B.B. King - Ladies & Gentlemen...Mr. B.B. King (2012) [10CD Box Set] Re-up

Universal's 2012 box set Ladies & Gentlemen…Mr. B.B. King is hardly the first B.B. King box set – MCA assembled a similar four-disc set called King of the Blues in 1992, Ace had a tremendous four-CD box called The Vintage Years in 2002 that covered his pre-ABC/Paramount recordings (apparently every ten years it's time for a new B.B. box) – but it certainly is the most ambitious, arriving in two separate career-spanning incarnations. The first is a relatively concise four-disc set, the second is a lavish ten-disc expansion available exclusively through Amazon. Those listeners who aren't so dedicated will certainly opt for the smaller set, which does a good job of outlining the arc of his entire career even if it arguably rushes through the first act a tad too quickly in an attempt to sample from all phases of his career evenly. That means there's a slight emphasis on amiable latter-day duets over his ripping early Modern sides, a shift that underscores King's gracious regality over his early work as a trailblazer. Nevertheless, this four-disc set is filled with great music and does convey his legacy quite well, even if the expensive and limited ten-disc set does a better job of getting into the nitty gritty of that legacy. Naturally, the extended set has plenty of room to roam, spending the first two discs on his pre-ABC recordings then going through each of his albums for ABC/Paramount/MCA, finding space for rare single versions along the way. The arc of the big box mirrors that of the smaller box, with "The Thrill Is Gone" popping up almost exactly at the midpoint, but the greater detail does offer a richer experience, one that captures much of King's enormous influence and legacy.

by Stephen Thomas Erlewine, allmusic

Tracklist CD01 Three O’Clock Blues (1949-1956):

01. Miss Martha King 02:43
02. When Your Baby Packs Up And Goes 02:29
03. Got The Blues 02:46
04. Take A Swing With Me 02:33
05. B.B. Boogie 03:12
06. Don’t You Want A Man Like Me 02:21
07. Fine Looking Woman 02:23
08. She’s Dynamite 02:30
09. Three O’Clock Blues 03:02
10. That Ain’t The Way To Do It 02:18
11. You Know I Love You 03:05
12. Woke Up This Morning 02:57
13. Please Love Me 02:52
14. Blind Love 03:05
15. The Woman I Love 02:40
16. Whole Lotta’ Love 03:09
17. Everyday I Have The Blues 02:49
18. Love You Baby (a/k/a Take A Swing With Me) 02:39
19. When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer 02:55
20. You Upset Me Baby 03:03
21. Sneakin’ Around 03:02
22. Shut Your Mouth 02:41
23. Boogie Rock 03:05
24. Ten Long Years 02:48
25. Crying Won’t Help You 03:00
26. Bad Luck 02:54
27. Troubles, Troubles, Troubles 02:54


Tracklist CD02 Rock Me Baby (1957-1962):

01. Sweet Little Angel 03:12
02. Early In The Morning 02:35
03. (I’m Gonna) Quit My Baby 02:33
04. On My Word Of Honor 02:55
05. Days Of Old 02:29
06. Recession Blues 02:22
07. Please Accept My Love 02:33
08. Everyday I Have The Blues 05:06
09. Precious Lord 03:22
10. Sweet Sixteen, Parts 1 & 2 06:12
11. Don’t Get Around Much Anymore 03:16
12. I’ll Survive 02:41
13. (I’ve) Got A Right To Love My Baby 03:14
14. It’s My Own Fault 03:33
15. You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now 05:10
16. Walking Dr. Bill 03:41
17. Catfish Blues (Fishin’ After Me) 02:32
18. Partin’ Time 03:01
19. You’re Breaking My Heart 04:13
20. Rock Me Baby 03:00
21. Blue Shadows 03:47
22. The Jungle 03:15
23. That Evil Child 03:51


Tracklist CD03 How Blue Can You Get? (1962-1966):

01. You Ask Me 02:10
02. I’m Gonna Sit In ‘Til You Give In 02:13
03. Blues At Midnight 02:58
04. My Baby’s Coming Home 02:08
05. Chains Of Love 02:35
06. Sneakin’ Around 02:07
07. Slowly Losing My Mind 02:32
08. How Blue Can You Get? 02:42
09. Whole Lotta Lovin’ 02:26
10. I Wonder Why 03:06
11. Please Accept My Love 02:57
12. Help The Poor 02:37
13. Never Trust A Woman 02:36
14. Worryin’ Blues 02:55
15. Stop Leadin’ Me On 02:24
16. Everyday I Have The Blues (Live) 03:08
17. Sweet Little Angel (Live) 04:10
18. It’s My Own Fault (Live) 03:07
19. How Blue Can You Get? (Live) 03:35
20. Please Love Me (Live) 03:00
21. Tired Of Your Jive 02:10
22. All Over Again 02:36
23. I’d Rather Drink Muddy Water 02:21
24. Cherry Red 02:26
25. You’re Still A Square 02:23
26. Don’t Answer The Door, Parts 1 & 2 05:11
27. Waitin’ On You 02:26
28. Night Life 02:34


Tracklist CD04 Why I Sing The Blues (1967-1969):

01. Gambler’s Blues (Live) 05:13
02. Buzz Me (Live) 04:12
03. Sweet Sixteen, Parts 1 & 2 (Live) 06:13
04. Think It Over 02:50
05. I Done Got Wise 02:21
06. Paying The Cost To Be The Boss 02:55
07. I’m Gonna Do What They Do To Me 02:35
08. Dance With Me 02:47
09. Lucille 03:21
10. Watch Yourself 10:14
11. You Put It On Me 05:49
12. Messy But Good 02:47
13. Get Myself Somebody 02:35
14. My Mood 02:36
15. I Want You So Bad (Live) 04:15
16. Get Off My Back Woman 03:17
17. Why I Sing The Blues 08:37


Tracklist CD05 The Thrill Is Gone (1969-1971):

01. The Thrill Is Gone 05:25
02. Confessin’ The Blues 04:55
03. So Excited 05:37
04. No Good 04:37
05. Go Underground 04:05
06. Nobody Loves Me But My Mother 01:27
07. Chains And Things 04:55
08. Ask Me No Questions 03:09
09. Hummingbird 04:38
10. Everyday I Have The Blues 01:42
11. How Blue Can You Get? (Live) 05:12
12. Worry, Worry (Live) 09:55
13. Sweet Sixteen (Live) 05:58
14. Eyesight To The Blind (Live) 04:03
15. Niji Baby (Live) 06:22
16. The Thrill Is Gone (Live) 05:37


Tracklist CD06 Lucille Talks Back (1971-1977):

01. I Got Some Help I Don’t Need 05:58
02. Blue Shadows 05:09
03. Ghetto Woman 05:15
04. Ain’t Nobody Home 03:15
05. Guess Who 04:10
06. Five Long Years 05:16
07. I Like To Live The Love 03:34
08. To Know You Is To Love You 08:37
09. Philadelphia 05:59
10. 3 O’Clock Blues (Live) 03:16
11. Lucille Talks Back 02:28
12. Reconsider Baby 02:56
13. Don’t Make Me Pay For His Mistakes 03:16
14. Let The Good Times Roll (Live) 05:39
15. Don’t You Lie To Me 06:09
16. Mother Fuyer 03:07
17. The Same Love That Made Me Laugh 03:34


Tracklist CD07 When It All Comes Down (I’ll Still Be Around) (1978-1983):

01. When It All Comes Down (I’ll Still Be Around) 04:12
02. Hold On (I Feel Our Love Is Changing) 04:10
03. Never Make Your Move Too Soon 05:32
04. Better Not Look Down 03:21
05. Happy Birthday Blues 03:16
06. I’ve Always Been Lonely 05:27
07. Caldonia (Live) 02:49
08. I Got Some Help I Don’t Need (Live) 05:22
09. Life Ain’t Nothing But A Party 06:15
10. The Victim 06:17
11. There Must Be A Better World Somewhere 05:38
12. Nightlife / Please Send Me Someone To Love 04:35
13. Inflation Blues 04:15
14. Sell My Monkey 03:06
15. Darlin’ You Know I Love You 04:48
16. Make Love To Me 04:18


Tracklist CD08 When Love Comes To Town (1985-1993):

01. Into The Night 04:12
02. Six Silver Strings 04:21
03. When Love Comes To Town (featuring U2) 04:17
04. Standing On The Edge Of Love 05:21
05. Lay Another Log On The Fire 04:03
06. Take Off Your Shoes 05:34
07. Nobody Love Me But My Mother (Live) 08:09
08. Right Place, Wrong Time 04:01
09. All Over Again (Live) 07:37
10. I’m Moving On 04:16
11. Back In L.A. 05:02
12. Fool Me Once 04:20
13. There Is Always One More Time 08:26
14. Monday Morning Blues (Blues For Mr.G) 04:17
15. Since I Met You Baby (Live) 04:40


Tracklist CD09 Blues Man (1993-1999):

01. Playin’ With My Friends 05:19
02. There’s Something On Your Mind 06:00
03. I Gotta Move Out Of This Neighborhood / Nobody Loves Me But My Mother 08:58
04. You Don’t Know Me 03:55
05. Stormy Monday Blues 05:18
06. Rock Me Baby (Live) 06:21
07. Confessin’ The Blues 04:31
08. Paying The Cost To Be The Boss 03:34
09. Blues Man 05:19
10. Bad Case Of Love 05:28
11. Blues Boys Tune 03:28
12. I’ll Survive 04:52
13. Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens 02:52
14. I’m Gonna Move To The Outskirts Of Town 04:51
15. Ain’t That Just Like A Woman 03:32
16. Caldonia 02:18


Tracklist CD10 Key To The Highway (2000-2008):

01. Ten Long Years (with Eric Clapton) 04:40
02. 2 Key To The Highway (with Eric Clapton) 03:40
03. I Got To Leave This Woman 03:36
04. Monday Woman 03:35
05. Don’t Go No Farther 04:08
06. You’re On Top 03:11
07. Back Door Santa 03:26
08. Exactly Like You 03:21
09. Sinner’s Prayer (with Ray Charles) 04:25
10. Early In The Morning (with Van Morrison) 04:49
11. Rock This House (with Elton John) 03:08
12. You Have A Way 03:53
13. Everybody Loves You 03:05
14. Key To The Highway (Live) 04:26
15. Midnight Blues 03:44
16. Get These Blues Off Me 04:29
17. See That My Grave Is Kept Clean 04:48
18. Waiting For Your Call 05:57
19. Haunted House 03:16


All thanks go to ALLexxess