B.B. King Rides Again

B.B. King will release Reflections, his first album in three years, on June 10th. According to the blues legend, who celebrates the fiftieth anniversary of his first recording this year, the new batch of tracks sticks to his tried-and-true formula. "When I sing, I play in my mind," he says. "The minute I stop singing orally, I start to sing by playing Lucille."

The thirteen-track album contains twelve covers, including songs by Lonnie Johnson and Clyde Otis, as well a remake of King's own "Neighborhood Affair," originally recorded half a century ago.

Reflections was produced by Simon Climie -- who also recorded Riding With the King, King's Grammy-winning 2000 collaboration with Eric Clapton -- at Record One studios in Sherman Oaks, California.

In preparation for the album's release, King is currently touring the U.S.

B.B. King tour dates:

4/15-16: Milwaukee, WI, Potawatomi Casino
4/18-19: Merrilville, IN, Star Plaza Theater
4/20: Cleveland, Palace Theater
4/23: Marie, MI, Kewadin Casino
4/24: Mt. Pleasant, MI, Soaring Eagle Casino
4/25: Muncie, IN, Emens Auditorium
4/26: Dekalb, IL, Northern Illinois University Convention Center
4/27: Urbana, IL, Lincoln Square
5/12: Boston, Boston Pops
5/13: Peoria, IL, Civic Center
5/14: Springfield, MO, Shrine Mosque
5/16: Wichita, KS, The Cotillion
5/17: Lincoln, NE, Lied Center for Performing Arts
5/18: West Des Moines, IA, Valau Ballroom
5/19: Cedar Falls, IA, Gallagher-Bluedron Performing Arts Center
5/20: Davenport, IA, The Adler Theater
5/21: Green Bay, WI, Weidner Center for the Performing Arts
5/23: Tulsa, OK, River Parks Amphitheater
5/24: Lubbock, TX, Civic Center
5/25: Oklahoma City, Zoo Amphitheater
6/2: New York, Apollo Theater
6/6: Indianola, MS, Fletcher Park
6/7: Hattiesburg, MS, TBD
6/8: Canton, MS, TBD
6/12: Cohasset, MA, Cape Cod Melody
6/13: Northampton, MA, Calvin Theater
6/14: Big Flats, NY, Summer Soundstage
6/15: New York, BB King's

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Song Stories

“All Along the Watchtower”

The Jimi Hendrix Experience | 1968

Jimi Hendrix got hold of Bob Dylan's early John Wesley Harding tapes and in late 1967 recorded a version of "All Along the Watchtower" with the Experience in London. Dissatisfied with that first development, Hendrix brought those tapes with him to New York in early 1968 when he began work on Electric Ladyland. Eddie Kramer, Hendrix's engineer at the time, told Rolling Stone that Hendrix "was still looked upon by his basically white audience as the mammoth black guitar hero. There was a constant fight within him to expand himself." Hendrix's successful take on Dylan's work has long been recognized by the songwriter. "I liked Jimi Hendrix's record of this and ever since he died I've been doing it that way," Dylan wrote in the liner notes to his Biograph box set. "Strange how when I sing it, I always feel it's a tribute to him in some kind of way."

More Song Stories entries »

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