Live & Well

Personnel: B. B. King (vocals, guitar); Hugh McCracken (guitar); Lee Gatling (saxophone); Patrick Williams (trumpet); Paul Harris, Al Kooper (piano); Charlie Boles (organ); Val Patillo, Gerald Jemmott (bass); Sonny Freeman, Herb Lovelle (drums).
After working with jazz producer Bob Thiele on 1968's LUCILLE, B.B. King followed up with LIVE AND WELL, an interesting combination of live and studio tracks. The LIVE half finds King regaling an enthusiastic audience with tales of sexual peccadilloes ("Don't Answer The Door"), old favorites ("Sweet Little Angel") and newer material ("Just A Little Love"). Throughout this brief set, King's horn section and organist Charlie Boles swing as the legendary guitarist shows why he's called the King Of The Blues on such smoldering numbers as the instrumental "My Mood" and "Please Accept My Love."
The WELL session takes on more of a funky soul vibe and adds Al Kooper on piano. King grooves convincingly on the chugging "I Want You So Bad" and "Let's Get Down To Business," slowing up for the instrumental "Friends" and the dismissive "Get Off My Back Woman." The funky "Why I Sing The Blues" closes things out and gives notice to the mainstream audience who were just discovering this formidable, Mississippi-born musical force.