B.B. King, probably the most celebrated living blues player, has come a long way from Itta Bena, Mississippi, and this CD illustrates just how far. A series of guest shots by such artists as Van Morrison, Tracy Chapman, Eric Clapton, Mick Hucknall, Bonnie Raitt, Dr. John, Joe Cocker, Marty Stuart, the Rolling Stones, and Willie Nelson, Deuces Wild is far removed from the blues King played in the '40s and '50s. It's more like psychodrama, especially in the case of the Cocker track, "Dangerous Mood." Nobody here, celebrity notwithstanding, is just going through the motions. The album's crass concept is redeemed by, among others, drummers Steve Jordan, Jim Keltner, and Charlie Watts. Although it's an overblown international project with no affinity for the meaning of the blues, the players and their love for the music triumph.
This is B.B.'s celebrity duet album, and a straight-ahead blues album this is not.
But longtime fans who are aware of King's genre-stretching capabilities will find much to savor here. Kicking off with B.B. playing some beautiful fills and solo work behind Van Morrison on "If You Love Me," the superstars start lining up to jam with the King, with Tracy Chapman ("The Thrill Is Gone"), Eric Clapton (a funkified "Rock Me Baby"), the Rolling Stones ("Paying the Cost to Be the Boss," with a fine harp solo from Mick Jagger), Willie Nelson (his "Nightlife," long a standard in B.B.'s set list), Bonnie Raitt ("Baby I Love You"), and Marty Stuart ("Confessin' the Blues") all turning in fine efforts. The only clinker aboard here is an ill-advised attempt to make a rap record with Heavy D, the execrable "Keep It Coming."
Track listing
01. "If You Love Me" (with Van Morrison) - 5:48
02. "The Thrill Is Gone" (with Tracy Chapman) - 5:00
03. "Rock Me Baby" (with Eric Clapton) - 6:38
04. "Please Send Me Someone to Love" (with Mick Hucknall) - 4:16
05. "Baby I Love You" (with Bonnie Raitt) - 4:00
06. "Ain't Nobody Home" (with D'Angelo) - 5:18
07. "Pauly's Birthday Boogie" (with Jools Holland) (Bonus Track) - 3:39
08. "There Must Be a Better World Somewhere" (with Dr. John) - 4:50
09. "Confessin' the Blues" (with Marty Stuart) - 4:32
10. "Hummingbird" (with Dionne Warwick) (Bonus Track) - 4:20
11. "Bring It Home to Me" (with Paul Carrack) (Bonus Track) - 3:10
12. "Paying the Cost to Be the Boss" (with The Rolling Stones) - 3:35
13. "Let the Good Times Roll" (with Zucchero) (Bonus Track) - 4:00
14. "Dangerous Mood" (with Joe Cocker) - 4:55
15. "Keep It Coming" (with Heavy D) - 3:57
16. "Cryin' Won't Help You Babe" (with David Gilmour & Paul Carrack) - 4:12
17. "Night Life" (with Willie Nelson) - 4:30
Tracks 7, 10, 11, 13: bonus tracks on the import edition (UK/Japan)
Credits
B.B. King - guitar
Paul Carrack - vocals, keyboards, Hammond B-3 organ
Bonnie Raitt, Eric Clapton, Marty Stuart, David Gilmour - guitar, vocals
Bruce Dukov, Armen Garabedian, Berj Garabedian, Norman Hughes, Tamara Hatwan, Kenneth Yerke, Andrea Byers - violins
Robert Becker - viola
Larry Colbert, Marston Smith, Dane Little, Martin Tillman, Miles Tackett - cello
Joe Sublett - tenor saxophone
Brian Murray - trumpet
Jools Holland - piano
Leon Pendarvis - keyboards
Tommy Eyre - keyboards
Pino Palladino - bass
Andy Newmark, Charlie Watts - drums
Van Morrison, Tracy Chapman, Mick Hucknall, Dr. John, D'Angelo, Joe Cocker, Heavy D, Mick Jagger, Willie Nelson - vocals
Keith Richards, Ron Wood - guitar
Produced-by: John Porter, Chris Lord-Alge
Notes
Release date: November 4, 1997
Recorded at: Cherokee Recording St; Conway Studio, Hollywood, CA; Sound Castle Studios, Silverlake, CA; Westside Studios, London, England
Genre: Blues
Length: 61:31
© 1997
Label - MCA Records
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