The Weekday Ramble is a daily dose of sports, music, culture, and more from Rambling On founder Erik Ritland. For more information check us out on Reddit, Twitter, Facebook, or at our website.
Monday May 18, 2015
Since #ThreeQuotes week was so successful we’re going to follow it up with another popular feature, #ThreeSongs. We begin with a tribute to the late B.B. King.
Three O’ Clock Blues
Originally released as a single in 1950
The combination of grit and soul of King’s first classic single personifies him and shows why he is so revered. Then there's also that voice. He’s best known for his guitar playing, and rightly so, but the way he hits those high notes is chilling. And straight out of the Delta blues tradition.
The Thrill is Gone
from the 1969 LP Completely Well
The Thrill is Gone
from the 1969 LP Completely Well
Most times I try to dig up under-appreciated songs to pay tribute to songwriters and musicians. But how can you not mention tracks like “Three O’ Clock Blues” and “The Thrill is Gone” when paying tribute to B.B. King? The uneasy combination of hard hitting Delta blues guitar, soulful singing, and haunting strings come together as if they were always meant to. If a time capsule of 20th century music was made this track should be in it.
See that my Grave is Kept Clean
from the 2008 LP One Kind Favor
See that my Grave is Kept Clean
from the 2008 LP One Kind Favor
After years of saturating the market with good-not-great duet albums B.B. King got back to his roots for 2008’s One Kind Favor. His guitar playing throughout the record is soulful and effortless, his vocals are cadenced and effective, and the band backing him is sparse and tasteful. The material he chose to record meant a lot to him and covered all his influences, from urbane blues to jug bands to grittier Delta blues. It’s his best, most consistent, most personal album.
“See that my Grave is Kept Clean” was originally released by Blind Lemon Jefferson in 1927. King proves here that he still had a lot to offer, even this late in his career. Each guitar lick and each vocal phrase is meaningful. But that's just B.B.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
“See that my Grave is Kept Clean” was originally released by Blind Lemon Jefferson in 1927. King proves here that he still had a lot to offer, even this late in his career. Each guitar lick and each vocal phrase is meaningful. But that's just B.B.
Erik Ritland is a writer and musician from St. Paul, Minnesota. His blog and podcast Rambling On features commentary on music, sports, culture, and more. He was also Lead Staff Writer for Minnesota culture blog Curious North. Support Erik's music via his Patreon account, reach him via email, or find him on Facebook and Twitter.
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