Photo: Roland Godefroy [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)]
B.B. King not only influenced rock and roll, he was playing before rock and roll existed. B.B. King was born in 1925. After an impoverished upbringing on a Mississippi cotton plantation in the segregated South, King traveled from town to town doing performances and picking up guitar and singing techniques as he went.
King’s cousin was the blues singer Bukka White. White and other early blues musicians such as T. Bone Walker influenced his guitar technique. King’s performances eventually earned him a spot playing on the WDIA radio station. Around this time people began to refer to him as “The Beale Street Blues Boy” and eventually just B.B. King.
By the early 1950s King was signed to RPM Records. King put together his own band with a horn and rhythm section to back him up. After scoring a series of hit singles in the ’50s, ’60s and early 70’s B.B. King continued to record albums, tour, and perform extensively up until his death in 2015 at age 89.
B.B. King’s soulful, emotional yet precise guitar techniques would influence musicians for decades to come including The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page, and Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour to name just a few.
# 10 – Worried Life Blues
We open our top 10 B.B.King songs list with the great track “Worried Life Blues.” Originally recorded in 1941 by Big Maceo Merriweather, B.B. King released a hit cover version of “Worried Life Blues” in 1970. King’s version of “Worried Life Blues” went to number forty-eight on the singles chart. “Worried Life Blues” is an old blues standard.
“Worried Life Blues” has also been covered by the likes of King’s contemporary blues artists Muddy Waters and Junior Parker. “Worried Life Blues” is based on an eight-bar blues format and has a faster beat than much of King’s other work. B.B. King’s version is not available on youtube so we have presented the great version B.B. King recorded with Eric Clapton.
# 9 – Rock Me Baby
First composed in 1951 by Lil’ Son Jackson, B.B. King covered the song in 1964. King’s version of “Rock Me Baby” is undoubtedly the most popular. “Rock Me Baby” was B.B. King’s first top forty single, reaching number 34 on the pop charts. “Rock Me Baby” exposed B.B. King’s music to both black and white audiences.
Musically “Rock Me Baby” has a mid-range tempo with the focus on B.B. King’s frequent guitar breaks. “Rock Me Baby” also prominently features piano, although his full horn section is still present. This gave “Rock Me Baby” a more accessible, grooving sound than many of King’s early singles.
# 8 – Caldonia
Originally written by Fleecie Moore. King’s cover version of “Caldonia” came out in 1971 on King’s nineteenth album B.B. King in London. B.B. King in London featured an all-star musical lineup. Contributing to the recordings were Ringo Starr, Steve Marriott, Alexis Korner, Steve Winwood, and Dr. John. Peter Green’s guitar playing is especially heard in “Caldonia” providing a rhythmic counterpoint to King’s emotion-laden blues guitar explorations. King’s version of “Caldonia” features a full early 70’s blues rock sound.
# 7 – Ten Long Years
Appearing on King’s very first record, 1956’s Singin’ The Blues. “Ten Long Years” was one of a series of hits for King. “Ten Long Years” reached number nine on the charts, cementing B.B. King’s reputation as a blues recording artist. Though the focus of “Ten Long Years” is on B.B. King’s emotional voice and virtuoso guitar playing “Ten Long Years” is augmented by a full band sound with bass, piano, drums, and a full horn section.
# 6 – Sweet Little Angel
Originally recorded as “Sweet Black Angel” in 1930 by Lucille Bogan. B.B. King’s cover made several alterations from the original version of “Sweet Black Angel”, including changing the title to “Sweet Little Angel.” King’s arrangement of “Sweet Little Angel” had a more full, upbeat sound than its predecessors with a full horn section complementing King’s voice and guitar. B.B. King’s cover of “Sweet Little Angel” appeared on his 1956 debut album Singin’ The Blues. “Sweet Little Angel” became an early hit for King and reached number six on the segregated “Black Singles” chart.
# 5 – Big Boss Man
First recorded in 1960 by Jimmy Reed, B.B. King released a cover version of “Big Boss Man” late in his career. B.B. King’s version of “Big Boss Man” was released on his 1985 album Six Silver Strings
. “Big Boss Man” became a surprise hit for B.B. King. “Big Boss Man” utilizes a typical twelve-bar blues format but with a faster tempo than many of King’s other songs. The single “Big Boss Man” went to number sixty-two in the R&B charts proving that despite his age B.B. King was still a strong singer and performer as capable of performing hits in 1985 as he was in 1956.
# 4 – How Blue Can You Get
First recorded in 1949 by Johnny Moore’s Three Blazers. “How Blue Can You Get” was written by husband and wife Leonard and Jane Feather. B.B. King’s version was released on his 1963 record Blues in My Heart. Musically “How Blue Can You Get” is a slowed down twelve bar blues number. B.B. King’s cover of “How Blue Can You Get” features stronger vocals and a thicker sound than earlier versions due to King’s large band.
B.B. King’s ”How Blue Can You Get” hit ninety-seven on The Billboard Hot 100. “How Blue Can You Get” became a staple of King’s live shows for the remainder of his long career, appearing on numerous live B.B. King albums. “How Blue Can You Get?” has been covered by artists as diverse as Duke Ellington, The Rolling Stones, and Fleetwood Mac.
# 3 – 3 O’Clock Blues
First written and recorded in 1946 by Lowell Fulson. B.B. King and Jules Taub worked on the arrangement for King’s version of “3 O’Clock Blues.” “3 O’Clock Blues” was B.B. King’s first major hit as a recording artist. “3 O’Clock Blues” spent five weeks at number one on the Rhythm and Blues Charts, making King into an R&B success practically overnight.
“3 O’Clock Blues” appeared on King’s first album, 1956’s Singin’ The Blues
. The music in “3 O’Clock Blues” is based around a slow tempo twelve bar blues format. “3 O’Clock Blues” was notable for its full sound and multiple notable session musicians including Ike Turner on piano and Evelyn “The Whip” Young on the saxophone.
# 2 – Every Day I Have The Blues
An old blues standard, King’s cover of “Every Day I Have the Blues” was based on an arrangement by earlier bluesman Memphis Slim. Maxwell Davis contributed heavily to King’s new arrangement of “Every Day I Have The Blues.” “Every Day I Have The Blues” was very well received by the public hitting number eight in the R&B charts. King’s version of “Every Day I Have The Blues” won a Grammy award in 2004. “Every Day I Have The Blues” first appeared on King’s very first album, 1956’s Singin’ The Blues.
# 1 – The Thrill is Gone
“The Thrill is Gone” was originally written in 1951 by Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell. B.B. King scored one of the biggest hits of his career with a 1970 cover version of “The Thrill is Gone”. “The Thrill is Gone” is one of King’s best known songs. “The Thrill is Gone” earned King a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 1970.
“The Thrill is Gone” hit number three in the R&B charts. King’s version of “The Thrill is Gone” hit number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100 pop charts. “The Thrill is Gone” is a melancholy, minor key twelve bar blues song featuring strings and excellent production. The focus of “The Thrill is Gone” is on B.B.’s soulful voice and emotional, often improvised blues guitar solos. “The Thrill is Gone” debuted on King’s 1969 album Completely Well
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Updated July 11, 2023
Top 10 B.B. King Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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![Rob De Luca of Spread Eagle, Sebastian Bach & UFO: 10 Albums That Changed My Life From humble East Coast origins to grandest stages worldwide, veteran bassist Rob De Luca has seen and done it all. De Luca first hit the local Boston rock and metal scene in the late 80s after meeting guitarist Paul DiBartolo, bonding over Van Halen before forming Bang. Regional success came quickly, but eventually, the members of Bang went their separate ways, with De Luca and drummer Tommi Gallo heading to NYC and hooking up with Ray West and, later, DiBartolo to form Spread Eagle. By 1990, Spread Eagle was on the fast track, with a contract through MCA Records and a self-titled debut album poised to crush skulls. But poor timing and MCA's sad indifference left Spead Eagle out in the cold despite being a hard-boiled answer to Guns N' Roses's West Coast sleaze. Spread Eagle's first chapter came to an end in '95. As for Rob De Luca, his nimble fingers and gift for melody and songwriting kept him moving forward. Soon, he found a gig with former Skid Row frontman Sebastian Bach and the legendary outfit UFO. And in 2010, after coupling up with Ray West and his cousin Rik De Luca, Spread Eagle retook flight. During a break from Spread Eagle's increasingly busy touring schedule, Rob De Luca dialed in with ClassicRockHistory.com to run through the ten albums that changed his life. But only after adding, "I made a playlist of these songs, including some I've written or co-written. Do you hear any of these albums' influence on me?" Listen here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/3LWJuhDrE8JmzhsmTeIDUq 10) Gentlemen by Afghan Whigs (1993) Here's an entry that was so important to me. This may be the darkest break-up album of all time. Greg Dulli has been in many projects, but I feel Gentlemen is his zenith. Somewhat undefinable at times but always profound and honest. Listen to "Gentlemen," "Fountain and Fairfax," and "What Jail Is Like." 9) In on the Kill Taker by Fugazi (1993) By this time, I had been sucked in and spit out by the major-label record industry. Glam came and went; grunge was history, too. I was searching for new sounds. When I heard Fugazi's twin guitar approach, I knew this was what was missing. Fugazi may be considered a less polished sound than the albums above; however, once you "get it," it hits you like a ton of bricks, and there's no going back. From the moment I heard Fugazi, I went to every NYC show after. It's easily some of the best concerts of my life, and possibly my favorite bassist in Joe Lally. And their DIY ethics refused to charge us more than $5 a show! In on the Kill Taker is a powerful album demonstrated in songs such as "Smallpox Champion," "Great Cop," and "Public Witness Program." 8) Appetite for Destruction by Guns N' Roses (1987) I discovered many of these albums (sometimes long) after they were released. However, I was at the right place at the right time for this one. Steve Ostromogilsky had a Berklee College of Music lunch card and used to sneak out sandwiches for me. One day, he invited me to hang out at his place and listen to music. As we got off the train, he put Sony Walkman headphones on my ears and said, "Hey, check out this brand-new group." A song like "It's So Easy" was so different from the popular Sunset Strip sound at that time. Me and about 499 other informed rockers were lucky enough to see them on their first East Coast tour at the sold-out Paradise on Commonwealth Avenue, Boston (the same street Aerosmith started on). I saw Gn'R every tour after until I took a break when Buckethead joined. Gn'R is the band I've been lucky enough to see the most times live, almost 100! Everyone on this album is just stellar. Axl [Rose] had the tones, power, melodic sensibilities, and foresight to do what no other singer did then. Slash's playing was beyond memorable. Duff [McKagan] is one of the most underrated bassists in rock history, and learning his Appetite basslines is a masterclass. Steven [Adler] had the natural swing, and Izzy [Stradlin] was the secret weapon songwriter. Everything that's been heralded about this gem is deserved and true. Check out "It's So Easy," "Out Ta Get Me," and "Mr. Brownstone.' 7) Wish You Were Here by Pink Floyd (1975) Another contender for my favorite album and band of all time. Using The Beatles machine (same recording studio, engineer, record label), Pink Floyd made what I feel is their strongest, most cohesive album (my second favorite of theirs would be Animals). This list mainly consists of bands with an instantly recognizable sound. Floyd is certainly no exception to that! This album included a solid handful of undeniable rock radio classics, bookended by two halves of the mind-blowing song "Shine on You Crazy Diamond.' That song was written about former band member and founder Syd Barrett. It would be hard to live in a world without this album. Check out "Welcome to The Machine," "Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts 6-9),' or even better yet, listen to the whole thing in one sitting! 6) Decade by Neil Young (1977) About this time, I started playing guitar. As a beginner, it was comfortable jamming to this album because the chord changes were simple—a great "first ten years" retrospective of Neil's stunning, unique songwriting. Neil is a treasure who always writes from the heart and stands up for what's right. Check out "Southern Man," "A Man Needs a Maid," "Down by The River," and "After the Goldrush." 5) Highway to Hell by AC/DC (1979) When I heard this album, I was firmly "me." My life would be 100% focused on hard rock music forever. AC/DC are like air; they're ubiquitous. Everyone knows them and their incredible songs. However, as a young teen in Wilmington, Delaware, I only had WMMR 93.3 FM Philadelphia and a few friends to inform me about the world of Rock outside my bedroom. AC/DC had not gone mainstream, and their albums were available primarily in the USA as imports. To put things more in perspective, I only knew two people in the world who had heard of AC/DC. A friend had an import that we played in Steve Buckley's basement, which sounded ripping. When Highway to Hell was released, WMMR started spinning the title track, and I immediately bought the album, listening to it every single day after school. Then WMMR announced AC/DC was coming to the Spectrum in Philly, supporting Ted Nugent! I liked Ted but loved AC/DC, so my good friend Mick Cummins and I bought tickets, and he drove us up to the Spectrum (where we saw most of our concerts). Bon Scott was in fine form, and the band went over great. Although the crowd knew Ted better, Angus [Young] wouldn't let anyone upstage him. I'll never forget it! Unfortunately, Bon would be gone in 6 months. Check out "Walk All Over You," "Touch Too Much," "Shot Down in Flames," and "If You Want Blood (You Got It)." 4) Toys in the Attic by Aerosmith (1975) By the time I heard this, I was now in my teens. I had a childhood friend up the street, Jim Linberg (we're still good buddies). His older sister had a great album collection, including Toys in The Attic. Once I heard that groove, my taste changed. I lost interest in rock music that didn't have some sort of "swing" feel to it. I think Rocks is a slightly better Aerosmith album (and possibly my favorite album of all time), but both are perfect or very close. Check out "Uncle Salty," "Adam's Apple," "No More No More," "Round and Round," and "You See Me Crying." 3) Alive! by Kiss (1975) When I was still a little kid, I asked for Cheech and Chong's Up in Smoke album for Christmas. The entire family came over for an enormous feast, and I dropped the needle. When my mother heard the content, she turned off the album and said I had to exchange it. My mom was cool, but I was young and knew much more about life than she suspected. Anyway, the next day, she drove me back to the store. In the music section, promoted on an "endcap" was a Kiss Alive! display. I had never heard of Kiss, but that cover picture told me I had to have it! My first foray into hard rock. Check out “Strutter.” I went through my Kiss phase very quickly, I believe in a matter of months because I discovered the previous entry, Aerosmith's Toys in the Attic. 2) Honky Chateau by Elton John (1972) When I was a wee lad, my parents bought a used Volkswagen camper van from my uncle Ozzie. My favorite Elton John album is Yellow Brick Road, but Honky Chateau is great and easily one of his best. It sent me down a lifelong rabbit hole of loving everything about the 1970s partnership between Elton and lyricist Bernie Taupin. The simple beauty of voice, the master songwriting, the perfect backing band, the clear, unobtrusive recordings, and always Bernie's incredible lyrics. The day this album was released, Elton became an unstoppable force that conquered the music industry. Check out "Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters" and "Rocket Man." 1) Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles (1967) Another tape that was included in the VW Camper. The van had a bunch of music tapes, and one was Sgt Pepper. I was too young to understand the sophistication of the music, but that was one of the many skills of The Beatles. They attracted listeners at every level, even little kids. I still feel that immediate connection to Sgt Pepper; now, I hear so much more. It's an album that changed the world and the world of music. Check out "Lucy in The Sky with Diamonds," "A Day In The Life," and "Fixing a Hole."](http://www.classicrockhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Shutterstock_1815495569-1-300x200.jpg)
Hummingbird, Until I’m, Dead and Cold, Chains and Things. Blues Man, Help The Poor, Outside Help.