Customer Reviews

One Kind Favor

5 star:		(31)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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!

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."

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!!

In the introduction for B.B. King At The Cook County Jail recording, the lady said that "B.B. King is known as the king of the blues and the chairman of all of the blues singers." That was true in 1971 and still rings true today.

We have lost many of the blues legends, but the influence that BB has left is beginning to resonate and is metamorphosed to a new younger generation. Thanks in a large way by Eric Clapton's music and his Crossroads festivals, the torch is being passed to the likes of Derek Trucks, John Mayer and Doyle Bramhall II the blues will continue into the 21st century.

I have followed him since my late teens (a LONG time ago) and this SOLO CD is above average for the past decade. His recording with Clapton was great too, but here he is with a great little combo of talented artists that anyone would be lucky to have back them. Dr. John, keyboards, drummer extraordinaire Jim Keltner and ex-Clapton bassist, Nathan East.

Each and every track IS B.B. King, in his distinct vein of the blues. I pray that he'll be with us for many more years, but with the health issues he has had, this is an important disc or MP3 to own.

This is a fantastic release that revists BB's blues influences from the 50's. Mr King is amazing as always, and T Bone Burnett creates a smooth sound to showcase both the voice of the man and his beloved Lucille. HOWEVER.. if you are going to buy the mp3 album, look for One Kind Favor (Bonus Tracks). Same price, but 3 bonus songs.

When T Bone Burnett (O Brother Where Art Thou, John Mellencamp, Gillian Welch) was kicking around ideas for an album, Burnett suggested the 82-year-old King go back and revisit earlier blues classics and spice them up with King's rich voice and the every-magical sound of "Lucillle." The result is 15 (if the get the bonus tracks version) magical covers of some blues greats, starting off with Keep My Grave Clean, Blues Before Sunrise, Sitting On Top of the World, and other gems.

I'd read a review of this, which was glowing, so I bought it on spec, without hearing a tune, and downloaded it from amazon.com (where it's a couple of bucks cheaper than iTunes). My iPod is set up so I can play it through my old 250-watt stereo system (do you remember albums?), and this CD has been getting almost non-stop play.

The last excellent B.B. King CD was Blues from the Bayou. Well, even that is eclipsed by this. In time, once the King leaves us, history will look back on this as probably has last truly great release. Don't hesitate, buy this baby! You won't be disappointed -- if you get it on CD, or via downloads. There's an hour-plus of great music here. Not good -- GREAT!

What a pleasant surprise to find out that B.B. King was working on a "back to roots" collection with producer T-Bone Burnett, and the results certainly did not let me down. Opening with a spirited version of Blind Lemon Jefferson's title track, B.B. and company then delve into more classic blues, covering The Mississippi Shieks, Howlin' Wolf, T-Bone Walker, Lonnie Johnson, and others. The production is not too slick, and the musical arrangements interesting and uncluttered. Just the kind of disc I've been waiting for this legend to release.

This album marks a triumphant return to the roots of blues, where B.B. King made his name a household one. His career has spanned a entire lifetime and has reached many generations, and still to this day, well into his 80s, is recording some fine music. However, in 2008, he cut his best record in a decade with One Kind Favor. And as I said, it was a return to the roots, where B.B. is his best. In fact, not only is it his best album in the past ten years, but one of my personal favorites he has ever made.

One Kind Favor is not simply a return, but also a departure from the work he has done as of late. Many of his other recent works have been filled with musical guest stars, glossy productions, and sometimes even some reduced guitar work from King himself. 1997s Duece's Wild was a guest star album, as was 2005's 80, where King celebrated his 80th birthday. 2003's Reflections was a very glossy number, with a very modern sound, and while it was a pretty good album, I didn't like the fact that King didn't seem to have too many leading guitar solos, they were mostly performed by a bandmate. These are the primary reasons as to why One Kind Favor is just that good. It isn't hindered by anything, and gives you exactly what you expect to hear: B.B. singing and playing the blues...

READ THE FULL WRITTEN REVIEW AT: ethosreviews.angelfire.com

One Kind Favor is an absolute treat of a CD from B.B. King. My introduction to B.B. King was his appearance with U2 on the single "When Love Comes To Town" on Rattle and Hum, and I've enjoyed his music ever since. With a recording career that spans over 50 years and at 82 years of age you might be concerned that his tank is empty. I am pleased to report that this could not be further from the truth.

One Kind Favor is actually a step forward compared to some of his work over the last 10 plus years. Part of the credit for this must go to Midas touch producer T-Bone Burnett (who is the mastermind behind Raising Sand too). Burnett's selection and arrangement of songs has coaxed an absolute gem from King. The opening track is a cover of Blend Lemon Jefferson's "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean". It has a blues shuffle rhythm that calls to mind the little known but no less great Willie Nelson song "Darkness On The Face Of The Earth" from Teatro. The rest of the instrumentation and the lyrics are completely different, but the similarity to the underlying rhythm is striking. In addition to Burnett, another key element in the secret sauce of this CD is Dr. John on piano along with a full horn section. Darrell Leonard's horn arrangements add a touch of jazz to the sound too.

However, all of this is window dressing at the end of the day. If you are considering a B.B. King CD there are two things that you are looking for. You will find these on One Kind Favor. B.B. King still plays Lucille with a skill not betrayed by age. While King's voice shows a few signs of being long in the tooth, it is still incredibly strong. He still has that powerful growl as evidenced on songs such as "Waiting For Your Call" and "My Love Is Down".

Overall, One Kind Favor is a great CD. If you didn't know better, you would never believe that it is the work of someone in his eighties. This is a must have for all blues fans.

Download this: See That My Grave Is Kept Clean

What a wonderful late career tour d'force. So good to hear the King on songs he hasn't recorded before, supported by world beating production from T Bone Burnett and magnificent players like Dr John and Jim Kelter. Nathan East's acoustic bass is a special stand out.
This record is just a gem, the warmth of tone, understated playing and love of blues oozes out of every track.
If you love the blues, you'll loves this. Buy it, play it, recommend it.