"If I Have To Wreck L.A. Kent & Modern Records Blues Into The 60s Vol.2" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Willie Headen, Smokey Wilson, Big Mama Thornton, Long Gone Miles, Model T Slim, Lowell Fulson and Willie Garland (September 2020 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Remasters – All New To Ace CD with Twelve Tracks Previously Unissued) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...Nursing My Aching Head..."

Released 31 July 2020 in the UK, "Dirty Work Going On: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.1" was the first in this Ace Records CD Series. Here is the next instalment that followed in late September 2020 - "If I Have To Wreck L.A.: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.2". And it's just as enjoyable as numero uno... 

By the end of the 50ts, hard-hitting gutbucket Blues had morphed into a more commercial type of shuffling R&B which quickly then became the softer and more upbeat edge of early Soul. These compilations want in their hearts to go back to basics. And mostly they do – especially here. Like the first volume of these two CD compilations dealing with the 60s output of the US Kent & Modern labels (reviewed separately), Volume 2 is a hugely enjoyable listen with a lot of nifty Guitars and shimmering Harmonica warbles. 

And even if you don’t know names like Willie Headen and Long Gone Miles – you should. There is caustic humour too with the blame-game on both sides of the gender-divide being strong with this one. So here are the Black Widow Spiders, Hoodooing Hoodoo Men and Miss Nella Belle with rocks in her pillows and an inability to let her man play with her poodle (that’s just mean)...

UK released Friday, 25 September 2020 - "If I Have To Wreck L.A.: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.2" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1577 (Barcode 029667099929) offers 24 Remastered Tracks, All New to Ace CD compilations (Twelve are Previously Unissued) and it plays out as follows (78:51 minutes):

1. If I Have To Wreck L.A. – WILLIE HEADEN (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording, Take 1)

2. Mama Said – WILLIE HEADEN (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1967 Kent recording, Take 3)

3. If I Can Ever Make Up My Mind - WILLIE HEADEN (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording, Take 5)

4. Hey Baby - WILLIE HEADEN (1968 recording that first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's Vol.3" on P-Vine PCD-3065)

5. You Told Me A Lie - SMOKEY WILSON (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1976 Kent recording)

6. Before Day (Big Mama's Blues) - BIG MAMA THORNTON (1965 US 45-single on Kent 45x424, A-side)

7. War Time Blues (Take 1) - LONG GONE MILES (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording)

8. Gotta Find My Baby – LONG GONE MILES (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording)

9. Little Sweet Thing (Take 4) – LONG GONE MILES (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Take of Kent 45x500, 1968 US 45-single A-side)

10. Black Widow Spider (Underdub With Alternate Vocal) – WILLIE GARLAND (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Take of Kent 45x461, 1968 US 45-single A-side – for B-side see Track 12)

11. Address In My Hand – WILLIE GARLAND (1967 recording first issued in March 1999 on the Japan-Only Various Artists CD compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's" on P-Vine PCD 3060)

12. Soul Blues – WILLIE GARLAND (1967 US 45-single on Kent 45x461, Instrumental, B-side of "Black Widow Spider" – see Track 10 for an Alternate of the A-side)

13. You’re Too Cold – WILLIE HEADEN (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording, Take 1)

14. Hot Wire Baby – WILLIE HEADEN (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording, Take 2)

15. Baby You’re Wrong (Take 6) - WILLIE HEADEN (1968 recording that first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's Vol.3" on P-Vine PCD-3065)

16. If I Have To Wreck L.A. (Take 5) – WILLIE HEADEN (1968 recording that first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's Vol.3" on P-Vine PCD-3065)

17. Somebody’s Done Hoodooed The Hoodoo Man – MODEL T SLIM (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1967 Kent recording)

18. Christine – MODEL T SLIM (January 1969 US 45-single on Kent K-504, A-side – for B-side see Track 19)

19. Baby Don’t Tear My Clothes – MODEL T SLIM (January 1969 US 45-single on Kent K-504, B-side – for A-side see Track 18)

20. Rocks In My Pillow (Take 4) - LONG GONE MILES (1968 US Kent recording first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "Juke Joint Blues 1950s -1960s" on P-Vine PCD-3058)

21. Let Me Play With Your Poodle (Take 2) - LONG GONE MILES (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1968 Kent recording)

22. Low Down Dirty Shame (Take 4) - LONG GONE MILES (1968 US Kent recording first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "Juke Joint Blues 1950s -1960s" on P-Vine PCD-3058)

23. Miss Nella Belle - LONG GONE MILES (1968 US Kent recording first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "Juke Joint Blues 1950s -1960s" on P-Vine PCD-3058)

24. Blues Pain - LOWELL FULSON (Originally Unissued Take of Kent 489, appeared also on the September 2001 Japan-Only 4CD compilation "The Complete Kent Recordings 1964-1968" on P-Vine PCD-3066-9)

Tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 14, 17 and 21 are PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED

(Like Volume 1) the 16-page booklet features informative liner notes courtesy of DICK SHURMAN sat alongside photos of those rare US 45-labels and rare publicity shots of heroes like Little Joe Blue, B.B. King and Big Jay McNeely (dig T-Bone Walker looking cool with a cigarette in his mouth and that huge guitar in hand) while DUNCAN COWELL does his usual spectacular best - the Audio kicking ass on every tune. The fidelity (despite the age) is at times eerily brill. To the listen...

Clever inclusions are eight tracks from those desirable but long-deleted 'P-Vine' CD compilations out of Japan (limited editions of 3000 or less apparently) as well as Alternates of Kent 45s that feel just as good as the released versions. "If I Have To Wreck L.A." opens with a triple-whammy of Previously Unreleased guitar soloing Blues from Willie Headen who comes on like an excited Albert King ripping up and down the frets while he sings of mistreating women. They're damn good, but they're whomped by an Elmore James slashing Smokey Wilson whose 1976 "You Told Me A Lie" is a real find (cool and clear audio). The fantastic continues with great Little Walter-type Harmonica warbling from George Smith guesting on the anti-draft song "War Time Blues" by Luke "Long Gone" Miles. Two more cuts from him hammer home more slices of early-in-the-morning mean and dirty Harp Blues – brilliant inclusions.

Pity poor Willie Garland, his baby is a "Black Widow Spider" who done bit him and then up and left. Willie called the Doctor but the man with the leather bag just shook his head and went into a Harmonica solo in sympathy. Willie Headen returns too and he has his own problems – he wants to stop being a fool for his "Hot Wire Baby" who has returned from California with attitudes and some Mississippi missing (he bought her first shoes at the age of 22). A great guitar-shuffler. And on it goes - a great listen, Bluesy, Shufflers when you need them, Fun moments and those superb unreleased lifting up everything to winner status. 

"Well, look here mama, listen to my song, let me play with your poodle, I mean him no harm... " Luke "Long Gone" Miles saucily implores on "Let Me Play With Your Poodle" - a raucous Tampa Red cover version blessed with fabulous Harmonica from George Smith and the deep suggestive voice of Luke Miles. 

Well, I suggest you get jiggy-jiggy with "If I Have To Wreck L.A.: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.2" too, because it's a winner that deserves your loving ham (if you know what I'm saying)...

See also Review for Volume 1

"Dirty Work Going On: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.1" by VARIOUS ARTISTS – Featuring Solomon Burke (as King Solomon), T-Bone Walker, B.B. King, Big Jay McNeely, Little Joe Blue, Larry Davis, Fillmore Slim [aka Billy Ray], Flash Terry and more (July 2020 UK Ace Records CD Compilation of Remasters with Seven Previously Unissued Tracks) - A Review by Mark Barry...

This Review Along With over 200 Others Is Available in my

SOUNDS GOOD E-Book on all Amazon sites

"MANNISH BOY" 

BLUES, VOCAL GROUPS, DOO WOP, ROOTS

RHYTHM 'n' BLUES and ROCK 'n' ROLL ON CD 

Exceptional CD Reissues and Remasters 

Thousands of E-Pages

All Details and In-Depth Reviews From Discs 

(No Cut and Paste Crap)

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"...My New Figure Mama Sure Looks Good To Me..."

By the end of the Fifties, hard-hitting gutbucket Blues had morphed into a more commercial type of shuffling Rhythm & Blues which quickly then became the softer and more upbeat sooth of early Soul. 

Despite emphasising Blues in its title - this first volume of two CD compilations dealing with the US Kent & Modern labels and their 60s output straddles all of those genres really and is a hugely enjoyable listen for it (Volume 2 "If I Have To Wreck L.A." followed in September 2020 and is reviewed separately, pictured below). 

Although Ace say the emphasis is on Blues, most tracks veer towards R&B while all have those witty lyrical vignettes of domestic misery we love where it's always someone else's fault. With that in mind, "Dirty Work Going On..." serves you up clip-winged jealous angels, new figure mama's, fast guns, fine mellow bodies and bad-luck midnight skinny uptight Texas types, so let's get our hands mucky people and have at it...

UK released Friday, 31 July 2020 - "Dirty Work Going On: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.1" by VARIOUS ARTISTS on Ace Records CDCHD 1571 (Barcode 029667098724) offers 26 Remastered Tracks (Seven are Previously Unissued) that play out as follows (74:14 minutes):

1. Go Ahead - FILLMORE SLIM (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED, 1962 Kent Recording)

2. New Figure - KING SOLOMON (1966 US 45-single on Kent 45x451, B-side of "S K Blues" - for A-side see 10)

3. Understanding - LITTLE JOE BLUE (1967 recording first issued in March 1999 on the Japan-Only Various Artists CD compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's" on P-Vine PCD 3060)

4. Hey Hey Baby - T-BONE WALKER (January 1965 US 45-single on Modern 1004, A-side - for B-side see Track 13)

5. It Can Only Hurt For So Long - LARRY DAVIS (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 1970 Kent Recording)

6. On My Way Back Home (Alternate Take) - FLASH TERRY (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED take of Kent 310, a 1958 US 45-single A-side - for B-side see Track 15)

7. Please Mr. President - KING SOLOMON (1966 US 45-single on Kent 45x446, A-side - for B-side see Track 25)

8. Jealous Woman - T-BONE WALKER (1964 recording firs issued in 1992 on the UK Various Artists 3CD compilation "60 Great Blues Recordings" on Cascade CBOXCD 3)

9. Dirty Work Going On (Take 8) - LITTLE JOE BLUE (1964 recording first issued in March 1999 on the Japan-Only Various Artists CD compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's" on P-Vine PCD 3060)

10. S K Blues - KING SOLOMON (1966 US 45-single on Kent 45x451, A-side, for B-side "New Figure" see Track 2)

11. Something About You Baby (Take 7) - LARRY DAVIS (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 1970 Kent Recording)

12. Fast Gun Annie - BILLY RAY [aka Fillmore Slim] (1962 recording first issued in June 1999 on the Japan-Only Various Artists CD compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's Vol.2" on P-Vine PCD 3063)

13. Should I Let Her Go - T-BONE WALKER (January 1965 US 45-single on Modern 1004, B-side - for A-side see Track 4)

14. Consider Yourself (Extended) - STACY JOHNSON (1965 recording first issued in March 1999 on the Japan-Only Various Artists CD compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's" on P-Vine PCD 3060)

15. One Thing We Know - FLASH TERRY (1958 US 45-single on Kent 310, A-side - for alternate of the A-side see Track 6)

16. Let Me Be Your Eagle Baby (Take 1) - KING SOLOMON (1966 recording that first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's Vol.3" on P-Vine PCD-3065)

17. Blues In G Minor (Blues Guitar) - BIG JAY McNEELY (1968 US 45-single on Modern 45xMX32, B-side of "Deacon's Hop")

18. Love Will Lead You Right - T-BONE WALKER (1964 recording first appeared on the 1988 UK LP compilation "Blues Around Midnight" on Ace Records CH 235) 

19. Almost Midnight (Take 3) - KING SOLOMON (1966 recording that first appeared on the 1999 Japan-Only Various Artists CD Compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's Vol.3" on P-Vine PCD-3065)

20. Playboy (Underdub) - BILLY RAY [aka Fillmore Slim] (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Version of the A-side to a US 45-single on Kent 45x367)

21. Can't Have Your Cake And Eat It (Take 3) - LITTLE JOE BLUE (1964 recording first issued in March 1999 on the Japan-Only Various Artists CD compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's" on P-Vine PCD 3060)

22. Sweet Little Angel - LARRY DAVIS (January 1969 US 45-single on Kent K-507, A-side)

23. Down Now (Take 3) - B.B. KING (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 1961 Kent Recording)

24. Jimmy's Special - LITTLE JOE BLUE (1967 recording first issued in March 1999 on the Japan-Only Various Artists CD compilation "West Coast Modern Blues 1960's" on P-Vine PCD 3060)

25. Mr. Bad Luck - KING SOLOMON (1966 US 45-single on Kent 45x446, B-side - for A-side see Track 7)

26. Texas Queen (Underdub) - BILLY RAY [aka Fillmore Slim] (PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED Version of Kent 367)

Tracks 1, 5, 6, 11, 20, 23 and 26 are PREVIOUSLY UNISSUED 

The 16-page booklet features informative liner notes courtesy of DICK SHURMAN sat alongside photos of those rare US 45-labels and rare publicity shots of heroes like Little Joe Blue, B.B. King and Big Jay McNeely (dig T-Bone Walker looking cool with a cigarette in his mouth and that huge guitar in hand) while DUNCAN COWELL does his usual spectacular best - the Audio kicking ass on every tune. The fidelity (despite the age) is at times eerily brill. To the listen...

Clever inclusions are several tracks from those desirable but long-deleted 'P-Vine' CD compilations out of Japan as well as early Ace releases. "Dirty Work Going On..." opens with a Blues bruiser, the rough and ready "Go Ahead" where Fillmore Slim finally gets a 1962 Kent Records recording an airing. Far funnier and better recorded comes the first of four fab songs from Atlantic Records stalwart Solomon Burke credited as 'King Solomon'. Our robe-be-draped hero is digging his lady's "New Figure" where she may have put on a few pounds but it's in all the right places. Speaking of genre heroes, T-Bone Walker gets hugely enjoyable cuts - the first of which is the very B.B. King shuffle of "Hey Hey Baby" where the big man is prepared to forgive his dirty no-good mistreater of a gal if she'll only agree to come home and face the music never mind his guitar (what a guy). But it gets worse - T-Bone is then afraid to go asleep in "Jealous Woman" 'cause his latest squeeze will stab him in his PJ's if he gawks at his old girlfriend ' that way' again. 

Fantastic audio accompanies the witty brass and bass roll of "S K Blues" where Solomon Burke wants the wig he bought his lady back because she keeps on doing him wrong (the Lord done forgot to give her hair apparently). There is something about his baby that lingers in the mind of Larry Davis, a fabulous slow mooching of a Blues song with nifty guitar work (Take 7 is Previously Unissued and is a genuine find). Heartbreaker and money-taker Billy Ray (Fillmore Slim) jumps in his Cadilac for "Playboy" – or is it a Coupe de Ville? Little Joe Blues has deep regrets in "Can’t Have Your Cake And Eat It Too" – naturally this B.B. King-sounding singer finds that the want for too much sugar is on his lady’s side (the man is blemishless). And on it goes...

A great listen, Bluesy, Shufflers when you need them, Fun moments and those superb unreleased along with eight from Solomon Burke and T-Bone Walker lifting up everything to winner status. 

"I got a sweet little angel and I love the way she spread her wings... " - Larry Davis pines on "Sweet Little Angel". He asked her for a nickel and she gave him a twenty-dollar bill. Well, "Dirty Work Going On: Kent & Modern Records - Blues Into The 60s Vol.1" does the same...

"Ladies & Gentlemen…Mr. B.B. King" by B.B. KING (2012 Universal 4CD and 10CD Box Set Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"…Everyday I Have The Blues..." 

Considering his iconic status - a properly decent box set chronicling Mississippi's B.B. King has been a long time coming (his Blues career has now reached the staggering longevity of 66 years). But at least you can say that Universal have finally done the great man proud (especially on the mammoth 10-disc set). Here are Woke Up This Morning details...

Released September 2012 - "Ladies & Gentlemen...Mr. B.B. King" by B. B. KING comes in 2 forms - a 4CD Box Set and a 10CD version - and to confuse matters both are rather lazily given the same title. The 10-disc Box Set is catalogue number Universal 0600753384992 (Barcode 600753384992) - while this review is for the 4CD version on Universal 0600753390863 (Barcode 600753390863) and that 4-disc set breaks down as follows:

Disc 1 (1949-1964) - 77:67 minutes:

1. Miss Martha King (1949 USA 78" on Bullet 309, A)

2. When You Baby Packs Up And Goes (1949 USA 78" on Bullet 309, B-side to "Miss Martha King")

3. B.B. Boogie (1950 USA 78" on RPM 304, A)

4. She's Dynamite (1951 USA 78" on RPM 323, A)

5. Three O'Clock Blues (1951, USA 7" single on RPM 349, A)

6. Woke Up This Morning (1953, RPM 380, A)

7. Blind Love (1953, RPM 395, A)

8 When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer (1954, RPM 412, A)

9. You Upset Me Baby (1954, RPM 416, A)

10. Ten Long Years (1955, RPM 437, A)

11. Bad Luck (1956, RPM 468, A)

12. Troubles, Troubles, Troubles (1957, RPM 492, A)

13. Early In The Morning (1957, RPM 492, A)

14. Everyday I Have The Blues (1959, Kent 327, A)

15. (I've) Got A Right To Love My Baby (1960, Kent 333, A)

16. It's My Own Fault (1960, Kent 333, B-side to "(I've) Got A Right To Love My Baby")

17. Walking Dr. Bill (1960, Kent 350, A)

18. Rock Me Baby (1964, Kent 393, A)

19. You Ask Me (1962, ABC-Paramount 10316, A - and the US LP "Mr. Blues" on ABC-Paramount ABC-456)

20. Blues At Midnight (1962, ABC-Paramount 10334, A - and the US LP "Mr. Blues" on ABC-Paramount ABC-456)

21. Sneakin' Around (1963, ABC-Paramount 10361, A - and the US LP "Mr. Blues" on ABC-Paramount ABC-456)

22. How Blue Can You Get? (1964, ABC-Paramount 10527, A)

23. I Wonder Why - PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED September 1963 Recording

24. Please Accept My Love (1964, ABC-Paramount 10527, B-side of "How Blue Can You Get?")

25. Help The Poor (1964, ABC-Paramount 10552, A)

26. Never Trust A Woman (1964, ABC-Paramount 10599, A)

Disc 2 (1964-1969) - 76:53 minutes:

1. Everyday I Have The Blues (Live)

2. Sweet Little Angel (Live)

3. Please Love Me (Live) - Tracks 1 to 3 from the 1965 USA LP "Live At The Regal" on ABC-Paramount ABC-509

4. All Over Again (1965, ABC-Paramount 10724, A - also on the 1968 US LP "His Best/The Electric B.B. King" on Bluesway BLS 6022)

5. Tired On Your Jive (1965, ABC-Paramount 10675, A - also on the 1968 US LP "His Best/The Electric B.B. King" on Bluesway BLS 6022)

6. Cherry Red (from the 1966 US LP "Confessin' The Blues" on ABC-Paramount ABC-528)

7. Don't Answer The Door, Parts 1&2 (1966, ABC 10856, A - also on the 1968 US LP "His Best/The Electric B.B. King" on Bluesway BLS 6022)

8. Night Life (1966, ABC 10889, A)

9. Gambler's Blues (Live) (from the 1967 US LP "Blues Is King" on Bluesway BLS 6001)

10. Sweet Sixteen, Parts 1&2 (1967, Bluesway 61012, A&B-sides)

11. Worried Dream (1967, Bluesway 61007, A)

12. Paying The Cost To Be The Boss (1968, Bluesway 61015, A - also on the US LP "Blues On Top Of Blues" on Bluesway BLS 6011)

13. Watch Yourself

14. Lucille - tracks 13 and 14 are both from the 1968 US LP "Lucille" on Bluesway BLS 6016)

15. Why I Sing The Blues (1969, Bluesway 61024, A - also on the 1969 US LP "Live And Well" on Bluesway BLS 6031)

16. Confessin' The Blues (1969, Bluesway 61035, B-side of "So Excited" - also on the 1969 US LP "Completely Well" on Bluesway BLS 6037)

17. The Thrill Is Gone (1969, Bluesway 61032, A - also on the 1969 US LP "Completely Well" on Bluesway BLS 6037)

Disc 3 (1970-1983) - 73:57 minutes:

1. Nobody Loves Me But My Mother (1970, ABC 11290, A - also on the LP "Indianola Mississippi Seeds" on ABC Records ABC-713)

2. Chains And Things (1970, ABC 11280, A - also on the LP "Indianola Mississippi Seeds" on ABC Records ABC-713)

3. Hummingbird (1970, ABC 11268, A - also on the LP "Indianola Mississippi Seeds" on ABC Records ABC-713)

4. Worry, Worry (Live) (from the 1971 LP "Live At Cook County Jail" on ABC Records ABC 723)

5. Ghetto Woman (1971, ABC 11310, A - also on the 1971 LP "In London" on ABC Records ABC-730)

6. Ain't Nobody Home (1971, ABC 11316, A - also on the 1971 LP "In London" on ABC Records ABC-730)

7. Guess Who (1972, ABC 11330, A - also on the 1972 LP "Guess Who" on ABC Records ABC 759)

8. I Like To Live The Love (1973, ABC 11406, A - also on the 1973 LP "To Know You Is To Love You" on ABC Records ABCX-794)

9. Lucille Talks Back

10. Don't Make Me Pay For His Mistakes - tracks 9 and 10 from the 1975 LP "Lucille Talks Back" on ABC Records ABCD 898

11. Let The Good Times Roll (Live) (1976, ABC-Impulse 31006, A - also on the 1976 2LP Bobby Bland and B.B. King set "Together Again...Live" on ABC Records ASD 9317)

12. Mother Fuyer (from the 1977 LP "King Size" on ABC Records AB 977)

13. When It All Comes Down (I'll Still Be Around) (from the 1978 LP "Midnight Believer" on ABC Records AA 1061)

14. Better Not Look Down (1979, MCA 41062, A - also on the 1979 LP "Take It Home" on MCA Records MCA 3151)

15. There Must Be A Better World Somewhere (1981, MCA 51101, A - also on the 1981 LP "There Must Be A Better World Somewhere" on MCA Records MCA 5162)

16. Nightlife/Please Send Me Someone To Love (from the 1982 LP "Love Me Tender" on MCA Records MCA 5307)

17. Make Love To Me (from the 1983 LP "Blues `N' Jazz" on MCA Records MCA 27119)

Disc 4 (1984-2008) - 79:20 minutes:

1. Into The Night (1985, MCA 52530, A - also on the 1985 LP "Six Silver Strings" on MCA Records MCA 5616)

2. When Love Comes To Town [credited as U2 with B.B. KING] (1988, Island 7-99225, A - also on the U2 1988 double-album "Rattle And Hum" on Island 91003)

3. Take Off Your Shoes (from the 1989 LP "King Of The Blues: 1989" on MCA Records MCAD 42183)

4. I'm Moving On

5. There Is Always One More Time - tracks 4 and 5 from 1991 album "There Is Always One More Time" on MCA Records MCAD 10295)

6. Monday Morning Blues (Blues For Mr. G) (from the 1991 album "Garfield: Am I Cool Or What?" on GRP Records GRD 9641)

7. Playin' With My Friends [with ROBERT CRAY] (from the 1993 album "Blues Summit" on MCA Records MCA 10710)

8. Confessin' The Blues (from the 1997 album "Deuces Wild" on MCA Records MCA 11711)

9. Blues Man

10. I'll Survive - tracks 9 and 10 from the 1998 album "Blues On The Bayou" on MCA Records MCA 11879)

11. Caldonia

12. Ain't That Just Like A Woman - tracks 11 and 12 from the 1999 album "Let The Good Times Roll: The Music Of Louis Jordan" on MCA Records 088 112 042)

13. Monday Woman (from the 1999 album "Makin' Love Is Good For You" on MCA Records 088 112 241)

14. Ten Long Years [ERIC CLAPTON with B.B. KING] (from the 2000 album "Riding With The King" on Reprise 9 47612-2)

15. Early In The Morning [with VAN MORRISON] (from the 2005 album "80" on Geffen B0005263-02)

16. Key To The Highway (Live) (from the 2006 album "Live" on Geffen B0009770-02)

17. See That Grave Is Kept Clean (from the 2008 album "One Kind Favor" on Geffen B0011791-02)

The 8 x 10" shaped Black Box Set cuts a classy dash as does the 64-page Hardback Book on the inside. ASHLEY KAHN (Music Journalist and author of a book on "Kind Of Blue" by Miles Davis) provides us with an affectionate and informative introduction to the Blues Legend on Pages 1 to 13 while Pages 14 to 40 are taken up with a "B.B. King Recording Career" assessment by DICK SHURMAN (Grammy-Winning Producer and Blues Historian). The text is peppered throughout with beautifully rendered black and white and colour photos from varying stages in his life, concert tickets, American concert posters, there's a shot of an enamoured Bono of U2 on stage with our Hero and there's even a repro photo of that rare 78" on Bullet from 1949. Pages 42 through to the end give a very detailed track-by-track breakdown - musicians, writers, times, vinyl and CD credits etc. Each of the CDs is housed in a period photo card sleeve with all four sitting in a centre hollow.

The entire set has been compiled by two experienced names in quality reissues - BILL LEVENSON and ANDY McKAIE. The audio rocks too. ELIOT KISSILEFF carried out the tape transfers while SETH FOSTER did the mastering - and the remasters as you can imagine are superb throughout (Disc 4 features beautifully recorded tracks anyway). The first few sides are dubbed from 78" so have crackle - but much of the RPM, Kent and ABC-Paramount tapes are clearly in great shape.

The historic 78"s cease crackling by the time the mournful "Three O'Clock Blues" kicks in on Track 5, Disc 1. "Woke Up This Morning" gives us some excellent bopping R'n'B - followed by two more RPM nuggets "Blind Love" and the mooching "When My Heart Beat Like A Hammer". Up next is surely one of the fan's faves - the witty "You Upset My Baby" with its "twenty eight in the waist...forty-four in the hips..." lyrics - and it still sounds cool a full sixty years after the event. By the time you get the Sixties ABC-Paramount material like "Blues At Midnight" and "Sneakin' Around" - the Production values go through the roof - these tracks sounding just amazing even if his guitar style is a tad drowned out by huge amounts of brass-band backing.

Disc 2 opens with a trio from the legendary "Live At The Regal Theatre" set which Mobile Fidelity once give the Gold CD treatment too ("Sweet Little Angel" sounds particularly awesome as do the screams of the little girls eager to get at B.B. when he saucily sings about "spreading her wings..."). One of the great things about Box sets like this is the discoveries - and one of them is the Stereo take of "All Over Again" - a forgotten mid-tempo piece about "letters in the morning" and "being better off dead" - the audio quality on this track alone is fabulous (lovely guitar licks too). He goes deep Blues on his cover of Joe Turner's "Cherry Red" and Britain's Fleetwood Mac must surely have had the slow shuffle-cymbals-and-echoed-guitar Blues of "Don't Answer The Door Parts 1 & 2" on repeat play in some London bedsit.

Disc 3 starts with the Seventies and it's easy to hear why three tracks appear from the wickedly good "Indianola Mississippi Seeds" LP (on Probe Records in the UK). One of my all time craves is "Chains And Things" - picked off the album as a 7" single in the UK on Probe PRO 516 in February 1971 (with "King's Special" on the B-side).  The A is a slinky almost Steely Dan "Do It Again" vibe which features no less than Carole King on Piano - it's brilliant. The other choice is "Hummingbird" written by Leon Russell and featuring its creator on Piano with Joe Walsh on Rhythm Guitar (James Gang, Eagles). Other interesting cuts include the Instrumental "Lucille Talks Back" and his stab at Funk in "Mother Fuyer". The Soulful strings of "Ghetto Woman" and brassy swagger of Jerry Ragovoy's "Ain't Nobody Home" come from the "In London" album which featured a huge array of talent - Gary Wright of Spooky Tooth on Keyboards, Dr. John on Piano, Bobby Keys (of The Rolling Stones) on saxophone with Klaus Voorman on bass (of "Revolver" fame") and Ringo Starr (of some Liverpool band) on Drums. "When It All Comes Down (I'll Still Be Around)" features Joe sample of The Crusaders with "Make Love To Me" ending Disc 3 in a shuffling Jazz/R'n'B fashion (sensational Production and the band cooking).

What I wasn't expecting was the quality of Disc 4 - the later stuff. Excluding a terrible Eighties production on "Into The Night" (opening track) - from "When Love Comes To Town" onwards its good all the way with an array of famous names contributing excellence - Robert Cray, Marty Stewart, Dr. John, Arthur Adam, Joe Sample, Eric Clapton, Van Morrison and of course Ireland's U2. "Confessin' The Blues" is particularly chunky (Marty Stewart on Guitar and Vocals with Bill Payne of Little Feat on Keyboards) while Van Morrison puts in a spirited performance on the Traditional "Early In The Morning". Joe Sample of The Crusaders (sadly passed away recently) contributed "I'm Moving On" to that album while Arthur Adam plays guitar on the cut. One of the best true Blues tunes on the whole box is "There Is Always One More Time" - beautifully produced by Stewart Levine. Dr. John plays piano on the two Louis Jordan cover versions and turns up again on the Blind Lemon Jefferson/Furry Lewis CD finisher "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean". It's an impressive way to end the Box - still doing it after all these years and endless decades...

Some consider him a lightweight in terms of playing technique - some feel his live stuff far outweighs the recorded - but whatever you look at B.B. King - this is a lovingly crafted Box Set that deserves several listens in order to appreciate the sheer breath of his recording career.

Aged 89 in 2015 - B.B. King is still with us - still doing it - still playing the Blues. And that itself is a testament to his incredible musical career.

"...I'll survive..." - he sang all those years ago. And his music has...

"Here’s One You Didn’t Know About: From The RPM & Kent Vaults" by B.B. KING (2015 Ace CD Remasters) - A Review by Mark Barry...

"...You May Want To Release It..." 

Hardly surprising that following Blues Boy’s passing in May 2015 aged 89 - the market was flooded with myriad compilations of material out of copyright. But typical of Ace Records – they honour the great Bluesman memory with an absolute stormer! 25-tracks, 23 of which are Previously Unreleased, a near 80-minute playing time, properly copious and intelligent liner notes and 12 of these suckers in glorious STEREO! Here are the Bluesy details...

UK released 27 November 2015 (December 2015 in the USA) – "Here's One You Didn't Know About: From The RPM & Kent Vaults" by B.B. KING on Ace Records CDTOP 1457 (Barcode 029667074322) is a 25-track CD compilation of mainly Previously Unreleased material and plays out as follows (79:52 minutes):

1. Catfish Blues (aka Fishin' After Me) – Alternate Version of Kent 351

2. Be Careful Baby

3. Growing Old – Take 2 of Kent 470

4. Gotta Find My Baby (aka They Call The Blues) – 1960s Version, Take 8

5. Long Nights (The Feeling They Call The Blues) – Take 4 of Kent 389

6. Loving you In Vain (aka Heartache And Pain) – Alternate Take To a version That First speared on the UK CD compilation "Blues In My Heart" by B.B. KING released 2004 on Ace CDCHM 966

7. Shut Your Mouth – Take 1 of RPM 430

8. Sweet Little Angel – Version 1 – Alternate of RMP 468

9. Sweet Little Angel – Version 2 – Take 1 of a track on 1957's "Singin' The Blues" LP on RPM 3005

10. Bad Case Of Love – Take 6 of Kent 362

11. Talkin' The Blues – Take 2 of RPM 435

12. Whole Lot Of Lovin' (1963 Re-Record) – Take 1 of Kent 388

13. You Know I Go For You – Alternate of Kent 301

14. You’ve Been An Angel – Take 1 of Kent 315

15. Be Careful With A Fool – Take 1 of RPM 494

16. When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer – Take 1 of RPM 412

17. Don't You Want A Man Like Me – Take 3 of RPM 411

18. Early In The Morning – Take 2 of RPM 486

19. I Wonder Why – Take 4 of Kent 447

20. Partin' Time – Take 3 of Kent 346

21. Soul Beat (aka Powerhouse) – Take 1 of Kent 475

22. Why Not – Take 8-A of a track that first appeared on the 2002 4CD Box Set "The Vintage Years" by B.B. KING on Ace ABOXCD 8

23. The Woman I Love (Copper Colored Mama) – Take 3 of RPM 408

24. Whole Lotta Meat (aka Hey Little Girl) – Take 10 of a Track that first appeared on the 1987 UK LP "One Nighter Blues" on Ace CHD 201

25. Going Down Slow (1959 Version) – Take 2 of a track on the 1963 US LP "16 Of The Best Of B.B. King" on Galaxy G-8202

NOTES:

All Tracks are 2015 PREVIOUSLY UNRELEASED

Except Tracks 9 and 17 which appeared in 2014 on "Speak Easy: The R.P.M. Records Story Volume 2 – 1954-57" on Ace CDTOP 1421

Tracks 1, 2, 4, 5, 10, 12, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24 and 25 are STEREO

Tracks 3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 23 are MONO

Compiled and researched by ROGER ARMSTRONG and DICK SHURMAN - the 16-page booklet features wonderfully detailed new liner notes by DICK SHURMAN whose knowledge and affection for B.B. seems to know no bounds. And on the audio evidence presented here – his joy is hardly surprising. This is a quality release for King fans and Shurman knows it. In between the text are wickedly evocative pictures of Scotch Magnetic Tape Master Boxes along with some snaps of his backing band in the studio.

It’s the usual classy presentation from a label that’s been doing this for 40 years – but you have to say that Sound Engineer DUNCAN COWELL has excelled himself here. The audio on this baby is awesome – and never more so that on the 12 cuts that come at in glorious STEREO – each version filled with a huge in-your-living- room vibe to the sound and genuine excitement to the listen. Not only is B.B.'s playing fluid and impressively cool – the band is cooking and you can literally feel they know it. We’ll done to all involved...

The title of the compilation comes from dialogue B.B. speaks at the beginning of "Catfish Blues" – clearly enjoying his mojo and the band's company in the studio. The Version 1 of "Sweet Little Angel" on here shows his best playing too. Some great "...pulse is weak..." studio patter at the beginning of the infectious "Bad Case Of Love" – boogie-woogie in fabulous Stereo. We get a tad Elmore James slasher side for "Whole Lot Of Lovin'" where B.B. tells us of his gal's "dreamy eyes" which are clearly affecting the man's mental stability and other parts of his manly frame (fab Stereo too). Gutsy Blues comes at you for the Mono "When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer" – and even though its Take 1 – it seems finished to me (gorgeous piano playing too). It ends on the near eight minutes of "Going Down Slow" where the vocal is a tiny bit rough – but the power of the playing and the sympatico band more than win the day. 

A wonderful reissue for B.B. KING fans and surely one of the 'Blues CD Reissues Of 2015'...nice one boys...