BB King - The Jungle

Mid-60s comp to make lesser bluesmen weep

This compilation of mid-60s singles, first issued in 1967, starts on completely the wrong foot. The title track opens the disc with a mess of out-of-time drums, muddy vocals and incomprehensible production. But get past that and you’ll find a clutch of absolute gems, showcasing King getting acquainted with the raw energy of the nascent soul scene and making it his own. The lively horns on Beautician Blues could easily have come from a Stax record of the era.

The sound is a bit rough compared to King’s later, more stately work, but in this setting his vocals really shine. On Blues Stay Away and Ain’t Nobody’s Business, he sings with such force that he doesn’t even need to pick up his guitar, and proves that he could equal the likes of Otis Redding and Marvin Gaye any time he felt like it. But when he does let Lucille do the talking, she’s on form too. I Stay In The Mood boasts a charged rock solo, while The Worst Thing In My Life starts with piercing strings that would make lesser bluesmen weep.

4 stars 4 stars 4 stars 4 stars

Ace | CDHP 031

Reviewed by Mat Croft
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