GOLD RECORDS // MUSIC // BB King – Live at the Regal

1965

BB King is one of the greatest blues artists who ever lived – a true pioneer whose passing in 2015 was a genuine loss for music, and the world. Live at the Regal is an exemplary document of the man at his absolute best; commonly cited by blues fans as one of the all-time greatest albums of the genre, and a perfect starting point for those who have never experienced the joys of the King.

The first thing to note about the album is how its electric, joyful atmosphere comes from the

crowd as much as the music itself. The folks in attendance are wonderfully excited and engaged throughout, whooping and screaming euphorically as King and his band deliver ten songs of outstanding classic blues, and as trite as it might be to say, one could close their eyes and feel like they’re right there in the Regal Theatre, Chicago, along with them.

King plays off the energy brought by the audience with consummate style, interacting with them beyond the usual “how are we doing out there” you might expect of a band or artist on a live album; he turns ‘Sweet Little Angel’ and ‘It’s My Own Fault’ into a double bill, twinning the former (about appreciating the love of a good woman) and the latter (told from the point of view of a man who has lost his woman through his own foolishness) with some spoken asides, in a way which audibly captivates the crowd with the polished ease of a raconteur. It’s a great example of how a carefully sequenced setlist can give way to the kind of communicative storytelling that music can be so uniquely suited to.

King’s guitar playing is excellent, of course, as he wrings maximum feel out of every note, never overplaying or trying to show off, necessarily, but instead luxuriating in each delicate bend of a string; each ecstatic little lick colouring his storytelling in a way so effortless you just know it’s the product of feeling as opposed to strict, disciplined practice. It’s the sound of a man fully in sync with his instrument, using it as a genuine extension of himself as a delivery of expression in a way that simply can’t be faked. King was a master of using vibrato to get the utmost emotional heft out of just a single note, and this album is a showcase for some of his best, most tasteful soloing. His voice is also on exceptional form - when people talk about King, his guitar playing (understandably) tends to take all the attention, but it shouldn’t be forgotten that the man could really sing too.

King is more than ably backed up throughout by his band: Leo Lauchie on bass; Duke Jethro on piano; Sonny Freeman on drums; Bobby Forte and Johnny Board on tenor sax. They each bring a delightful carefree groove and lightness to their playing; although King soars as the front and centre ‘star’, the rest of the musicians are more than a simple disposable backing band for hire. Ron Steele Sr. also deserves high praise for his work as recording engineer on the album, accentuating the contributions of each band member while balancing the music with the (as mentioned, invaluable) noise of the ebullient crowd. Live at the Regal is a testament to the power of the blues and one of the best live blues albums around, crucially capturing the essence of the King like bottled lightning.