The Best of B.B. King

~ Release by B.B. King (see all versions of this release, 5 available)

Annotation

I have the CD, but not the liner. CDDB scans it as "Why I Sing the Blues", but the CD is labelled as "The Best of B.B. King". Both discogs references have identical tracks, and https://www.discogs.com/release/9581142 indicates that they are the same master. It appears the discogs has the 1985 and 1992 "Why I Sing the Blues" releases as the same master (https://www.discogs.com/master/414239-BB-King-Why-I-Sing-The-Blues)

Annotation last modified on 2026-07-21 15:51 UTC.

Tracklist

1▼CD
#TitleRatingLength
1The Thrill Is Gone
recording engineer:
Joe “Ears” Zagarino (from 1969-06-24 until 1969-06-25) and Bill Szymczyk (from 1969-06-24 until 1969-06-25)
producer:
Bill Szymczyk
bass:
Gerald “Fingers” Jemmott (from 1969-06-24 until 1969-06-25)
drums (drum set):
Herbie Lovelle (from 1969-06-24 until 1969-06-25)
electric piano, organ and piano:
Paul Harris (American keyboardist/pianist session player) (from 1969-06-24 until 1969-06-25)
guitar:
B.B. King (from 1969-06-24 until 1969-06-25) and Hugh McCracken (from 1969-06-24 until 1969-06-25)
lead vocals:
B.B. King (from 1969-06-24 until 1969-06-25)
vocals:
B.B. King (from 1969-06-24 until 1969-06-25)
performer:
Ravon Darnell (from 1969-06-24 until 1969-06-25) and Roy Hawkins (from 1969-06-24 until 1969-06-25)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1969)
recorded at:
The Hit Factory in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States (from 1969-06-24 until 1969-06-25)
remasters:
The Thrill Is Gone by B.B. King
part of:
Blues Hall of Fame: Classic of Blues Recording Single (number: 1985)
recording of:
The Thrill Is Gone (1951 blues song) (from 1969-06-24 until 1969-06-25)
writer:
Roy Hawkins (in 1951) and Rick Darnell (in 1951)
publisher:
BMG Music Publishing, Inc., Carlin Music Corporation, Grosvenor House Music, Modern Music Publishing Co., Inc., Pamco Music Inc., Powerforce Music, Sounds Of Lucille, Inc. and Universal Music Careers
4.45:29
2Ghetto Woman
producer:
Ed Michel and Joe Zagarino
bass guitar:
Klaus Voormann (from 1971-06-09 until 1971-06-16)
drums (drum set):
Jim Gordon (US drummer with Derek and the Dominos) (from 1971-06-09 until 1971-06-16) and Ringo Starr (The Beatles) (from 1971-06-09 until 1971-06-16)
electric piano:
Jim Price (horn session musician) (from 1971-06-09 until 1971-06-16)
guitar:
B.B. King (from 1971-06-09 until 1971-06-16) and Mac Rebennack (New Orleans blues pianist, singer and songwriter) (from 1971-06-09 until 1971-06-16)
piano:
Gary Wright (US singer/keyboardist) (from 1971-06-09 until 1971-06-16)
vocals:
B.B. King (from 1971-06-09 until 1971-06-16)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
Geffen Records (in 1971) and MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1971)
additionally recorded at:
The Hit Factory in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, The Record Plant (aka “Record Plant” Los Angeles) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States and The Village Recorder (Village Studios, aka The Village Recorder) in Los Angeles, California, United States
recorded at:
Command Studios in London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1971-06-09 until 1971-06-16) and Olympic Studios (1966–2009) in Barnes, Richmond upon Thames, London (Greater London), England, United Kingdom (from 1971-06-09 until 1971-06-16)
recording of:
Ghetto Woman (from 1971-06-09 until 1971-06-16)
writer:
Dave Clark (record promoter and musical consultant who worked with B.B. King) and B.B. King
publisher:
Duchess Music Corporation (BMI-affiliated), Pamco Music Inc. and Sounds Of Lucille, Inc.
25:15
3Why I Sing the Blues
recording engineer:
Joe “Ears” Zagarino (in 1969-01) and Bill Szymczyk (in 1969-01)
engineer:
Joe Zagarino
producer:
Bill Szymczyk
bass:
Gerald “Fingers” Jenmott (in 1969-01)
guitar:
B.B. King (in 1969-01) and Hugh McCracken (in 1969-01)
piano:
Al Kooper and Paul Harris (American keyboardist/pianist session player) (in 1969-01)
vocals:
B.B. King (in 1969-01)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1969)
recorded at:
The Hit Factory in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States (in 1969-01)
recording of:
Why I Sing the Blues (in 1969-01)
writer:
Dave Clark (record promoter and musical consultant who worked with B.B. King) and B.B. King
publisher:
ABC/Dunhill Music, Inc., Duchess Music Corporation (BMI-affiliated), Pamco Music Inc. and Sounds Of Lucille, Inc.
18:39
4Ain’t Nobody Home
recording of:
Ain’t Nobody Home
lyricist and composer:
Jerry Ragovoy
publisher:
Chappell & Co.
3:37
5Hummingbird
cover recording of:
Hummingbird
lyricist and composer:
Leon Russell
publisher:
Embassy Music Corporation, Skyhill Music, Songs Of The Knoll, Stuck On Music and Teddy Jack Music
24:32
6To Know You Is to Love You
producer:
Dave Crawford (US soul songwriter, keyboard player, singer & producer)
cover recording of:
To Know You Is to Love You (1970s song written by Stevie Wonder and Syreeta Wright)
writer:
Syreeta Wright (US singer‐songwriter active 1970s–80s) and Stevie Wonder
publisher:
Black Bull Music, Inc., Jobete Music Co., Inc. and 大洋音楽 (Taiyō Music)
8:31
7How Blue Can You Get?
cover recording of:
How Blue Can You Get?
writer:
Jane Feather
composer:
Leonard Feather
publisher:
Burlington Music Co., Ltd., Melva Pub. Co. and Modern Age Music
5:11
8Sweet Sixteen
recording of:
Sweet Sixteen
writer:
Joe Josea and B.B. King
publisher:
Modern Music Publishing Co., Inc., Progressive Music (publisher) and Sidney A. Seidenberg Music Ltd.
7:03
9So Excited
recording engineer:
Joe “Ears” Zagarino (in 1969-06) and Bill Szymczyk (in 1969-06)
producer:
Bill Szymczyk
bass:
Gerald “Fingers” Jemmott (in 1969-06)
electric piano, organ and piano:
Paul Harris (American keyboardist/pianist session player) (in 1969-06)
guitar:
Hugh McCracken (in 1969-06) and B.B. King (from 1969-06-24 until 1969-06-25)
membranophone:
Herbie Lovelle (in 1969-06)
lead vocals:
B.B. King (in 1969-06)
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1969)
recorded at:
The Hit Factory in Manhattan, New York, New York, United States (in 1969-06)
recording of:
So Excited (in 1969-06)
composer:
Jerry Jemmott and B.B. King
publisher:
Careers–BMG Music Publishing, Inc., Duchess Music Corporation (BMI-affiliated) and Pamco Music
15:37
10Chains and Things
assistant engineer:
John Henning, Llyllianne Douma and Mike D. Stone
engineer:
Gary Kellgren and Bill Szymczyk
producer:
Bill Szymczyk
bass:
Bryan Garofalo (from 1970-05 until 1970-06)
drums (drum set):
Russ Kunkel (session drummer) (from 1970-05 until 1970-06)
electric piano:
Carole King (from 1970-05 until 1970-06)
guitar:
B.B. King (from 1970-05 until 1970-06)
vocals:
B.B. King (from 1970-05 until 1970-06)
strings arranger:
Jimmie Haskell
phonographic copyright (℗) by:
MCA Records, Inc. (do not use as a release label! a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.) (in 1970)
recorded at:
The Record Plant (aka “Record Plant” Los Angeles) in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States (from 1970-05 until 1970-06)
recording of:
Chains and Things (from 1970-05 until 1970-06)
writer:
Dave Clark (record promoter and musical consultant who worked with B.B. King) and B.B. King
publisher:
Duchess Music Corporation (BMI-affiliated), MCA, Inc. (this was the US media company that became Universal Studios, Inc. in Dec 1996), Pamco Music Inc. and Sounds Of Lucille, Inc.
14:54