The Blues

by B.B. King

Overview

Originally released in 1958 by the budget-priced Crown label, The Blues collected a dozen sides B.B. King cut for RPM and Kent between 1951 and 1958. (RPM and Kent were owned by the Bahari Brothers who also ran Crown, which explains how one of the true prestige artists of the blues ended up on such a notoriously cheap-o label.) As was often the case with Crown's product, The Blues used a single hit tune (in this case "When My Heart Beats Like a Hammer," a Top Ten R&B chart entry in 1954) to help sell a package of lesser-known material, but thankfully the label also picked some great tunes that hardly sound like filler, even if they didn't make the charts. The material on The Blues is dominated by muscular, horn-driven performances with King's interjections of single-note riffs and powerful string bends punctuating the arrangements, and King's songwriting was already stellar, with "I Want to Get Married," "Don't You Want a Man Like Me," and "Ruby Lee" demonstrating his way with a melody and a lyrical conceit. While King's recordings gained a greater depth and emotional force as he moved into the '60s, his RPM takes were the work of a man who already had an enviable command of his instrument and a real gift as a vocalist and songwriter, and though he would get better with time, The Blues demonstrates he was already near the top of his class. [Ace's 2005 CD reissue of The Blues adds an additional six rare and unheard takes to the package.] ~ Mark Deming

Product Details

Release Date:	12/27/2005
Label:	Ace
UPC:	0029667015820

Tracks

1. Why Do Everything Happen to Me
2. Ruby Lee
3. When My Heart Beats Like a Hammer
4. Don't Have to Cry aka Past Day
5. Boogie Woogie Woman
6. Early in the Morning
7. I Want to Get Married
8. That Ain't the Way to Do It
9. Troubles, Troubles, Troubles
10. Don't You Want a Man Like Me
11. You Know I Go for You
12. What Can I Do
13. Sweet Little Angel
14. Don't Keep Me Waiting
15. Tickle Britches
16. Don't Break Your Promise
17. I'm in Love
18. Bye! Bye! Baby

Album Credits

Performance Credits

B.B. King   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Sam Ling   Composer
Jules Taub   Composer
Dallas Bartley   Composer
Lucille Bogan   Composer
Roy Hawkins   Composer
Leo Hickman   Composer
John Lee Williamson   Composer
B.B. King   Composer
Louis Jordan   Composer
Sonny Boy Williamson I   Composer
Joe Josea   Composer