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Started By
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Anyone else love blues, but dislike B.B. King?
Posted on 8/26/14 at 12:41 am
Posted on 8/26/14 at 12:41 am
We all know his guitar-playing style ("precise and complex vocal-like string bends and left hand vibrato") has been bastardized by thousands of copycats over the years. Some may even argue that he's been copycatting himself over time, losing his authenticity as he became commercially successful— a paradoxical position for a bluesman to be in, to say the least.
So I recently purchased some of his earlier albums on vinyl, hoping I could find some of the original magic there, but it all just sounds the same. Maybe he sounded new and innovative back in the day, but I'm completely apathetic to Lucille.
His vocals don't do much for me either. Despite being born in the heart of the Mississippi delta, there is a disappointing lack of raw southern country soul in his voice. There's something undeniably Yankee about him. He sounds more like a Chicago musician than anything.
I don't know, but give me Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker (and countless others) over him any day.
So I recently purchased some of his earlier albums on vinyl, hoping I could find some of the original magic there, but it all just sounds the same. Maybe he sounded new and innovative back in the day, but I'm completely apathetic to Lucille.
His vocals don't do much for me either. Despite being born in the heart of the Mississippi delta, there is a disappointing lack of raw southern country soul in his voice. There's something undeniably Yankee about him. He sounds more like a Chicago musician than anything.
I don't know, but give me Lightnin' Hopkins, John Lee Hooker (and countless others) over him any day.
This post was edited on 8/26/14 at 4:56 pm
5
Posted on 8/26/14 at 1:59 am to MoffittBabies
I can enjoy him, but he's nowhere near the top of my list of bluesmen.
Robert Johnson
Muddy Waters
Howlin' Wolf
Sonny Boy Williamson
Lightnin' Hopkins
Little Walter
Son House
John Hurt
Buddy Guy
>
BB
Robert Johnson
Muddy Waters
Howlin' Wolf
Sonny Boy Williamson
Lightnin' Hopkins
Little Walter
Son House
John Hurt
Buddy Guy
>
BB
Posted on 8/26/14 at 8:40 am to MoffittBabies
BB King is a mediocre blues player and a very subpar guitar player in general in the grand scheme. I know that's def not the common thinking but it's true.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 8:58 am to MoffittBabies
I respect what he has done and enjoy his music... I don't have him near the top of my list though.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 9:47 am to HempHead
quote:
I can enjoy him, but he's nowhere near the top of my list of bluesmen.
Pretty much, every now and then I do hear a bb song on the radio that I like
Posted on 8/26/14 at 10:39 am to dnm3305
quote:
BB King is a mediocre blues player and a very subpar guitar player in general in the grand scheme. I know that's def not the common thinking but it's true.
Would Rock and Roll even exist if there had been no BB King? He was the first to play single note style solos on the electric guitar around 1950, the few other blues players that had started to play electric just carried over the broken chord style they had used on the acoustic guitar. BB was ground zero, he came before rock and roll, Chuck Berry, the other "Kings", Clapton, Page, Beck, SRV, every rock and blues guitarist that has every existed has emulated BB King to some degree.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 10:57 am to EA6B
i just went to his museum and it was fantastic..
Posted on 8/26/14 at 11:23 am to MoffittBabies
the two greatest guitar players of all time
Posted on 8/26/14 at 2:58 pm to EA6B
quote:
Would Rock and Roll even exist if there had been no BB King? He was the first to play single note style solos on the electric guitar around 1950, the few other blues players that had started to play electric just carried over the broken chord style they had used on the acoustic guitar. BB was ground zero, he came before rock and roll, Chuck Berry, the other "Kings", Clapton, Page, Beck, SRV, every rock and blues guitarist that has every existed has emulated BB King to some degree.
And none of that makes him a great guitar player. A pioneer or an innovator perhaps, but not a great guitar player.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 3:07 pm to dnm3305
quote:BB King is revered by most blues guitar players for two reasons: He has a very clean, less-is-more style, and most importantly he has a distinctive style. You hear 2 or 3 notes from a BB King solo and you know it's BB King playing the guitar.
BB King is a mediocre blues player and a very subpar guitar player in general in the grand scheme. I know that's def not the common thinking but it's true.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 3:08 pm to L.A.
Yea, I agree with all of that.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 3:18 pm to dnm3305
I'd rather hear B.B. play three notes than I would most others play 100. But more than that, it's the total package, guitar, voice, and charisma along with other attributes, that I like. He's one of my very favorite performers of any genre.
If you want to get started with B.B., his album Live At The Regal is a great place to start.
If you want to get started with B.B., his album Live At The Regal is a great place to start.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 3:26 pm to MoffittBabies
My all time favorite.
frick this thread. I'm out.
frick this thread. I'm out.
This post was edited on 8/26/14 at 3:28 pm
Posted on 8/26/14 at 4:07 pm to dnm3305
quote:
BB King is a mediocre blues player and a very subpar guitar player in general in the grand scheme. I know that's def not the common thinking but it's true
Yet every single blues guitar player for the last 60 years has "tried" to copy him!
Posted on 8/26/14 at 4:11 pm to dnm3305
quote:
BB King is a mediocre blues player and a very subpar guitar player in general in the grand scheme
You're right. A lot of times I'll here a song and say that sounds exactly like BB King, but it will end up being someone else.
No wait.. that's never happened.
BB King is one of my top 3 favorite blues guitarists and one of my top 5 favorite guitarists across genres. I'm gonna leave this thread before i lose my cool.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 4:28 pm to Breesus
quote:
You're right. A lot of times I'll here a song and say that sounds exactly like BB King, but it will end up being someone else.
No wait.. that's never happened.
Posted on 8/26/14 at 5:02 pm to EA6B
quote:
Would Rock and Roll even exist if there had been no BB King? He was the first to play single note style solos on the electric guitar around 1950, the few other blues players that had started to play electric just carried over the broken chord style they had used on the acoustic guitar. BB was ground zero, he came before rock and roll, Chuck Berry, the other "Kings", Clapton, Page, Beck, SRV, every rock and blues guitarist that has every existed has emulated BB King to some degree.
Good for him. I'm glad he was such an innovator. But I would not say his music has withstood the test of time. Saying "brb, gonna listen to B.B. King because he made good blues music" is like saying "brb I'm gonna go listen to Sugar Hill Gang because they made good hip hop". Historically important? Yes. Good music by today's standards? No.
The true "greats" have both historical importance AND contemporary relevance. There are plenty of dirt old blues albums I enjoy listening to today, but B.B. King's records just don't make the cut.
To take this a step further I'd say heavy electric blues, and even heavy electric guitar in general, hold very little water anymore. It's become cliche, whether we want to admit it or not.
That's not to say the electric guitar can't sound good, but it can't be the "main attraction" of the song. See this video for a good example of how it can be used in moderation to make GOOD blues: LINK
This post was edited on 8/26/14 at 5:16 pm
Posted on 8/26/14 at 5:19 pm to MoffittBabies
quote:
But I would not say his music has withstood the test of time. Saying "brb, gonna listen to B.B. King because he made good blues music" is like saying "brb I'm gonna go listen to Sugar Hill Gang because they made good hip hop". Historically important? Yes. Good music by today's standards? No.
Get out of here with that nonsense. You could make that same argument for the entirety of music. Of course tastes change. But you go find me a blues guitarist who doesn't respect, emulate, or listen to BB King. I'll wait.
quote:
I'd say heavy electric blues, and even heavy electric guitar in general, hold very little water anymore.
For who? Joe Bonamassas fans say hello. There plenty of people who still love the electric guitar.
This post was edited on 8/26/14 at 5:21 pm
Posted on 8/26/14 at 5:39 pm to Breesus
quote:
I'd say heavy electric blues, and even heavy electric guitar in general, hold very little water anymore.
quote:
For who?
Everyone, except for maybe white male baby boomers. You know, the guys who like to viva viagra their way down the highway blasting Kenny Wayne, Stevie Ray, Clapton, et al, pretending their formulaic 5-string noise and pilfered black slang lyrics count as something even remotely resembling "blues."
quote:
Joe Bonamassas fans say hello.
Didn't know who this was until I just youtubed him. This guy's music definitely needs to be dubbed over an erectile dysfunction commercial, if it hasn't already.
This post was edited on 8/26/14 at 5:43 pm
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