B.B. KING – The Blues

Originally released in 1958, on the legendary budget label Crown, The Blues compiles many of the classic ’50s sides that B.B. King recorded for the Los Angeles-based labels RPM, Kent, and Modern. Mostly recorded in King’s home base of Memphis, TN — some of which were even recorded and produced by Sam Phillips of Sun Records fame — these 12 sides are some of the most important and classic blues and R&B tracks of the 1950s. A true workhorse, King was often playing more than 300 concerts a year at this point in his career, and it shows in these performances where a tight band is led by one of the most practiced and technically-skilled guitarists of the era. King remains a huge influence on guitarists to this day and these recordings, from nearly 60 years ago, are a perfect example why.