8436569193174

The Blues / Blues In My Heart

B.B.King

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Format: CD

Cat No: 81254

Release Date:  01 November 2018

Label:  State Of Art

Packaging Type:  Digipak

No of Units:  1

Barcode:  8436569193174

Genres:  Blues  

  • Description

    This release includes two of B.B. King's finest albums: The Blues (1958) and Blues in My Heart (1962), which were both originally released at the onset of King's career. The Blues marked his second budget priced LP on the Bihari brothers' Crown label, and collects a dozen sides King cut for RPM and Kent between 1951 and 1958. This album is distinguished by a raw, ragged feel, which proves refreshing in light of the artist's subsequent slicker recordings. It has a loose, roadhouse vibe and features King backed by a full band, including horns, piano, harmonica, and a thumping rhythm section. At the heart of the set are King's stinging, soulful leads and his passionate vocals, serving up instant classics like "Why Does Everything Happen to Me" and "When My Heart Beats Like a Hammer". As was often the case with Crown's product, The Blues used a single hit tune (in this case the aforementioned "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 album is dominated by muscular, horn-driven performances with B.B. King's interjections of single-note riffs and powerful string bends punctuating the arrangements. His 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 lyrics. This edition also includes 4 bonus tracks from the same period. An entertaining mix of booting R&B and blues ballads, this material draws primarily from the Kent singles of that era, including exciting versions of "Hold That Train", "My Sometime Baby", and "Treat Me Right", and from the RPM label with the gorgeous "I'm in Love" and its big-band sound.

  • Tracklisting

      Disc 1

      Side 1

      • 1. Why Do Things Happen To Me 2:49
      • 2. Ruby Lee 2:38
      • 3. When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer 2:56
      • 4. Past Day 3:17
      • 5. Boogie Woogie Woman 2:49
      • 6. Early In The Morning 2:33
      • 7. I Want To Get Married 3:04
      • 8. That Ain't The Way To Do It 2:19
      • 9. Troubles, Troubles, Troubles 2:59
      • 10. Don't You Want A Man Like Me 2:41
      • 11. You Know I Go For You 2:40
      • 12. What Can I Do 2:47
      • 13. You're Gonna Miss Me 2:49*
      • 14. Got'em Bad 3:00*
      • 15. Troubles Don't Last 3:29*
      • 16. Your Letter 3:34*
      • 17. I Can't Explain 3:31*
      • 18. The Wrong Road 3:00*
      • 19. I Need You Baby 3:29*
      • 20. So Many Days 3:21*
      • 21. Downhearted 3:15*
      • 22. Strange Things 3:25*
      • 23. I'm In Love 2:14**
      • 24. My Sometime Baby 4:06**
      • 25. Hold That Train 3:56**
      • 26. Treat Me Right 2:24**"