80

B.B. King

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 13, 2005)
• Original Release Date: September 13, 2005
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Geffen Records
• ASIN: B000AA4M9U
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #48,068 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The blues master's 80th birthday gift to his fans is his third all-star collaboration. Its dozen tunes are a mix of classics and obscurities from King's past. They include commendable versions of his signature "The Thrill Is Gone," with Eric Clapton trading vocal lines and licks, and Howard Tate's "Ain't Nobody Home," with Daryl Hall answering King's gritty growl. There are obscurities, too, like "Tired of Your Jive," with a jocular Billy Gibbons, and "Hummingbird," transformed into a melodic gem with the assistance of John Mayer.

What's surprising is how well King's singing and playing continue to resist the years, especially when he unfurls his hearty voice on "All Over Again" as Mark Knopfler's guitar plays equally soulful foil. And Gloria Estefan is richly colorful duetting on "There Must Be a Better World Somewhere." What's disappointing is the perfunctory quality of King's match-ups with Roger Daltrey ("Never Make Your Move Too Soon") and Elton John ("Rock This House"). Van Morrison, Glenn Frey, Sheryl Crow, and Bobby Bland complete the guest list. --Ted Drozdowski

Recommended B.B. King

Completely Well	Riding with the King (with Eric Clapton)	Let the Good Times Roll: The Music of Louis Jordan
Chronicles: Live at the Regal/Blues Is King/Live in Cook County Jail	King of the Blues	The Ultimate Collection

Product Description

Celebrate B.B. King's 80th birthday with his incredible new CD "80", his first new studio album in two years. "80" features newly recorded duets of blues standards with some of today's biggest stars including Eric Clapton, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Roger Daltry and many more.

One of the most influential guitartists of the 20th Century, B.B. King has achieved icon status, along with his guitar Lucille. Truly the blues greatest ambassador, B.B. continues to electrify audiences and spread the gospel of the blues.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Happy 80th B.B. And BRAVO!!, October 3, 2005

By	Jana L. Perskie "ceruleana" (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Known as the "King of the Blues," guitarist B.B. King, (short for "Blues Boy King"), who has been performing for well over half a century now, turned eighty in September of 2005. His album "80" was released just in time for the birthday party. King is known for his distinctive sound - especially his use of the sliding "bent" note, and for calling his electric Gibson guitar "Lucille." And he sure loves making love to Lucille!

A star studded cast of musicians join King for this celebratory album, including: Van Morrison, Eric Clapton, Bobby Bland, Billy Gibbons, Mark Knopfler, Elton John, Sheryl Crow, John Mayer, Daryl Hall, and Gloria Estefan. This is far from my favorite King album. The great man's booming voice and uncluttered guitar style, liberal use of bends, his signature tremelo, tend to overpower those he performs with. His talent casts a huge shadow, making it difficult for others to shine as he does. The commanding performances here, and the enjoyment, are provided by Mr. B.B., and the much younger artists have to strive to keep up with him.

"Early in the Morning," with Van Morrison is one of my favorite cuts and sets the bar high for those that follow. "The Thrill Is Gone," with Eric Clapton's fabulous guitar solos and B.B. playing his vocal chords, is an outstanding track, as is "Funny How Time Slips Away," with blues veteran Bobby "Blue" Bland. Mark Knopfler ("All Over Again'') and Billy Gibbons ("Tired of Your Jive'') are also CD pluses.

I am not at all thrilled with Gloria Estefan's "There Must Be a Better World Somewhere," nor with John Mayer's treacley ballad "Hummingbird." King's strong presence manages to salvage these pieces, however. And although I occasionally like Elton John, he cannot pull off "Rock This House," even with help.

King grew up sharecropping in the Mississippi Delta and learned to play gospel music on the guitar when he was a teenager. In the late 1940's he turned to playing blues and moved to Memphis, Tennessee to start a music career. He and his band toured almost non-stop, performing hundreds of shows a year. The birth of Rock & Roll music made stars of many black performers such as Little Richard, Fats Domino, James Brown and Chuck Berry. Unfortunately for B.B., "black" music, the blues, remained isolated from mainstream white America. He finally had a breakthrough success in the late 1960s, when white audiences began to discover the blues. Guitarists like Eric Clapton and Keith Richards sang his praises. B.B. King has recorded more than 50 albums, won 13 Grammys and received dozens of awards and honors over the years. Rolling Stone magazine recently named King as the third-greatest guitarist of all time, with Jimi Hendrix and Duane Allman of the Allman Brothers Band taking first and second positions. The technique of rock guitar playing is, to a large degree, derived from B.B,'s playing. Many great guitarists, like Bono, Clapton, and Richards pay tribute to him by dittoing that statement.

I love the blues, have since I was a little kid. My Dad did too, so maybe I have "blues" genes. B.B. King is so special to me because he's the reason blues hit the mainstream. During a recent interview, King commented about his lack of interest in retiring, even at 80 years-old, afflicted, as he is, with diabetes and aching joints. "I couldn't afford to do it,' King laughed. 'I have days off, but we don't get airplay like other styles of music, so I learned at an early age that unless I go out and carry music to the people, it sure don't come to them by air.'"
JANA

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 80 going on 25, September 14, 2005

By	lonesomedave (PA) - See all my reviews

This will win a Grammy, as sure as I'm sitting here...and I am sitting here....you won't skip a track....every guest delivers the goods and B.B....well Mr King here's to 80 more...and thanks for bringing joy to the world.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Four and 1/2 stars actually! , September 13, 2005

By	Moulty - See all my reviews

Growing up my Mom had a fortune cookie message taped above her desk that said "to stay youthful, stay useful." B.B. King is a spry 80, and you can hear it in his voice. He may not hit the notes he used to, but his passion and love for performing hasn't diminished at all. The performance of "The Thrill Is Gone" with Eric Clapton is an inspired rendition, teacher and student reuniting to compare notes. The lead track "Early In The Morning" features a robust exchange between Van Morrison and B.B. that is easily one of 80's most notable highlights. Representing the more recent graduates, John Mayer and B.B. play wonderfully off one another on Leon Russell's classic "Hummingbird", which builds into a crescendo, complete with subtle string arrangements, that lifts the song to glorious heights. Other highlights include old friend Bobby Bland reminiscing on Willie Nelson's "Funny How Time Slips Away," and the rollicking boogie woogie throwback "Rock This House" with Sir Elton John. Though the ladies are only sparsely represented on "80", Sheryl Crow's duet with B.B. on "Need Your Love So Bad" brings out the best in both, as B.B. cooly croons "...well hello there" to sultry Sheryl.

For a man on the cusp of his 80th year, you wouldn't know it - I hope I sound and look so good!