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Rating: Dear folks,
for my first (and perhaps last) review, I chose an album by the esteemed B.B. King.
Yes, because unlike Rock, Country, Funk, and Pop, the Blues still has its King, venerable and unchallenged.
The album in question is from 1990, recorded live at none other than San Quentin prison, and B.B. King managed to demonstrate his great humanity despite the gold rings, loads of money, and a career spanning nearly half a century.
In my opinion, it's not the songs (played and replayed for decades) that make the album enjoyable on their own, but it's the human connection, the desire to interact between B.B. and the inmates that makes this work absolutely unique. A lesson in life, as well as music (which was always there).
Reaching out to these inmates, marginalized and avoided, and communicating with them as if they were lifelong friends, brothers, neighbors. I bet no other artist is able to do this, balancing between extreme professionalism (in playing) and disarming simplicity (in dialogue): No pity, no bluff. Only those who have lived in particular contexts know how to do this.
From a musical point of view, the hits are not missing ("Let The Good Times Roll", "Every Day I Have The Blues", "Sweet Little Angel", "Sweet Sixteen", "The Thrill Is Gone"), with some incursions from the 80s ("Into The Night"), plus hilarious sketches and banter with the audience, who even engage in the singing parts (prompted by B.B. himself) in the interludes of "Never Make A Move Too Soon", "Ain't Nobody's Bizness", "Rock Me Baby", "Nobody Loves Me But My Mother").
The pivotal moments, in my opinion, are touched in the song "Sweet Sixteen" (during which two inmates take the stage and chat with B.B. King in a calm and conversational manner, inviting him not to forget the prison and those who live there) and the overwhelming "Peace To The World" by Trade Martin.
A fond farewell with all the trimmings in the closing "Rock Me Baby", where everyone, absolutely everyone, gets involved in the performance of the song.
More than a live performance, a manifesto, a mix between a speech, a rally, and a concert.
A sort of May Day celebration done better.
A must-have.
Cool.
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