The Vintage Years

This marvellous 4-CD box contains all the seminal recordings BB King made for labels such as Kent, Crown and RPM-and this is truly exciting stuff. From 3 O'clock blues to unknown masters such as I'll survive, this is truly fabulous music that cronicles most the old recordings BB made. Of the 106 tracks and jam-packed CD's, some of these have been available on other compilations or original vinyls but the fantastic sound quality and exceptional book that provides great insight into the recordings and useful history make this a must-buy! I rate this box as necessary for anyone remotely interested in BB King and blues music! This is a monumental effort from Ace Records, showing that this is the first-stop shopping for BB's older recordings. For the collector there are several previously unreleased tracks, but even though the majority can be found on alternative releases (some from Ace Records) this package is superior and somehow the mastering have made these recordings come to life in a way I have never heard before. There is another box currently available on the market, "The King of the Blues", that focuses more on the 70-90s so this box is a great addition and will not overlap.This is where it all started and the importance of these recordings is apparent in every blues or root-based band ever since. It is known that T-Bone Walker was one of BB's favorites and his role-model for the BB King Orchestra, and here he is proving to be just as important in the history of the blues as T-Bone. The singing, guitar licks, band backing - this goes beyond ratings. Buy it!!