BB King - The Best Of The Early Years

Early King compiled, again

What can we say about a disc of early King with a tracklist boasting some of the most important blues recordings ever made? Nothing new, except to tell any newcomers that Sweet Sixteen, Rock Me Baby and all the other biggies are all present and correct.

There are other gems on here, though: the charming melodic sweep of Don’t Look Now, I’ve Got The Blues and When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer deserve just as much acclaim. The ‘new’ track is a version of Why I Sing The Blues, seamlessly intercut from three different takes.

This set runs from 50s King boogie and stops in the mid-60s, just as he was starting to find crossover success. As such, the collection provides an excellent overview of his early development with RPM, Crown and Kent. Within a few short years, King’s passionate vocals, intricate guitar and sophisticated, horn-laden arrangements were all in place. A few hearty meals later, he would become the BB King that he’s been to this very day.

This serves as an excellent introduction to King’s work, though there are separate best ofs available for the individual labels.

Ace | CDCHD 1150

Reviewed by Mat Croft
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