Product Description Live In Japan by B.B. KingWhen sold by .com, this product will be manufactured on demand using CD-R recordable media. .com's standard return policy will apply. .co.uk Recorded in 1971, but unreleased in the U.S. 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
W**4
Brilliant live album!
I have always thought that B.B.'s live albums are much better than his studio albums and this one is no exception. Contains lots of his best known tracks with excellent sound quality throughout. There is also a lot more guitar on this album including a couple of superb instrumentals! Highly recommended!
J**.
Long Live The King
Quite possibly the best live Blues album ever recorded.
B**Y
Best live recording of BB King
A phenomenal show with BB King at his best.His voice is absolutely majestic, his playing superb (as always), but what sets this album aside is the arrangements that he has for his familiar songs. In 1971, the world was gripped by funk (before the dreaded disco revolution), and his interpretations of his songs reflect this.Don't get me wrong, it's not a funk album by any means, but the tunes that jam along are simply phenomenal with the syncopated style drumming. The track called "Jamming at Sankei Hall" is a great example of this.And let's not forget he also sings "Chains and Things" on here too-you won't find that amazing song anywhere on a live album.In my opinion, this is the best live recording of BB King out there as the clarity of the recording is fantastic as well. Live in Cook County is great, but nowhere near as good as this.
R**T
Best BB King album
I completely agree with Bootsy, but I would say this is the best BB King album - full stop. The sound is crystal clear, the energy levels are high, BB King is playing his socks off (much less minimalist than in his later years) and the band is cooking!
T**R
HEY PEOPLE WHAT"S THAT SOUND ?...
Odd Metallic Flat Tone... to my ear...Others laud it Highly...maybe it 's a 'Grower'....
B**R
Boughht as present
Not my cup of tea but bought for someone else. Service for purchase was good.
S**S
drat and double drat
drat and double drat.there is a really soulful instrumental on you tube described as "live in japan" so I bought thisit must have been a different concertits not on this cd.its ok as a stocking fillerbut a long ways short of essential.
