499 – B. B. King – Live in Cook County Jail

BB King cook

Here we go..

Stop press – currently unable to listen as am in bed with ear infection – will have lots of catching up to do ..

04.01.2015

OK – listened three times and then chose to listen another 4 or so for the hell of it! It definitely rewards listening a few times. Not my usual ‘genre’  as I have always admired B. B. King rather than chosen to listen to him but..

From the tongue in cheek introductions of the prison ‘powers that be’ onwards this is just a great album. Atmospheric, great performances.

It would definitely form an interesting entry point for people who are ‘just not into the blues’ – I still count myself as not a fully fledged convert but this album definitely helps!

‘Long suffering wife’ really actively doesn’t like the  blues and likes this having listened to it more than me (as I was waiting for the ear infection to clear). On her walk to the farm shop it had her laughing out loud in parts to the ‘feel’ of it…

‘Oh my wife is so miserable baby…’

‘Man happen to be god’s gift to women..’

‘Lucille – that’s my guitar – we feel very good today’

I think like any genre there are people who are just great at it and people who copy but just not in the same league. On this album B.B. King has ‘it’.

The medley ‘3 O’clock blues/Darlin’ you know I love you’ originally from 1952 makes you think that Elvis might have listened to it.

Have to agree with Rolling Stone about its appearance in the list, might rank quite a bit higher than 499 for me (and t’wife).

Having initially given it a 14/20, I  now rate the album as a whole at 15/20. Can’t really pick stand outs on this album they are all ace!

 

 

6 thoughts on “499 – B. B. King – Live in Cook County Jail”

  1. Blimey B.B. King was a bit of a shock to the system this morning when the alarm went off…but I’m liking it…I think…

  2. I enjoyed the boos at the beginning . Why are jail albums no longer in vogue ?

    I’d pay to listen to Keane: live at Wakefield High Security

  3. .. Still not convinced – suspect this needs more active listening by me, or maybe I’m just in a rush to get to the next 5. Need to listen again a few times I suspect.

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