Album : B.B. King – Live In Cook County Jail

CB had an acquaintance, an Italian guy who was the worlds biggest BB King fan. In his early teens he was quietly digging BB’s music. I asked him what the deal was and he just said “He’s the best”. So that was good enough for me. I wanted to see and hear the attraction so this was the album I got.

After the best intro in live concert history ‘Beloved Sheriff Woods” (Hilarious)  BB takes the stage and gets down to business. This was definitely a new direction for CB but It didn’t take long to see what the deal was. I loved King’s playing. A short snippet of ‘Everyday I Have The Blues’ and then into ‘How Blue Can You Get’ and King lays down some licks that CB absolutely dug. I was coming from  some pretty good guitar players in my music, Clapton, Beck, Green, Page .. but there was something about King’s sound that was a little different. Stripped down and clean but still with a sting to it. Pure blues I guess. The kicker is after the guitar which would have been good enough he lets go with some great vocals. The guy had the perfect combination. Loved this tune and it was live. King and his band were a new experience and it was fantastic. “I gave you a brand new Ford but you said I want a Cadillac”. It sounded like King experienced what he was singing about. I liked his attitude. Some nice backing from the band on this one.  The last cut on side one ‘Worry, Worry, Worry’ opens up with that guitar of his. Straight up blues. Like I said I had tastes of this from the guys I mentioned above but this was something special. Same style as the previous cut. BB comes in with some cool vocals and a little rap. CB was sold on BB King after side one.

BB opens side two with a medley. He picks up from where he left off on side one. Then he goes into ‘Sweet 16’. King lays down some nice licks. Man was I getting used to his style fast. ‘The Thrill Is Gone’ is just a fantastic song. Slow sexy blues sung with emotion. BB is feeling this one. He lets it come out first with his vocal then his guitar. The band gives the right support.  BB ends with  ‘Please Accept My Love’. CB felt like he was at the show.

This was CB’s intro into BB King and his music. I wasn’t hearing this music on the radio that’s for sure. Liked the whole package but his guitar playing was something else. I was already exploring and digging deeper into blues music and this record was just whetting the appetite even more. A spring board into more artists in the similar vein.

Great cover and liner notes, had to have it just for that.. If you like guitar blues, this does the trick. When it was all said and done this was a great addition to my record pile. So I will be eternally grateful to that 14 year old BB King veteran that turned me on to this music. This record was cut in a shit hole jail in one day. Man that is so cool!

(Listen to the cut below to hear what Babyhead first heard. Fantastic! Game changer)