Customer Reviews

In London

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

 

 

The album is frequently panned in those voluminous tomes that are on the market wherein albums are rated by those who fancy themselves critics. The truth is that this is one of B.B.'s best recordings.
It was recorded in London in 1971 over a 7 day period and anyone who was anyone was there to record a cut with B.B. The album features appearances by Gary Wright, Klaus Voorman, Ringo Starr, Jim Gordon, Bobby Keys, Jim Keltner, John Uribe, Alexis Korner and Dr. Ragovy to name a few.
The recordings have a fresh and lively sense about them that is remenicient of a jam, yet with such talent, they make better musical sense than most planned arrangements.
The album contains what I believe is the best recording B.B. ever made of the classic swing-blues tune "Caledonia."
Another treat is a rare accoustical duet that B.B. plays with Alexis Korner, who also wrote "Alexis' Boogie." The number really showcases B.B.'s excellent sense for playing call and response riffs. The album is worth the price for this track alone.
I own a many albums by the "King of the Blues", but this is the one that I value the most for it's honesty and the sheer joy one hears in each performance.
It is a recording of great musicians having a lot of fun- don't miss out on it.

On this album, B.B. travels to London and records with some of Europe's finest rock musicians of the time, following the footsteps of Howlin' Wolf, Bo Diddley, and Muddy Waters who did the same with mixed results. The result is a blues rock outing where B.B. doesn't disappoint, but the backing musicians and arrangements do. Fans of B.B.'s straight blues stylings will be a little put off of the rock sound, but B.B.'s voice is strong and, at times, his guitar is allowed to shine. The backing musicians try hard to play the blues, but the best they can muster is a tight rock sound that mostly works. This is an entirely listenable and enjoyable disc, but not your typical B.B. Take this for what it is.

We own the original record version of this recording of BB's. It represents a certain quality that few performers have and sets a mood that no one can deny. This is a MUST HAVE for every collection.

Living Blues ..FOR ME THERE ARE ONLY A FEW ULTIMATE BLUES ALBUMS TO COLLECT, ON TOP OF THE LIST IS B.B. KING IN LONDON,,THIS IS BLUES AT ITS MOST.OTHER BLUES ALBUMS WORTH MENTIONING THAT CAN COME CLOSE TO BB KING IN LONDON ARE THE FOLLOWING--MAYALL W/ CLAPTON-BLUESbreakers,,ALBERT KING-LIVE WIRE BLUES POWER,,SAVOY BROWN-BLUE MATTER,, SRV-TEXAS FLOOD,,MAGIC SAM-WEST SIDE SOUL,,PETER GREEN.s FLEETWOOD MAC FIRST ALBUM,,and posthumously STILL GOT THE BLUES-GARY MOORE.OTHER BLUES ALBUMS ARE GOOD BUT THEY CANNOT MATCHED THE INTENSITY OF MY SELECTED BLUES ALBUMS. THEY ARE PRESENT DURING THE TIMES WHEN WE BADLY NEEDED THEM. THEIR TIMINGS ARE PERFECT.