B. B. King. - His Definitive Greatest Hits [Import]

B.B. King | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 16, 1999)
• Original Release Date: 1999
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal/Mca
• ASIN: B00003Q4PF
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,598,899 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. The Thrill Is Gone

2. Paying the Cost to Be the Boss

3. Don't Answer the Door, Pts. 1 & 2

4. I Like to Live the Love

5. How Blue Can You Get?

6. Why I Sing the Blues

7. Chains and Things

8. To Know You Is to Love You

9. When Love Comes to Town [7" Edit and Mix][Edit]

10. Playin' With My Friends

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Help the Poor

2. So Excited

3. Broken Heart

4. Ghetto Woman

5. Ain't Nobody Home

6. Darlin' You Know I Love You

7. In the Midnight Hour

8. Into the Night

9. My Lucille

10. The Blues Come over Me

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Fair Summation Of His ABC/MCA Period, November 18, 2004

By 

Laurence Upton (Wilts, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: B. B. King. - His Definitive Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

As this collection of previously-released material does not go back beyond 1964, and BB King's first single came out in 1949, the claim that this represents his definitive greatest hits is a little contentious.

However, although BB King featured heavily in the R&B charts throughout his highly successful early years, it is a surprising fact that, apart from two appearances at the bottom end of the US Top 100 in 1957, he had not been troubled by the hit parade before 1964.

In 1962 BB King signed with ABC and appeared thereafter on their ABC Paramount, Bluesway and ABC labels. After they were taken over by MCA, his records appeared on that label, and these recordings are all taken from these periods, the most recent being Playin' With My Friends, with Robert Cray, taken from 1993's Blues Summit album. He had released little after that at the time of this compilation's release in 1999, instead concentrating on touring and performing.

Most of the songs chosen here were A-sides of singles, although some of these are in their lengthier album format. Quite a few others are taken from live performances, thus representing some earlier material recorded for other labels as well as showcasing contemporary material in an electric live setting.

BB King achieved his greatest mainstream success during this period and the price we have to pay is that alongside genuinely thrilling and innovative pieces such as The Thrill Is Gone there are a few too many bland-outs and celebrity guest appearances from Gary Moore, Leon Russell, Bobby "Blue" Bland and Dr John, which perhaps are not needed on a "best of" from an artist of the stature of BB King. The U2 collaboration When Love Comes To Town was a Top Ten single in the UK and so its inclusion was mandatory, and it is a great record.

Now nearing eighty years of age, BB King is the greatest living blues legend, and this is a fair summation of his ABC/MCA years, if such a mighty output can be reduced to just two discs (it can't). If you enjoy this you owe it to yourself to go on to buy at least one companion piece representing his earlier years on the RPM and Kent/Crown labels

3.0 out of 5 stars ***1/2. Lots of good music on a flawed compilation, August 14, 2004

By 

Docendo Discimus (Vita scholae) - See all my reviews

This review is from: B. B. King. - His Definitive Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

This extensive European compilation (which can be obtained a lot cheaper from Amazon.co.uk) packs over 140 minutes of music onto two discs. The sound is excellent, the liner notes are decent, and there is a lot of good music here...King's big crossover hit "The Thrill Is Gone" is here, as well as numerous other classic tunes like "Paying The Cost To Be The Boss", "How Blue Can You Get", "Why I Sing The Blues", "Never Make A Move Too Soon", and "Help The Poor".

But it is a real shame that this stylish collection completely bypasses Riley King's powerful 50s recordings...there is nothing here from before 1964, and King's recording career began in the late 40s. It's probably a licensing issue, but the omission of sizzling early songs like "You Upset Me Baby" and "Crying Won't Help You" does detract quite a lot from this supposedly "definitive" career retrospective.

The compilers have tried to include some of King's early hits anyway by using live performaces cut in the 60s, 70s and 80s, but it would have been nice to have the original versions of "Sweet Little Angel", "Woke This Morning", and "Three O'Clock Blues" here.

"His Definitive Greatest Hits" is too much for casual fans who just want King's best-known songs. It includes musically uninteresting attempts at wooing a mainstream audience (duets with U2, Robert Cray, and Gary Moore), a superflous cover of "In The Midnight Hour" which falls far short of Wilson Pickett's original (and the Commitments' as well, to be honest), a frankly lousy live version of Memphis Slim's stately "Every Day I Have The Blues", and other lesser songs like "To Know You Is To Love You", "My Lucille", and "There Must Be A Better World Somewhere", songs which casual listerners simply don't need.

If you just want a taste, get the fine live album "Live At The Regal". This one is good, but not great, and if you really want a double-disc King compilation, go for MCA's "Anthology 1962-98", which has a slightly stronger track list. And if you want a really thorough career overview, get "Live At The Regal", "The Anthology" and the early stuff on "Do The Boogie: B.B. King's Early Classics"

4.0 out of 5 stars Classic B.B. King, March 20, 2003

By 

Bob Davis (Christchurch New Zealand) - See all my reviews

This review is from: B. B. King. - His Definitive Greatest Hits (Audio CD)

This album highlights the legacy of B.B. King. There are many memorable tracks which highlight both his voice and his guitar. Check out 'The thrill is gone' in particular. The album traces BB through many years from '3 O'clock blues' through to 'When love comes to town' (U2) and 'Back in LA'. There are also many tracks that I personally don't care for, but in general, you should own this B.B King album if you love the blues.