B. B. King (1925–2015) was an American blues musician whose recording career spanned 1949–2008. As with other blues contemporaries, King's material was primarily released on singles until the late 1950s–early 1960s, when long playing record albums became more popular.
Overview B.B. King's first charting single, "3 O'Clock Blues", reached No. 1 on the Billboard R&B charts in 1951. He charted further No. 1 singles on various Billboard R&B charts with "You Know I Love You", "Please Love Me" and "You Upset Me Baby". Between 1958 and 1974 he had 10 top 10 hits on the R&B chart, including "Sweet Sixteen", "Chains And Things", "I Like To Live the Love" and one of his most well-known hits, "The Thrill Is Gone". King had 32 charting singles on the Billboard Hot 100 from 1964 to 1989. His final chart entry on the Hot 100 was a 1989 collaboration with U2 on "When Love Comes To Town".
King charted 25 albums on the Billboard Blues Albums chart which ties him with Joe Bonamassa for the most charted albums. Between 1968 and 2008, he attained 33 charting albums on the Billboard 200. His highest-charting album was his 2000 album with Eric Clapton titled Riding With the King, peaking at No. 3.
Studio albums Modern Records (with Crown and Kent subsidiaries) Year Title Chart peak Certifications US US R&B US Jazz US Blues AUS SWI 1956Singin' the Blues This is the first album publication of titles only released before as 78 rpm or 45 rpm singles. Released: 1956 Label: Crown (CLP-5020) Format: LP — — — — — — RIAA: Gold 1958The Blues This is the first album publication of titles only released before as 78 rpm or 45 rpm singles. Released: 1958 Label: Crown (CLP-5063) Format: LP — — — — — — 1959 B.B. King Wails Released: 1959 Label: Crown (CLP-5115) Format: LP — — — — — — Sings Spirituals Released: 10 July 1960 Label: Crown (CLP-5119) Format: LP — — — — — — 1960 The Great B. B. King Released: 1960 Label: Crown (CLP–5153) Format: LP — — — — — — King of the Blues Released: 16 March 1960 Label: Crown (CLP-5167) Format: LP — — — — — — My Kind of Blues Released: August 1960 Label: Crown (CLP-5188) Format: LP — — — — — — 1961More B.B. King Released: November 1961 Label: Crown (CLP-5230) Format: LP — — — — — — Notice - Although King had signed to ABC Records in January 1962, his former company Modern/RPM continued to release singles and albums until 1971.The recording dates are before 1962. The exception is a "contractual settlement" session recorded in 1965, which spawned six new recordings for Kent.1962Easy Listening Blues Released: 1962 Label: Crown (CLP-5286) Format: LP — — — — — — 1963Blues in My Heart Released: 1963 Label: Crown (CLP-5309) Format: LP — — — — — — B.B. King Released: 2 October 1963 Label: Crown (CLP-5359) Format: LP — — — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
ABC Records (and BluesWay subsidiary) then MCA Records and Geffen Records Year Title Chart peak Certifications US US R&B US Jazz US Blues AUS SWI 1962Mr. Blues Released: Label: ABC-Paramount (ABC-456) Format: LP — — — — — — 1966 Confessin' the Blues Released: Label: ABC-Paramount (ABC-528) Format: — — — — — — 1968 Blues on Top of Blues Released: Label: ABC-Bluesway (BLS-6011) Format: — 46 — — — — Lucille Released: Label: ABC-Bluesway (BLS-6016); MCA (MCAD-10518) Format: 192 — — — — — 1969 Live & Well (Side B) Released: Label: ABC-Bluesway (BLS-6031); MCA (MCAD-31191) Format: 56 11 17 — — — Completely Well Released: Label: ABC-Bluesway (BLS-6037); MCA (MCAD-11768) Format: 38 5 — — — — 1970 Indianola Mississippi Seeds Released: Label: ABC (ABCS-713); MCA (MCAD-31343) Format: 26 8 7 — — — 1971 B.B. King in London Released: Label: ABC (ABCX-730); MCA (MCAD-10843) Format: 57 15 — — — — 1972 L.A. Midnight Released: Label: ABC (ABCX-743) Format: 53 21 — — — — Guess Who Released: Label: ABC (ABCX-759); MCA (MCAD-10351) Format: 65 14 — — — — 1973 To Know You Is to Love You Released: Label: ABC (ABCX-794); MCA (MCAD-10414) Format: 71 13 — — — — 1974 Friends Released: Label: ABC (ABCD-825) Format: 153 27 — — — — 1975 Lucille Talks Back Released: Label: ABC (ABCD-898) Format: — — — — — — 1977King Size Released: Label: ABC (AB-977) Format: 154 34 — — — — 1978 Midnight Believer Released: Label: ABC (AA-1061); MCA (MCAD-27011) Format: 124 27 — — — — 1979 Take It Home Released: Label: MCA (MCA-3151); MCA (MCAD-11770) Format: 112 22 — — — — 1981 There Must Be a Better World Somewhere Released: Label: MCA (MCA-5162); MCA (MCAD-27034) Format: 131 26 — — — — 1982 Love Me Tender Released: Label: MCA (MCA-5307); MCA (MCAD-886) Format: 179 45 — — — — 1983 Blues 'N' Jazz Released: Label: MCA (MCA-5413); MCA (MCAD-27119) Format: 172 38 21 — — — 1985 Six Silver Strings Released: Label: MCA (MCAD-5616) Format: — 31 23 — — — 1988 King of the Blues: 1989 Released: Label: MCA (MCAD-42183) Format: — — — — — — 1991 There Is Always One More Time Released: Label: MCA (MCAD-10295) Format: — 76 — — — — 1993 Blues Summit Released: Label: MCA (MCAD-10710) Format: 182 64 — — — 93 1994 Diane Schuur & B.B. King - Heart to Heart Released: Label: GRP (GRD-9767) Format: CD, Cassette — — 6 — — — 1995 Lucille & Friends Released: Label: MCA [Australia/Europe only] (MCD-33008) Format: — — — — 95 — 1997 Deuces Wild Released: Label: MCA (MCAD-11711) Format: 73 — — 1 67 33 MC: Platinum PROMUSICAE: Gold RIAA: Gold RMNZ: Gold 1998 Blues on the Bayou Released: Label: MCA (MCAD-11879) Format: 186 — — 2 — — 1999 Let the Good Times Roll Released: Label: MCA (088 112042-2) Format: — — — 2 — — 2000 B.B. King & Eric Clapton - Riding with the King Released: Label: Reprise Records (9 47612-2) Format: 3 — — — 5 3 ARIA: Platinum BPI: Gold BVMI: Gold CAPIF: Gold FIMI: Platinum IFPI AUT: Gold IFPI DEN: Platinum IFPI EUR: Platinum IFPI GRC: Platinum IFPI HKG: Gold IFPI SWI: Gold MC: Platinum NVPI: Gold PMB: Gold PROMUSICAE: Gold RIAA: 2× Platinum RIAJ: Platinum RMNZ: Gold SNEP: GoldMakin' Love Is Good for You Released: Label: MCA (088 112299-2) Format: — — — 2 — — 2001 A Christmas Celebration of Hope (also released in 2003 as 20th Century Masters/The Christmas Collection: The Best of B.B. King) Released: Label: MCA (088 112756-2); MCA (B0000707-02) Format: 151 — — 1 — — 2003 Reflections Released: Label: MCA (B0000532-02) Format: 165 — — 2 — — 2005 B.B. King & Friends: 80 Released: Label: Geffen (B0005263-02) Format: 45 — — 1 — 78 2008 One Kind Favor Released: Label: Geffen (B0011791-02) Format: 37 — — 1 — 78 "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Live albums
Year Album Label Peak chart positions US US R&B US Blues US Jazz 1965 Live at the RegalRecorded on November 21, 1964, at the Regal Theater in Chicago. ABC-Paramount ABC-509 78 — — — 1965 Live! B.B. King on StageThis fake live album contains old studio recordings with overdubbed audience. Kent Records KLP-5015, KST-515 — — — — 1967 Blues Is KingRecorded on November 5, 1966 at the International Club in Chicago. ABC-BluesWay BLS-6001 — — — — 1969 Live & Well (Side A)Recorded in early March, 1969, at the Village Gate in New York City. ABC-BluesWay BLS-6031 — — — — 1971 Live in Cook County JailRecorded on September 10, 1970, in Cook County Jail in Chicago. ABC Records ABCS-713 25 1 — 3 1974 B.B. King and Bobby Bland Together for the First Time... LiveRecorded live in 1974 at Western Recorders Studio in Los Angeles. ABC-Dunhill DSD-80190 43 2 — — 1976Bobby Bland and B.B. King Together Again...LiveRecorded in 1976 at the Coconut Grove in Los Angeles. ABC-Impulse ASD-9317 73 9 — — 1980 Now Appearing at Ole MissRecorded in 1979 at the University of Mississippi. MCA Records MCA-5162 162 45 — 21 1982 The Crusaders with B.B. King - Royal JamRecorded in September 1981 with the Crusaders and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall in London. MCA Records MCA2-8017 144 — — — Live in LondonRecorded in September 1981 with his orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall in London. Crusaders Records/MCA CRP-16013 — — — — 1990 Live at San QuentinRecorded on May 25, 1990 at San Quentin State Prison in Marin County, California. MCA Records MCAD-6455 — — — — 1991 Live at the ApolloRecorded on November 10, 1990 at the Apollo Theater in Harlem, New York. GRP Records GRD-9637 — — — — 1993 Live at MontreuxDVD/Blu-ray Eagle Vision HD – ERBRD5028 — — — — 1996 How Blue Can You Get? Classic Live Performances 1964-1994Compilation of previous albums. MCA Records MCAD2-11443 — — — — 1999 Live in Japan (recorded 1971)Recorded on March 4 and 7, 1971 in Sankei Hall, Tokyo. ABC Records GW-131 (1971 LP issue); MCA Records MCAD-11910 (1999 CD reissue) — — — — 2007 B.B. King LiveRecorded in October 2006 at the B.B. King Blues Clubs in Nashville and Memphis. Geffen B0009770-02 — — 11 — 2008 Live at the BBCRecorded at London-Hammersmith Odeon (1978), London-Maida Vale (1989), Glasgow Jazzfest (1991) and Croydon-Fairfield Halls (1998). Geffen B0012448-02; Universal-Island Records 6007 5306314 9 — — 1 — "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Major compilation albums Year Album Label 1962 Twist With B.B. King Crown Records CLP-5248 1963 16 of the Best of B.B. King [reissued in 1968 as 16 Greatest Hits] Galaxy Records 8202; reissue: Galaxy Records 8208 1964 Rock Me Baby...14 Great Hits Kent Records KLP-5012, KST-512 1967 The Jungle Kent Records KLP-5021, KST-521 1968 From The Beginning (2xLP) Kent Records KLP-5033, KST-533 1968 His Best – The Electric B. B. King ABC-BluesWay Records BLS-6022 1973 The Best of B.B. King ABC Records ABCX-767 1981 Great Moments With B.B. King (2xLP) MCA Records MCA2-4124 1983 Why I Sing the Blues MCA Special Products MCAD-20256 1986 Ambassador of The Blues (UK/Europe only) Crown Records GEM-001 1987 You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now Kent Records KLP-2004 1992 King of the Blues (4-CD box set) MCA Records MCAD4-10677 1994 The Very Best Of B.B. King (UK/Europe only) MCA Records MCBD-19505 1998 Greatest Hits MCA Records MCAD-117461999 His Definitive Greatest Hits (2-CD) (UK/Europe only) MCA Records MCD-11921 The Best of B.B. King: 20th Century Masters/The Millennium Collection MCA Records MCD-11939; Geffen Records B0007714 02 The RPM Hits 1951-1957 Ace Records CDCHD 7122000 The Best of the Kent Singles 1957-1971 Ace Records CDCHD 760 Anthology (2-CD) MCA Records 088 112410-22002 The Modern Recordings 1950-1951 (2-CD) Ace Records CDCHM2 835 The Vintage Years (4-CD box set) Ace Records ABOXCD 8 2003 Blues Kingpins: B.B. King Virgin Records 72435 82712 25 2005 The Ultimate Collection Geffen Records B0003854 02 2006 Gold (2-CD) (reissue of 088 112410-2) Geffen Records B0006587 02 2007 The Best of the Early Years Ace Records CDCHD 1150 2011 B.B. King: ICON 2 (2-CD) Geffen Records B0015302 02 2012 Ladies and Gentlemen...Mr. B.B. King (10-CD box set) Universal Music Group 6007 5338499 2 2012 Ladies and Gentlemen...Mr. B.B. King (4-CD box set) Universal Music Group 6007 5339086 3 2019 All Time Greats: B.B. King (2-CD) (UK/Europe only) Universal Music Group 6007 5389516 0
Singles
Bullet Records
Year TitleSingle information Peak chart position Album US R&B US US Rock UK1949"Miss Martha King"b/w "When Your Baby Packs Up and Goes"Bullet Records Bullet 309Miss Martha King: 309-A, When Your Baby Packs Up and Goes: 309-B. — — — —These titles have never been published in an album. Only "Miss Martha King" was reissued in 1992 in the 4-CD box set King of the Blues (MCAD4-10677)."Got the Blues"b/w "Take a Swing with Me"Bullet Records Bullet 315Got the Blues: 315-A, Take a Swing with Me: 315-B. — — — — "—" denotes releases that did not chart.
Modern Records (with RPM and Kent subsidiaries)
Year TitleSingle information Peak chart position Album US R&B US US Rock UK1950"Mistreated Woman"b/w "B.B. Boogie"RPM Records 304 (September 1950)