The Blues (B. B. King album)

The Blues
Compilation album by B.B. King
Released	1958 (1958)
Genre	Blues
Length	33:38
Label	Crown
B.B. King chronology
Singin' the Blues (1957) The Blues (1958) B.B. King Wails (1959)

The Blues is the second album by blues artist B.B. King, released in 1958 by the Bihari brothers on their budget Crown label. The album collects 12 tracks that King recorded between 1951 and 1958 for Kent and RPM. ^[1] As common practice with the record label, Crown released The Blues off the strength of the single "When My Heart Beats Like a Hammer", a Top 10 R&B chart single in 1958, ^[1] to help sell a collection of less-popular songs. King's signature style of single-note riffs and powerful string bends is present on the album, however it is also commanded by horn-driven performances. ^[1]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
Billboard	[2]
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings	[3]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide (1991 Reissue)	[4]

Since its inception, The Blues has received positive reviews, as seen with Mark Deming of AllMusic's review stating King was "already near the top of his class". ^[1] The Rolling Stone Album Guide also commented that the collection of tracks showcased the studio band peak form, spotlighting the tracks "Ruby Lee", "Past Day" and "Boogie Woogie Woman". ^[5] Billboard gave the album four out of four stars, saying that it was "A good low-price R&B set", "The vocals by King are in the old rhythm and blues tradition", and that it was "Potent stuff for the racks". ^[2]

Track listing

The original Crown LP and many reissues do not list the songwriters, producers, nor running times. ^[6] Details are taken from the AllMusic review ^[1] and may differ from other sources.

Side one

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Why Do Things Happen to Me"	Roy Hawkins, Jules Taub a.k.a. Jules Bihari	2:49
2.	"Ruby Lee"	King, Taub	2:38
3.	"When My Heart Beats Like a Hammer"	John Lee Williamson a.k.a. Sonny Boy Williamson I	2:56
4.	"Past Day"	Joe Josea a.k.a. Joe Bihari, King	3:17
5.	"Boogie Woogie Woman"	King, Taub	2:49
6.	"Early Every Morning [7] "	Josea, King	2:36

Side two

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"I Want to Get Married"	Josea, King	3:04
2.	"That Ain't the Way to Do It"	King, Taub	2:19
3.	"Troubles, Troubles, Troubles"	King, Sam Ling a.k.a. Saul Bihari	2:59
4.	"Don't You Want a Man Like Me"	Taub	2:41
5.	"You Know I Go For You"	King, Ling, Taub	2:40
6.	"What Can I Do"	King, Taub	2:50
Total length:			33:38

References

1. Deming, Mark. "The Blues - B.B. King". AllMusic . Retrieved August 20, 2019.
2. "The Billboard's weekly Packaged Records Buying Guide – Reviews & Ratings of New Popular Albums – Low Price: Rhythm and Blues –The Blues". Billboard (published June 23, 1958). June 23, 1958. p. 25. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
3. Russell, Tony; Smith, Chris (2006). The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings . New York City: Penguin. p. 354. ISBN   978-0-140-51384-4.
4. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). "The Blues - B.B. King". The Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City: Simon and Schuster. pp. 451–454. ISBN   9780743201698 . Retrieved September 14, 2019.
5. Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian David (2004). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide. New York City: Simon and Schuster. ISBN   978-0743201698.
6. Cy, Schneider (1958). The Blues (Album notes). B.B. King. Culver City, California: Crown Records. CLP 5063.
7. Titled "Early in the Morning" on the original LP.