Audio CD review:
B.B. King - Live in Japan

B.B. King - Live in Japan

Band: B.B. King Title: Live in Japan Rating: Release Date: 18 May, 1999 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Every Day I Have The Blues 2: How Blue Can You Get? 3: Eyesight To The Blind 4: Niji Baby 5: You're Still My Woman 6: Chains And Things 7: Sweet Sixteen 8: Hummingbird 9: Darlin' You Know I Love You 10: Japanese Boogie 11: Jamming At Sankei Hall 12: The Thrill Is Gone 13: Hikari #88

Editoral Review S. Recorded in 1971, but unreleased in the U. until 1999, B. B. King's Live in Japan deserves high marks for exuberance alone. Had Live in Cook County Jail not just jumped into the charts, this live album might have been released long ago. The recording opens with a swelling of enthusiastic cheers, as King launches into an uptempo "Every Day I Have the Blues. " There are plenty of other classics here as well, including "How Blue Can You Get?", "Sweet Sixteen," and "The Thrill Is Gone" (which elicits another round of cheering from the opening notes). Live in Japan may not have the long-standing reputation of Cook County Jail or Live at the Regal, but it's an excellent album, with a decidedly different feel from these two classics. King's obvious enthusiasm for his music and for his audience is infectious, and you can hear the sheer joy of it in every note. And, for those who don't really feel that they need additional versions of well-known songs, let it be mentioned that Live in Japan contains King's only live rendition of "Hummingbird," not to mention a couple of unique jams ("Japanese Boogie," "Jamming at Sankei Hall," and "Hikari #88"). --Genevieve Williams .. You can see a complete list of all B.B. King discography, or go back to the B.B. King tabs