2 of 90 cd

B.B. King returns to his blues roots with the help of producer T Bone Burnett on "One Kind Favor,". The legendary artist is backed on the effort by pianist Dr. John, drummer Jim Keltner and bassist Nathan East. The track list includes such blues chestnuts as Big Bill Broonzy's "Backwater Blues," Lonnie Johnson's "Tomorrow Night," Blind Lemon Jefferson's "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" and T-Bone Walker's "I Get So Weary."

Similarly enjoyable are the ebullient "I´m Gonna Sit in ´Til You Give In" and "My Baby´s Comin´ Home," as they bear the distinct presence of King´s nimble guitar craft. Belford Hendricks took King through the decidedly sensitive "By Myself" and "A Mother´s Love" with arrangements that bring King´s intimate singing styles to the center of attention. Hendricks´ uncertainty as exactly how to present King is evident on the garish orchestration of "Tomorrow Night" and the Jesse Belvin co-penned "Guess Who." Yet those missteps pale when compared to the overbearing vocalists who smother the Teacho Wilshire-led "On My Word of Honor" and the opener "Young Dreamers." Perhaps one initial direction for King was as a Johnny Mathis-type of crooner, as these scores indicate little more than over-the-top leads. While Mr. Blues is far from a total washout, there are much better examples of B.B. King´s mastery as a singer and guitarist circa the early ´60s. That said, interested parties are encouraged to locate Hip-O Select´s 2006 CD reissue. It has the best-known transfer of the original analogue tapes, an exhaustively researched sessionography for each song, and full reproductions of the vintage LP jacket.

Limited Edition import-only vinyl LP repressing of this album. Universal. 2007.