Completely Well

B.B. King | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 12, 2011)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Geffen
• ASIN: B0000062Y4
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,688 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #84 in Music > Blues > Chicago Blues

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

One of B.B. King's first pop-inclined efforts, this CD features the support of rock- and blues-raised session players. King's progeny, in a sense. Keyboardist Al Kooper is the most notable, but it's guitarist Hugh McCracken who engages the master in a six-string duel on the jam "Cryin' Won't Help You Now/You're Mean." The album also contains King's breakthrough hit "The Thrill Is Gone." King didn't particularly enjoy the tune when he recorded it. But when he returned to the studio the next day to hear the strings that were added to sweeten its chorus in his absence, he was as taken by the transcendent, majestic sweep they lent his performance as the rest of the world was soon to be. Indeed, his visceral vocal and stinging guitar leads define the bittersweet aftertaste of lost love. While the sheen of the hit's production stands out among this album's cuts, the unvarnished emotion of its lyrics is what the blues is all about. --Ted Drozdowski

Product Description

Completely Well by B.B. King

This product is manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. Amazon.com's standard return policy will apply.

See all Editorial Reviews

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Essential Blues Album, March 15, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Completely Well (Audio CD)

I bought this album in '69 when I was fourteen and have been loving it ever since...nice to have the remastered CD. B.B. King breaks out of the blues into the realm of soul on this collection (recorded over two days). The backup band is excellent, although, never mind the Amazon.com review, Al Kooper doesn't play on it (Paul Harris handles keyboards). The most amazing thing going on here is the interplay between King and the legendary bassist Gerald "Fingers" Jemmott, who played on some of Aretha's best Atlantic sides. King authors or co-authors most of the titles and they are all solid songs. He's never sang better and Lucille wails. Besides, every record collection must include "The Thrill Is Gone," one of the greatest soul/blues cuts ever.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars B.B. is definitely the King!!, June 8, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Clinton, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Completely Well (Audio CD)

The first thing that amazes me about this album is that no one has given it a review. I figured that this album would be a staple in anyone's album collection (especially you blues fans!). Right from the start, B.B. tells the listener that he is gonna rock your socks off. "So Excited" comes roaring into your speakers and gets your toes tappin'. Throughout the album, B.B. does a great job of playing some upbeat blues ("You're Losin' Me" and "Confessin' The Blues") mixed with some slow ballads ("Key To My Kingdom" and What Happened"). Not only do you get an all-out blues jam with "You're Mean" but you also get one of the greatest blues songs of all time with "The Thrill Is Gone." This song is what the blues is all about and it sounds wonderful with strings in the background. All I have to say is put your CD player on 'repeat' when this song is playing. From beginning to end this album is extremely satisfying!

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars BB's greatest, February 18, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Completely Well (Audio CD)

This is still my favorite BB record, one that always improves my day. It should be combined with "Live and Well" to get more of the BB-Jerry Jemmott combination. Jerry's bass pushes BB and the band to even greater heights than usual. CD burners: combine the "Well" section with the "Completely well" set for complete bliss. It's nearly always in my car's CD to combat road rage.