King of the Blues [BOX SET]

B.B. King

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 20, 1992)
• Original Release Date: October 20, 1992
• Number of Discs: 4
• Format: Box set
• Note on Boxed Sets: During shipping, discs in boxed sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase.
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B000002OMC
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #65,537 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording
This four-CD box set remains the absolutely definitive B.B. King collection, with 77 recordings and a biographical book that contains the great singer-guitarist's own remembrances of his decades-long career. It samples every stage of his development, from his days struggling to craft his music in the shadow of influences like T-Bone Walker and Lonnie Johnson to his latter-day pairings with rockers like Bonnie Raitt and Gary Moore. The one constant is his open-hearted singing and the soulful, contemplative solos he squeezes from his beloved guitar Lucille. These discs, of course, embrace all his essential hits, from his first--1951's "Three O'Clock Blues"--to his 1970 smash "The Thrill Is Gone," which took King to the pop charts and made him a household name. If this package is too lavish for the budget, try the excellent Best of B.B. King, Volume 1, which collects many of King's great early works. --Ted Drozdowski

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars B. B. King is the King of the Blues, November 18, 2001

By	Curtis J. George (Centreville, Maryland) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

B. B. King has over 200 albums on the market today, ten of which are labeled "Best of" or "Greatest Hits". With that much music to pick from it sure his hard to find the right ones to purchase. This box set of CDs is one of the best places to start your King collection. It includes four disks with over 75 tracks. The really nice thing about this box set is that each CD has King's hits from different points in time. CD 1 from 1949 to 1966, CD 2 from 1966 to 1969, CD 3 from 1969 to 1975, and CD 4 from 1975 to 1991. The set also includes a very nice 73-page book all about the life and times of this great Blues artist.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars splendid box set, January 29, 2000

By	G. Wallace (Hilliard, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

B.B. King is the greatest blues guitarist ever. He's not as clever as T-Bone Walker; he can't play rhythm at all. He's not a wizard like Jimi Hendrix was. He's utterly original, though, and has been to the summit more often than anyone else.

What's surprising about B.B. King is how he brightens up any genre he steps into, whether it's lowdown or uptown or big band or radio-friendly soul. He plays with anybody and everybody with consistently wonderful results. Can't recommend this set enough!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Blues defined by BB...., November 24, 2004

By	Brian Kerecz (Bethlehem, PA, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am fairly young and still feel like I missed something by not learning about BB King and Muddy Waters at an earlier age. It is almost like coming upon buried treasure, to listen to these songs.

The energy and emotion of a song such as "I'm Gonna Sit in 'Til You Give In (and give me all of your love)" is unbelievable with raw power and energy. What is especially surprising to me is that I had never heard practically all of these songs played even on oldies stations. My personal favorites are his early years, but there are no bad songs here on any of the four CD's. Every person has their own favorite song.....mine is "Lucille." I am simply amazed that I never heard this song before having made this purchase. There are so many songs which can only be described with superlatives, and this is much too short of a space to do that in. I bought this box set and can honestly say that I am not skipping songs. BB King also is on here with the Duke Ellington band, with songs you will not get on any "Best of" collection.

I had picked this up and put it down many times, because I was unsure because of the price of it. But I have not regretted it one iota since buying it....quite the contrary in fact, as I look at this as one of the best purchases of music I ever made(even paying full price!). If you are at all interested in the blues, look into buying this piece of gold from one of the masters.

Highly recommended.