Completely Well

Completely Well

Editorial Reviews
<"b000002pb77580"> Amazon.com essential recording
One of B.B. King's first pop-inclined efforts, this CD features the support of rock- and blues-raised session players. King's progeny, in a sense. Keyboardist Al Kooper is the most notable, but it's guitarist Hugh McCracken who engages the master in a six-string duel on the jam "Cryin' Won't Help You Now/You're Mean." The album also contains King's breakthrough hit "The Thrill Is Gone." King didn't particularly enjoy the tune when he recorded it. But when he returned to the studio the next day to hear the strings that were added to sweeten its chorus in his absence, he was as taken by the transcendent, majestic sweep they lent his performance as the rest of the world was soon to be. Indeed, his visceral vocal and stinging guitar leads define the bittersweet aftertaste of lost love. While the sheen of the hit's production stands out among this album's cuts, the unvarnished emotion of its lyrics is what the blues is all about. --Ted Drozdowski --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

<"b000002pb75228"> From Grove Press Guide to Blues on CD
King's exciting vocals and guitar are provided a sympathetic sounding board by respectful but not fawning young sessions- men. Points of interest include "The Thrill Is Gone," a Top Twenty hit, and the open-ended jam "Cryin' Won't Help You Now/You're Mean," which has his lordship stirring it up with uncredited guitarist Hugh McCracken. Lucky for everyone King steers clear of the Age of Aquarius funk then debasing the music of T-Bone Walker and other bluesmen cutting pop- slanted records in the... read more --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.