those great Chicago soul touches that helped his work with King really cross new boundaries – and finally give BB the kind of full, forceful approach that Bobby Blue Bland had been getting for years. The Quincy Jones cuts are two from the soundtrack to For Love Of Ivy – both pretty groovy, with a socking soul punch – and titles on the full album include "Tired Of Your Jive", "Don't Answer The Door", "The BB Jones", "Paying The Cost To Be The Boss", "All Over Again", "I Don't Want You Cutting Off Your Hair", "Sweet Sixteen", "Meet My Happiness", and "You Put It On Me". CD

BB King hips up his groove a bit here – picking up some of the crossover soul and rock touches used by contemporaries over at Chess/Cadet, and expanding his sound with a range of guests that include Leon Russell, Joe Walsh, and Carole King! Despite the presence of these bigger names, the set's very much in BB's own spirit – mostly focused on his vocals and guitar work, and still mostly including original compositions. A few tunes get nice and funky on the rhythms, although still very much in a blues-based way – and Jimmie Haskell contributes a few larger arrangements from time to time. Titles include "King's Special", "Until I'm Dead & Cold", "You're Still My Woman", "Hummingbird", "Go Underground", and "Chains & Things". LP, Vinyl record album

Not BB's most famous work – but great stuff, with a raw edge, and some excellent guitar work on the best tracks! Titles include "Mr Pawnbroker", "Walking Dr Bill", "My Own Fault Darling", "Catfish Blues", "Please Set A Date", and "Driving Wheel". CD

... CD

... CD

A great late 70s set from BB King – a record that really echoes that mix of jazz and blues that he first had when coming out of the Memphis scene – but in a style that's very different than his initial recordings! Here, King plays with some great production help from The Crusaders, who also play on the record too – and add a hip current of LA groove to BB's vocals and guitar – never too slick or tight, but really opening up the record in ways that show the sophistication of his playing – that subtle current of jazz influences that made him so different than the rest! Titles include "Second Hand Woman", "Take It Home", "The Beginning Of The End", "Tonight I'm Gonna Make You A Star", "Happy Birthday Blues", and "Same Old Story". LP, Vinyl record album

BB King is a blues musician with a much richer story than most – one that's captured here in very vivid detail by the author, as he mixes together a wealth of historical research with quotations from interviews and other materials too – all of which really makes the long journey of BB King come alive, as he shifts from roots in the south to the Memphis scene, then California, then superstardom that made him one of the biggest blues figures of the 20th Century! There's a great flow to the book – down to earth details that really make you feel like you're following King on his rise to fame – yet the big section at notes also indicates that the author wasn't just throwing stories out there without any support, and did plenty to weave the whole thing together with an eye for the facts. Softcover edition is 481 pages, with some black and white images. Book

A Philly soul legend finally gets his time in the spotlight – as drummer Earl Young played on countless classic sessions back in the day, but rarely even got his name in the liner notes! That lack of recognition is corrected here – in a great package that puts Young's face on the cover, details his genius on the drums in the notes, and then presents a motherlode of killer soul tunes from the late 60s through the 70s! Young's maybe best known for his work at Sigma Sound Studios, and on famous sessions for the Philadelphia International label – but here, he's heard on an even wider range of cuts – including late 60s Northern Soul numbers, and great album work by artists you might not normally associate with Philly. Titles include "Storm Warning" by The Volcanos, "Silly Silly Fool" by Dusty Springfield, "Hit & Run" by Loleatta Holloway, "I Just Can't Say Goodbye" by Philly Devotions, "Please Give Me One More Chance" by Clyde McPhatter, "Do The Hand Jive" by Archie Bell & The Drells, "Penguin At The Big Apple/Zing" by The Trammps, "I Can't Fight Your Love" by The Modulations, "Touch & Go (12" mix)" by Ecstasy Passion & Pain, "I Like To Live The Love" by BB King, "I'm Doin Fine Now" by New York City, "Ain't Got The Love Of One Girl" by The Ambassadors, "Just Can't Get You Out Of My Mind" by The Spinners, "Do It Again" by Charles Mann, and "Be Truthful To Me" by Billy Paul. CD

Music from James Brown, Etta James, Marvin Gaye, the Temptations, Aaron Neville, the Impressions, Jackie Wilson, the Originals, the Dells, BB King, the Miracles, Cannonball Adderley, Mary Wells, and more. CD

The Crusaders meet BB King and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Sidney Reginald Garris. LP, Vinyl record album

Music from Jimmy Smith, Billy Eckstine, Curtis Mayfield, BB King, Herbie Mann, Les McCann and Roberta Flack. CD

Recorded live at Newport in New York and features tracks by Big Mama Thornton, Jay McShann, Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson, Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup, Lloyd Glenn, Muddy Waters, Clarence 'Gatemouth' Brown, and BB King – 18 tracks over 2 discs! CD

48 tracks from Elmore James, BB King, Ray Charles, Billie Holiday, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Leadbelly, Joe Turner, Howlin' Wolf, Roy Milton, and more. CD

Music from Chuck Berry, Ray Charles, Bo Diddley, Billie Holiday, Elmore James, BB King, Leadbelly, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins, Jimmy Reed, Koko Taylor, Muddy Waters, more – 45 tracks total. CD

Hip live material – featuring work by Roberta Flack, BB King, Curtis Mayfield, LesMcCann, Billy Eckstine, and Herbie Mann! LP, Vinyl record album

A great little set, even if it's not what you might expect – not the kind of cuts that heralded the early years of country soul – and instead an even cooler batch of tracks from those years when R&B and hillbilly records often crossed paths on the postwar scene! Many of the small indie labels of the 50s recorded both country and blues, sometimes even having different artists take on the same songs, but in different ways – which meant that there was often a lot of cross-pollination going on in the farther reaches of the music business! The cuts here definitely show that approach – as a good many of them were originally country hits for other singers, but sound great and very different in the hands of R&B artists – and are mixed with a few others that follow similar themes, and really fit into the set in a great way. As always with Bear Family, the whole thing is presented with great notes and details on the music – in a set list of 29 tracks that include "Steel Guitar Rag" by Earl Hooker, "Sixteen Tons" by BB King, "Lovesick Blues" by Sonny Knight, "Big Mamou" by Smiley Lewis, "Ghost Riders In The Sky" by Scatman Crothers, "It'd Surprise You" by The Griffin Brothers with Margie Day, "Indian Love Call" by Hal Singer, "No Help Wanted" by Bob Gaddy & His Alley cats, "Cherokee Boogie" by Moose Jackson, "It Makes No Difference Now" by Piano Red, and "You Can't Stay Here" by Pearl Reaves & The Concords. CD

Features guest guitar from BB King guitar, John Lee Hooker, and Joe Louis Walker – plus Wynton Marsalis on trumpet, and Bernard Purdie on drums. CD

Performances by Big Mama Thornton, Jay McShann, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, Muddy Waters, Clarence "Gatemouth" Brown, and BB King. CD

A fantastic collection of music – 66 tracks that show the huge influence of Cuban rhythms in American music during the mid-century years – presented here in a wider range of styles than you might expect! This isn't just Latin music, made by Cuban cats hitting the New York scene – and instead, these are tracks that show the very deep penetration of sounds from Havana – at a level that has the rhythms emerging in soul, hardbop, R&B, and even more standard blues material! The CD divides the music up into three different CDs, each with a different theme – one that looks at rumba in jazz music, another the influence of the mambo, and the third the range of slower Cuban rhythms well into the 60s. Titles include "Dem Tambourines" by Don Wilkerson, "Cuba Doll" by Lloyd Glenn, "Summertime" by Red Saunders, "Soony Roony" by Slim Gaillard, "De Laff's On You" by Louis Jordan, "Conga Brava" by Duke Ellington, "I Come From America" by Chris Powell, "Jock A Mo" by Sugar Boy Crawford, "Woke Up This Morning" by BB King, "Fool Burro" by Mabel Scott, "Cu-Blue" by Billy Taylor, "Arabian Love Call" by Art Neville, "Out Of Nowhere" by Cal Tjader, "I've Waited So Long" by Eddie Cochran, "She Wants To Mambo" by The Chanters, "Mambo Hop" by Oscar Saldana, and "Mambocito Mio" by Illinois Jacquet. CD

Includes tracks by Howlin' Wolf, Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, Dinah Washington, Rosco Gordon, BB King, Wynonie Harris, Big Joe Turner, Tiny Bradshaw, Floyd Dixon, Marie Adams, and others – 20 tracks total. CD

Music from Muddy Waters, Big Mama Thornton, Jimmy Reed, Elmore James, Eddie Boyd, John Lee Hooker, Little Junior Parker, Slim Harpo, Otis Rush, BB King, Little Walter, Bo Diddley, Sonny Boy Williamson, Guitar Slim, Lowell Fulson, Bobby Bland, Little Milton, Albert King, and Etta James – 20 tracks in all. CD

There's plenty of R&B Christmas collections on the market, but this is one of the best – a really well-done collection that goes way past the over-played hits, and features some really rare treasures in the genre! Although a holiday set, this one's put together with the same depth and care of Ace Records' usual rare soul collections – and features a well-chosen batch of obscure singles, mostly from the west coast and Memphis scenes of the 50s – all supported by great notes, top-shelf packaging, and a really overstuffed set list! CD features 20 tracks in all – including "White Christmas" by Hadda Brooks, "Christmas Celebration" by BB King, "Christmas Time" by The Debonaires, "I Wanna Spend Christmas With You (parts 1 & 2)" by Lowell Fulsom, "My Christmas Baby" by Smokey Hogg, "White/Hot Christmas" by The Elves, "Santa Claus Boogie" by The Voices, "I Want You With Me Xmas" by Jesse Belvin, "God Gave Us Christmas" by Oscar McLollie & His Honey Jumpers, and "Christmas Bells" by Bobby Nunn. CD

There's plenty of R&B Christmas collections on the market, but this is one of the best – a really well-done collection that goes way past the over-played hits, and features some really rare treasures in the genre! Although a holiday set, this one's put together with the same depth and care of Ace Records' usual rare soul collections – and features a well-chosen batch of obscure singles, mostly from the west coast and Memphis scenes of the 50s – all supported by great notes, top-shelf packaging, and a really overstuffed set list! Titles include "Christmas Celebration" by BB King, "Santa Claus Baby" by The Voices, "White Hot Christmas" by The Elves, "I Wanna Spend Christmas With You" by Lowell Fulsom, "I Want You With Me Christmas" by Jesse Belvin, "Dig That Crazy Santa Claus" by Oscar McLollie & The Honey Jumpers, "Crazy Santa Claus" by The Debonaires, "Gonna Have A Merry Xmas" by The Nic Nacs, "Merry Christmas Baby" by Mari Jones, "Christmas Bells" by Bobby Nunn, and "Xmas Baby" by Riff Ruffin. LP, Vinyl record album

An all-star tribute to the great Curtis Mayfield – served up by a generation of artists who were influenced by his classic work! The set mixes soul singers and pop stars – in a really surprising lineup of tracks that includes "The Makings Of You" by Aretha Franklin, "Choice Of Colors" by Gladys Knight, "Gypsy Woman" by Bruce Springsteen, "I'm The One Who Loves You" by Stevie Wonder, "Woman's Got Soul" by BB King, "Keep On Pushin" by Tevin Campbell, "Fool For You" by The Impressions & Bradford Marsalis, "I'm So Proud" by The Isley Brothers, "Look Into Your Heart" by Whitney Houston, "Billy Jack" by Lenny Kravitz, "Amen" by Elton John & The Sounds Of Blackness, "If There's A Hell Below" by Narada Michael Walden, and "Let's Do It Again" by The Repercussions and Curtis Mayfield himself! CD

Tracks by James Brown, Fugees, Bill Withers, Spinners, Jazz Crusaders, and BB King. CD

A landmark live set from the Rolling Stones – featuring material from their smoking tour of 1969! The set really captures the Stones at their most nasty – that great turning point when their edge was maybe sharpest of ever, right in the best Let It Bleed mode – but with even more raw energy from the live setting. Titles include "Carol", "Live With Me", "Street Fighting Man", "Sympathy For The Devil", "Little Queenie", and "Stray Cat Blues". Massively expanded package features a huge amount of music – the unreleased Stones tracks "Prodigal Son", "You Gotta Move", "I'm Free", and "Satisfaction" – plus material from sets by BB King and Ike & Tina Turner on a full separate disc – both pulled from the same tour! Also features a DVD with backstage footage by the Maysles Brothers, and song performances of all the extra Stones tracks! CD

Jimmy Smith on organ, Russell Malone on guitar, Reggie McBride on bass, and Harvey Mason on drums – plus guest vocals from Etta James and Dr. John, as well as guitar and vocals from BB King and Taj Mahal. CD

Music from BB King, John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Leadbelly, Amos Milburn, Memphis Slim, Brownie McGhee, Barbecue Bob, Big Bill Broonzy, Son House, and more. CD