Live at the Apollo [Slimline]

Performer: B.B. King
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: Personnel: B.B. King (vocals, guitar); Kenny Burrell (guitar); Jeff Clayton, Jerry Dodgion (alto saxophone); Plas Johnson, Ralph Moore, Gary Smulyan (tenor saxophone); James Morrison, Joe Mossello, Glen Drews, Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet); George Bohanon, Robin Eubanks, Paul Faulies, Urbie Green (trombone); Gene Harris (piano); Ray Brown (bass); Harold Jones (drums). Producers: Carl Griffin, Josiah Gluck, Sidney A. Seidenberg. Recorded live at the Apollo Theater, New York, New York on November 10, 1990. Includes liner notes by Andrew Whist. LIVE AT THE APOLLO is a straight reissue of a famed 1990 recording by blues guitar master B.B. King at Harlem's famed Apollo Theater. Opening with a gospel-tinged take on U2's "When Love Comes To Town," the set features nine of King's most beloved songs, including his signature song, "The Thrill Is Gone." Backed by an 18-piece big band, King sings and plays at his most impassioned throughout. Though it contains no new material, the 2008 reissue is remastered. If you've seen B.B. King in concert, you know that his sense of showmanship in virtually unmatched. LIVE AT THE APOLLO captures every ounce of the distinct flair and finesse that the world has come to expect from this constantly-touring blues legend. With the Philip Morris Superband as his swinging sidekicks, B.B. sinks his tight, string-bending bite into ten immaculately arranged tracks, including such classics as "The Thrill Is Gone," "Paying The Cost To Be The Boss," and "Ain't Nobody's Bizness." And while recent times have seen B.B. do more singing than string-bending, this set showcases him in top form with plenty of his signature vibrato-laden, jazz-blues leads. Other notable cuts include B.B.'s remake of "When Love Comes To Town," which he performed with U2 on their 1988 RATTLE AND HUM album. Here, B.B. takes the song to another level. It's the album's opening track, and within forty-five seconds of its brassy Chicago-style intro, B.B. already has the audience in the palm of his hand, doing "yeah-yeah-yeah" call and responses. And once the tune gets going with full-on horn arrangements, barrelhouse piano, dizzying trumpets flying overhead and killer tenor sax and guitar solos, you just might say "U who?"

The great Memphis guitarist and singer B.B. King has been the most high-profile figure in blues since the 1960s, ever since his LIVE AT THE REGAL album established him as a superstar. King has collaborated successfully with everyone from Bobby Bland to U2, but he made his name as a soulful, enthusiastic bandleader. His beloved Gibson ES-345 guitar, "Lucille," is the source of King's trademark sound--percussive attack, dramatic string-bending, and spare lead lines with a vocal-like quality.

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