In perusing many critics' "best of 2008" lists over the past few weeks, I was surprised to see continual nods to the latest B.B. King album. I've always been a B.B. fan, but in truth, I've found almost everything he's recorded over the past 20 years to be... well... tired. A few listens proved that One Kind Favor is, however, a pleasant surprise. The recording features an incredible band including Dr. John, Jim Keltner, Nathan East and others, all captured magnificently by producer T-Bone Burnett. And B.B., as usual, sounds in fine form. If you're a B.B. King fan, One Kind Favor is a recording you'll want to own. Buy One Kind Favor at Amazon.com
Related:
Learn to Play Like B.B. King
Comments
I think One Kind Favor is a very welcome return to true form for B.B. King. Both the vocals and guitar are in excellent shape. The fantastic work of T-Bone Burnett and the backing musicians all help make this one of B.B.’s best albums.
The only really downer about this album are the recurring allusions to death in the lyrics , which is understandable for an 83 year old musician. But it highlights the fact that so many admirers of this music aren’t ready to hear about this guitar great’s passing any time soon.
This is the closest to form he’s been in a while. I went to a concert recently and was deeply moved by his version of “One Kind Favor/See that My Grave’s Kept Clean.” Seeing him perform it, you can tell from his face that the song hits him differently than it might a 20 year old.