There is really no great need for a lengthy review of this set. If you don’t already have this material, then buy this collection. These songs are among the basic and essential ingredients of any decent blues collection: Riley King in his prime and Laying down much of the material that is still in his repertoire sixty years or so later.
Opening with songs he made for bullet and progressing through numerous classics he made for the Biharis up until the start of the ‘60s, this set makes it easy to follow B.B’s evolution from rising local blues star to really hitting his stride in early ‘50s and subsequently becoming a leading fixture (if not the leader) on the African-American blues scene. From the ‘Bluebird Blues’ flavoured ‘Miss Martha King’ to the Ray Charles influenced pop blues of ‘Peace Of Mind’, from generic jumping blues and tense, slow items to a definite stylist with an recognisable vocal and guitar style and who has influenced just about everyone who has picked up an electric guitar since he made these records. This is a fine and in places surprisingly versatile selection of material by Bruno Blum. I doubt there are many readers whose collections lack many of these titles, but if that description does fit, then this is a good place as any to remedy that oversight.
By Norman DARWEN – BLUES & RHYTHM
Opening with songs he made for bullet and progressing through numerous classics he made for the Biharis up until the start of the ‘60s, this set makes it easy to follow B.B’s evolution from rising local blues star to really hitting his stride in early ‘50s and subsequently becoming a leading fixture (if not the leader) on the African-American blues scene. From the ‘Bluebird Blues’ flavoured ‘Miss Martha King’ to the Ray Charles influenced pop blues of ‘Peace Of Mind’, from generic jumping blues and tense, slow items to a definite stylist with an recognisable vocal and guitar style and who has influenced just about everyone who has picked up an electric guitar since he made these records. This is a fine and in places surprisingly versatile selection of material by Bruno Blum. I doubt there are many readers whose collections lack many of these titles, but if that description does fit, then this is a good place as any to remedy that oversight.
By Norman DARWEN – BLUES & RHYTHM
