CD - B.B. King: One Kind Favor

Arriving a little late to this album, I couldn't avoid catching some of the other reviews, which have been mixed to say the least. If you are coming to B.B for the first time, this isn't the place to start - this is after all an album by a man in his 80s and, whilst not wishing to be ageist, that must lead to a couple of musical compromises. Newbies need to go back to some of his earlier releases or dig out a compilation or Primer recommendation. 

Having said that, it's still fine album. It's a relatively stripped back affair, well produced by T Bone Burnett. B.B revisits many of the blues tracks that actually directly or indirectly influenced his own style - numbers by Blind Lemon, Furry Lewis, T-Bone Walker, John Lee Hooker, Lonnie Johnson are amongst those included in the set.

There is a very fine band behind the great man (Jim Keltner on drums, Dr John on keyboards and Nathan East on bass included) and his guitar playing is still top notch. This is a blues album that goes back to basics and King's vocals never seem to dim; a little more world weary perhaps, but still that trademark warmth and as commanding as ever.

The Primer's favourites? Probably 'See That My Grave Is Kept Clean' and 'Sitting On Top Of The World', both great versions of truly classic blues.

Its good, and definitely worth having in your collection - but I do have to agree with the reviewer who said that the typical Burnett stripped down approach has paradoxically given the release a sameness to some of the tracks. Whether that equates to consistency and cohesion or a repetition is down to the listener? Either way, it pretty damn good for a man in his eighties (are we allowed to say that!), any B.B fan will want it in their collection but a newbie might be better off starting elsewhere.

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