The Complete Singles As & Bs 1949-62

B.B. King, who died in May 2015 at the age of 89, was without doubt one of the most illustrious exponents of the blues in the history of popular music. As an important and pioneering innovator, guitarist, singer, songwriter and performer, he ranks among the legendary personalities of the genre, alongside the likes of Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf and John Lee Hooker. Perhaps more than anything, he was a hugely respected gentleman of the blues, one of the finest ambassadors it has ever had, and a massively influential figure in terms of his impact on the emerging stars of the ‘50s and ‘60s who themselves have become global icons in the rock world. His distinctive and unique guitar style, which always attracted the comment that “he could say more with one note than others could with a thousand”, marks him down as one of the masters of his art. This great-value 123-track 5-CD collection brings together all the A & B sides of his single releases from his debut in 1949 on the Bullet label through his releases on RPM and then Kent up to 1962. It naturally includes some of his best-known and most important recordings, and gives a definitive overview of his work during the first decade and more of his career, as well as providing a marvellous showcase for his matchless style and technique. It is an ideal anthology for those wishing to have a substantial body of his work in their collection.