Customer Reviews

How Blue Can You Get? : Classic Live Performances, 1964-1994

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Unbelievably scorching 2CD set of the best live blues you're likely to hear in your entire life--as most of the other reviewers allude to, the first CD is the killer; ostensibly because it covers B.B.'s early years.

It's especially useful for those of us who don't fancy the idea of buying every single one of his live albums due to limited budgets, and it's equally useful in a 'greatest hits-live' notion.

The second disc suffers a bit by comparison--the duets come off as novelty status at best, but that doesn't mean B.B. isn't phenomenal for his part. Check out 'Sweet Little Angel', 'Don't Answer the Door', and 'Worry, Worry' for a classic blues primer.

This 2-CD set is full of classic blues numbers performed exquisitely by BB. All performances are live and that adds to the excitement and sheer beauty of the music. Every number, on both CDs are worth listening to. Most of the music, specially on CD one, is superb. Stuff like, "Sweet Little Angel", "Buzz Me", and "Baby Get Lost" evoke sheer joy. The number two CD is not quite as good as the first simply because there are duets with other artists. However, if you want to listen to great blues music and sample the work of an American great don't hesitate to get this set.

Great performances of the bluesman,that won a Grammy this year! If you want to know something about the work of this eternal King,then buy this cd,and you'll not be disappointed! Really the first cd,is better than second.It's more bluesiest! But all the two are good and you get a view of B.B.'s peformances,on stages all over the world,and the guests performances,enriches the work.Perfectly,sensual,emotional.....

I was stunned and very happy to find this live "best of" set, when I had been debating about which of BB's many classic live albums I should get (all I knew was that "live at the regal" and "cook county jail" are essential). Well I picked this up, and it is truly a marvelous collection of what I consider his best stuff. With this collection, I don't need to buy all of the live albums, I can have the good stuff confined to 2 discs. I recommend this to any music fan as an essential collection of the greatest living guitarist and blues singer today. It is truly a complete collection that is well worth the listen.

All the best live albuns are those which brings a complete show, with something special and different from a studio recording (B.B. King recorded two historic live albuns, "Live In Cook County Jail" and "Live at Regal"). This is why a collection of live recordings sounds a little bit strange. But we are talking about B.B. King, a legend of music and a great entertainer, and this album brings a good sample of his energy and charism in stage. This album covers a wide range of years in King's career, and it's a good introduction for those who are starting to appreciate blues.

This is great big band B.B. The classics, like Chains and Things and The Thrill is Gone, are a little heavier than their studio counterparts, and they sound great. But an even better argument in favor of this two-disc set is that there isn't one bad song. Some are better than others, but they're all good.

Great for B.B. fans, spectacular for those that want to be. Enjoy.

If you can't afford the five B.B. King live disks recorded between 1964 and 1972, pick up this terrific set. The first disk is sensational, 70 minutes of prime B.B. King blues. It starts out hot and just builds; several of the greatest blues guitar performances ever are heard en route. The final tracks from his trip to Japan are truly incendiary.

The second disk is a little less interesting but worth an occasional hearing; there are guest stars and symphony orchestras and the Crusaders and less intense blues music.