Customer Reviews

Indianola Mississippi Seeds

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Although not quite as strong and cohesive as B.B. King's previous release "Completely Well", "Indianola Mississippi Seeds" contains some sweetly scintillating, chills up and down your spine musical vibes. These bluesy, rhythmic pulsations are supplied by a bevy of young, then unknown up and coming musicians, featuring the likes of Joe Walsh (rhythm guitar), Carole King (piano/electric piano) and Leon Russell (piano/electric piano). Together, along with "The King Of The Blues" himself, these four individuals (B.B. included) really put their own unique brand of polish to the tracks featured on "IMS", such as "You're Still My Woman", "Don't Ask Me No Questions", "Until I'm Dead And Cold", "Go Underground", and let's not forget the Russell-penned "Hummingbird", where Leon gives his all both musically and lyrically here. "King's Special", the CD's lone instrumental, is indeed special. It is on this track where "Lucille" gets wonderfully downright sassy, and she pulls no punches in the process! The main thing about these "Seeds", is not only are they edible, they also contain an extra amount of sweetness, and will make any set of taste buds come to life! With that ultra-hip, snazzy CD cover (featuring a watermelon carved in the shape of a guitar), including the noteworthy musical selections featured on this disc, one would think MCA would give "IMS" the remaster treatment, to which it rightfully deserves (and thus is long overdue), complete with the original album cover artwork, including liner notes and a lyric sheet. One major drawback to various parts of the instrumentation, as featured on this "Compact Disc-Compact Price" version of "IMS", is that Joe Walsh's rhythm guitar, Leon Russell's and Carole King's piano/keyboard playing comes across as sounding barely audible in spots. Hopefully MCA will adress this issue if they decide to remaster "IMS". These pre-mastered seeds are still quite tasty, nonetheless, and will leave you craving all the moreso. So please, by all means, eat to your heart's content! After all, B.B. wouldn't have it any other way for his devoted fans (even though I consider myself to be more of a casual fan, but a lover of B.B. King's music, nonetheless).

This is a very powerful and moving record. Good for both serious and dilettante blues listeners. You'll never tire of it. Can't recommend it enough. And when you love it, go buy Luther Allison's Motown 1971-75.

wks

The best album by the best blues player ever. This is the only album review i've done on amazon and the only one I'll do. buy it and dig it.

Although I've owned and played outthe vinyl of this record, the CD has given me back the sounds that I crave. This is the Best CD I own (I have about 300). Anytime I put this on I listen, the beginning is outrageous, if you've ever thought you had it rough listen to this and you'll feel better. I wish I could put this on now and listen.If you don't like this you aint got no soul.

B.B. King in the late 60's and early 70's started to incorporate a more mainstream rock sound into his blues roots. The biggest single success of that merger was the stellar "The Thrill Is Gone" in 1969. The most cohesive album of the period is 1970's Indianola Mississippi Seeds. It contains some stinging guitar work as well as some of Mr. King's best vocal work. His voice is strong and earthy and he digs into the songs with a master's hand. This album isn't for blues purists, but if you are a casual fan of the genre, this is a great album to start with.

Asking B.B. King to follow "Completely Well" with anything resembling that album's otherworldly brilliance was something along the line of asking Thomas Jefferson to follow up the Declaration of Independence with something approaching the Book of Ecclesiastes. That said, King seemed wisely to forget about even trying, and just concentrate here on laying his blues across the pop palette with a fluid, easy but soul-on delivery. He rounded up a small crew of southern Californian players not exactly renowned for blues empathy and got them onto his wavelength, seemingly, with little more than a wiggle on Lucille or a shiver of his trademark vocal melisma. Put these songs into the hands of the usual California suspects of the time alone and you'd probably have gotten a sow's ear out of a silk purse. And the feeling you get from King's singing and guitar playing throughout is that not only does he know it, but he knows precisely how to teach these otherwise somnabulistic whippersnappers a little lesson in soul. The result is one of the most likeable and affecting albums in the B.B. King canon. Those who carped that this was like a broken-bat single after the grand slam of "Completely Well" either a) expected unreality, or b) just plain didn't listen to this set. (Surprise treat: King at the piano for a playful tease, "Nobody Loves Me But My Mother," which says a little something extra if you listen closely enough.)

This is a blues extravaganza from my father's reel to reel collection. BB King is a timeless blues legend. Those that buy this CD will be thrilled of the guitar licks that crowned him "King of the blues"

Here B.B. King was trying out new stuff, always trying to stay fresh and original. It isn't what most people think of when you think of B.B. King, but it's still well done, and worth the price of the CD.

Most musicians of King's stature have learned that you can't stay in a rut and play the same songs or style, or you run the risk of being relegated to the oldie's music circuit, forever stuck in the past trying to capture past glories.

This album is King seeing what he can do with a blues/rock hybrid style, and he does it with style.

Although Indianola Mississippi Seeds is not a classic B.B. King album in the same sense as "Live at the Regal," it has some inspired moments and offers a different perspective on the Blues with its incorporation of strings. B.B. is in fine voice here and adds some welcome humor to his piano blues on "Nobody Loves Me But My Mother." And check out his guitar solo on "Ain't Gonna Worry My Life Anymore." B.B. says it all in just a few notes. But the real highlight of this album is a completely different departure from anything B.B. has done previously. B.B.'s rendition of Leon Russell's "Hummingbird" is soulful and beautiful, especially the final choruses belted out by some of the sweetest sounding angels you will ever hear.

Not many people know of this BB King recording. This fine album contains so much of the style BB has developed over his many years studying and playing the blues. Listen to the sweet sounds from "Lucille", the unique "trillin', the experienced vocalizations the let us know he has been down that road (been there, done that - read his book, if you don't think so).

BB is the blues! Nobody loves him but his Momma, and she could be jivin' too! My personal favorite is "I'm tired of you puttin' me down, I think I'll be like a mole and move undergroud..." But there is so much more here than one or two cuts. BB is great, but never more so simple, clean, and smooth. A keeper for any BB King fan!