One Kind Favor

B.B. King | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 26, 2008)
• Original Release Date: 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B001CT05XA
• Also Available in: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #14,456 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #9 in Music > Blues > Regional Blues > Memphis Blues

Editorial Reviews

B.B. King returns to his blues roots with the help of producer T Bone Burnett on "One Kind Favor,". The legendary artist is backed on the effort by pianist Dr. John, drummer Jim Keltner and bassist Nathan East. The track list includes such blues chestnuts as Big Bill Broonzy's "Backwater Blues," Lonnie Johnson's "Tomorrow Night," Blind Lemon Jefferson's "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" and T-Bone Walker's "I Get So Weary."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why he's KING, September 14, 2008

By 

Andre Heeger (Germany) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: One Kind Favor (Audio CD)

I shouldn't be blabbering here. The best thing is just to let the music speak for itself. But since you're already come this far, here we go.
From the first cooking drums with BB adding his licks on See That My Grave Is Kept Clean you know you're in for a treat. And what a treat this is!
Sure, BB had some nice stuff out lately, with all those folks playing along or having him play on theirs. But if you ask me there's nothing compared to him doing his own thing.
That is what this is. B.B. at his best. Not too fast, drums cooking in the background, sometimes pushing things a little, bass humming and plucking the pickin' rythm, keys charming Lucille, horns pulling and pushing, in short, this is it!
Need names? Just a few: Jim Keltner, Jay Bellerose drums & percussion, Neil Larsen B-3, Nathan East acoustic bass, Mike Elizondo bass, Dr. John piano, Johnny Lee Schell guitar, and of course BB himself on vocals and lead guitar - with T Bone Burnett producing.
The booklet pictures are nice too. BB looking out over the (what seems like the Mississippi near Memphis?) river, lonely railroad tracks, evening sky.
The whole set gives you the feeling of being in the studio with BB and his gang, somewhere way down south, enjoying the music.
Perfect!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One Kind Favor - go out and buy "One Kind Favor", August 29, 2008

By 

Jason S. Mason (Orlando, FL) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: One Kind Favor (Audio CD)

As far as I'm concerned this is the best studio album from BB King since "Blues On The Bayou." The sound is simple and great. It sounds like "live" blues in the studio. It doesn't sound "over" produced and "perfect." All of the players on this CD just bring it together. It's very light, natural, and free-flowing. The choice of material is excellent. Even though these are not original tunes, I don't believe BB King has previously recorded any of these nor have I heard them during any of his live performances. I hope Mr. King follows up with a similar CD in the future. Do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of "One Kind Favor."

27 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars LONG LIVE THE 'KING'!!!!, August 26, 2008

By 

James Arria "authentic blues man" (West Haven, CT USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: One Kind Favor (Audio CD)

First off, to the 2 people that submitted reviews...do you people realize that this space is for reviewing an album by B.B. King??? Where the hell have you been??? Go back under a rock ok?

I just got done listening to 'One Kind Favor' and all I can say is, B.B., please make music until you are 100...this album is OUTSTANDING. T-Bone Burnet, the album's producer did a phenomenal job re-creating the sound of B.B.'s 40's and 50's music. The horns give the music and after-hours feel, and B.B. has a great band featuring notables like Nathan East (Clapton) on stand up bass, and Jim Keltner on drums.

Despite being 82 when this was recorded, you'd never know it by the way B.B's voice sounds. He can still let it rip when he wants to, like on 'Waiting For Your Call' or 'My Love Is Down'. Other times he and the band sound like they're having a ball on cuts like 'Blues Before Sunrise', 'Midnight Blues' and 'Backwater Blues'.

Even at his age, B.B.'s playing still sounds fresh and exciting. He may not sting like in the old days, but his notes still can both soothe and exhilarate.

The real keeper on this disc is the Lonnie Johnson number 'Tommorow Night' where's B.B.'s voice really hits home, and also features a great sax break.

The great thing about this album is you can sit back on a summer day with a cold beer or pour a glass of wine on a cold winter night and just let the mood and music take you away. We can only wish muscians half B.B's age would make music this good. As the saying goes, 'if you can't dig this you got a hole in your soul!'

Amen brother!!