B.B. King - The Best of B.B. King [MCA]

True, this 1973 vintage best-of album covers a ridiculously slim wedge of time in the blues king's long career. Yet this period was quite significant, for it marks the crest of B.B. King's initial entry into the pop music mass market -- and this album surfs succinctly, if not comprehensively, over the high points of his turn-of-the-decade winning streak. There's a potent slice of King's triumphant Live at Cook County -- one of his sassiest "How Blue Can You Get?" on records -- the huge hit "The Thrill Is Gone" extracts from his surprisingly pleasing early excursions into pop/rock territory on In London and Indianola Mississippi Seeds, and plenty of flavorful electric blues ("Sweet Sixteen," "Why I Sing the Blues") at full length. There are some quirks -- "Caldonia" is shortened because one of the unnamed participants on the session demanded the cut, and the "compatible stereo/quad" sound on the LP has some details drastically mixed down when it's played back in ordinary stereo. Most curious of all is the last track, where King plunks out "Nobody Loves Me but My Mother" on a tack piano and then his closing words are converted into a weird, gradually slowed-down, echotized electronic blur that settles into a creepy locked-end groove. ~ Richard S. Ginell, All Music Guide

Name Credits Aaron Baron Engineer Alan Sekuler Graphic Coordinator B.B. King Piano, Vocals, Guitar, Guitar (Electric) Baker Bigsby Remastering, Assembly, Engineer Bert de Coteaux String Arrangements, Horn Arrangements Bill Perkins Sax (Baritone), Clarinet Bill Szymczyk Producer, Remixing, Engineer Bobby Keys Saxophone, Sax (Tenor), ? Booker Walker Sax (Alto) Bryan Garofalo Bass (Electric), Bass Carl Hall Vocals (Background), Vocals, Bass Chuck Findley Trombone Clydie King Vocals, Vocals (Background) David Spinozza Guitar Dominic Lumetta Assistant Assembly, Remastering Assistant, ? Duster Bennett Harmonica Earl Turbinton Sax (Alto) Ed Michel Producer, Remastering, Assembly Gary Kelgren Engineer Gary Kellgram Engineer Gary Wright Organ Gavyn Wright Organ Gerald Jemmott Bass, Bass (Electric), Fretless Bass Gil Fortis ?, Remastering Assistant, Assistant Assembly Herb Lovelle Drums Hugh McCracken Guitar, ? Jerry Ragovoy Piano Jim Gordon Drums Jim Keltner Drums Jim Price Horn Arrangements, Trumpet, Trombone Jimmie Haskell String Arrangements, Horn Arrangements Joe Burton Trombone Joe Walsh Guitar Joe Zagarino Producer, Engineer John Browning Trumpet John Uribe Guitar Joseph Burton Trombone Joshie Armstead Vocals, Vocals (Background) Kathryn King Remastering Assistant, Assistant Assembly, ? Ken Klinger Remastering Assistant, Assistant Assembly, ? Klaus Voormann Bass, ?, Fretless Bass Leon Russell Piano, Conductor Louis Hubert Sax (Tenor) Mel Brown Guitar Merry Clayton Vocals, Vocals (Background) Ollie Mitchell Trumpet Paul Harris Piano, Guitar (Electric) Phil Schiler Engineer Renee White Paintings, Artwork Richard Wright Piano (Electric) Rob Fraboni Assistant Assembly, ?, Remastering Assistant Ron Levy Piano Ruby Mazur Art Direction Russ Kunkel Drums Sherlie Matthews Vocals (Background), Vocals Sonny Freeman Drums Tasha Thomas Vocals, Vocals (Background) Venetta Fields Vocals (Background), Vocals Wilbert Freeman Bass (Electric), Bass, Fretless Bass Zee Muffco Engineer, Producer, Reproduction