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BB King
Live In Japan



The “lost” live album knocks seven shades out of the blues, reckons MOJO messageboarder.

BB King

When BB King landed in Tokyo in March 1971, the Blues legend was riding high on a well-deserved surge in popular acclaim and commercial success. The Thrill Is Gone had become King’s highest-ever charting single the previous year, and as he hit the Sankei Hall stage with his touring band, Live In Cook County Jail was starting a lucrative climb into the US album charts. To avoid harming sales of the latter disc perhaps, his record company decided to release the Tokyo dates only in Japan, leaving America to wait another 28 years. By then of course the LP had become a highly sought-after collectible, and for good reason – the recording captures King and his band in phenomenal form. In contrast to …Cook County Jail’s brevity, Live In Japan offers more than seventy minutes of diverse yet consistently outstanding material. Classics such as Sweet Sixteen, The Thrill Is Gone and How Blue Can You Get? are delivered with tremendous passion and clout, while a rare live version of Hummingbird simply takes off on a barrage of ringing notes from Lucille and a fanfare of horns. King’s vocals are magnificent throughout, particularly on Eyesight To The Blind, where he ranges from a bawled holler to a tremulous, breathless gasp with astonishing ease. Several long instrumentals, such as Japanese Boogie and Jamming At Sankei Hall, offer an invaluable snapshot of King’s live improvisational skills, as well as some magical solos from trumpet player John Browning, pianist Ron Levy and King’s long-time drummer Sonny Freeman. While not as widely celebrated as some of his other concert albums, Live In Japan is both an artful and thorough testament to the multi-faceted genius of one of music’s true living legends.

Ange Tsibogiannis

Posted by Danny_Eccleston at 6:00 AM GMT 14/07/2008

Further Listening

BB KingLive In Cook County Jail (ABC, 1971)

T-Bone WalkerT-Bone Blues (Atlantic, 1959)

Albert KingBlues At Sunrise: Live At Montreux (Stax, 1988)


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  • Hi everyone. My name is Ray, from Utica, NY. I will be visiting Poland soon, and I am hoping to meet my Polish relatives. I also hope some people from here may help me in contacting my relatives before my visit. Thanks and looking forward to meeting some great people on here!

    Posted by marine at 6:27 AM GMT 15/07/2008 Report Abuse

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  • Hi everyone. My name is Ray, from Utica, NY. I will be visiting Poland soon, and I am hoping to meet my Polish relatives. I also hope some people from here may help me in contacting my relatives before my visit. Thanks and looking forward to meeting some great people on here!

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  • Hi everyone. My name is Ray, from Utica, NY. I will be visiting Poland soon, and I am hoping to meet my Polish relatives. I also hope some people from here may help me in contacting my relatives before my visit. Thanks and looking forward to meeting some great people on here!

    Posted by marine at 8:17 PM GMT 16/07/2008 Report Abuse

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  • Hi everyone. My name is Ray, from Utica, NY. I will be visiting Poland soon, and I am hoping to meet my Polish relatives. I also hope some people from here may help me in contacting my relatives before my visit. Thanks and looking forward to meeting some great people on here!

    Posted by marine at 11:18 PM GMT 16/07/2008 Report Abuse

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  • Hi everyone. My name is Ray, from Utica, NY. I will be visiting Poland soon, and I am hoping to meet my Polish relatives. I also hope some people from here may help me in contacting my relatives before my visit. Thanks and looking forward to meeting some great people on here!

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  • Hi everyone. My name is Ray, from Utica, NY. I will be visiting Poland soon, and I am hoping to meet my Polish relatives. I also hope some people from here may help me in contacting my relatives before my visit. Thanks and looking forward to meeting some great people on here!

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  • Hi everyone. My name is Ray, from Utica, NY. I will be visiting Poland soon, and I am hoping to meet my Polish relatives. I also hope some people from here may help me in contacting my relatives before my visit. Thanks and looking forward to meeting some great people on here!

    Posted by marine at 8:17 AM GMT 17/07/2008 Report Abuse

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  • Hi everyone. My name is Ray, from Utica, NY. I will be visiting Poland soon, and I am hoping to meet my Polish relatives. I also hope some people from here may help me in contacting my relatives before my visit. Thanks and looking forward to meeting some great people on here!

    Posted by marine at 11:17 AM GMT 17/07/2008 Report Abuse

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  • Hi everyone. My name is Ray, from Utica, NY. I will be visiting Poland soon, and I am hoping to meet my Polish relatives. I also hope some people from here may help me in contacting my relatives before my visit. Thanks and looking forward to meeting some great people on here!

    Posted by marine at 2:27 PM GMT 17/07/2008 Report Abuse

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  • Hi everyone. My name is Ray, from Utica, NY. I will be visiting Poland soon, and I am hoping to meet my Polish relatives. I also hope some people from here may help me in contacting my relatives before my visit. Thanks and looking forward to meeting some great people on here!

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  • It Ain't Snowing In Memphis

    Looking out the window.
    Feeling cold inside.
    It ain't snowing in Memphis.

    Chilling to the bone.
    Baby by my side.
    It ain't snowing in Memphis.

    How I wish I were in Memphis.
    Walking down Beale St.
    Sipping on a Coke.
    Hearing BB sing the Blues.

    Cause it ain't snowing in Memphis.
    Cause it ain't snowing in Memphis.

    Posted by Lamar Cole at 8:31 PM GMT 03/09/2008 Report Abuse

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  • greatest aim original lively send for sure opt educate snatch hither, ed unite put one's punch a recall on succour

    Posted by Thysfunny at 7:06 PM GMT 08/01/2009 Report Abuse

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