Live At The Regal

From the 1970s, blues has become a dirty word. A dull genre that rewards dry technical efficiency and growling to signify passion. I automatically think I don't like blues as a result. This album shows what it can be. The energy, looseness from brilliant musicians (they could be tighter, they choose not to be) and the sheer energy of it is infectious and wonderful. You could draw a line from this album through James Brown, Hendrix, George Clinton, Prince, Outkast to Kendrick Lamar and it all makes sense. Are there occasionally overlong noodly guitar breaks? Of course there are, it's a live blues album. Do the nature of the restrictions of the genre sometimes make the songs sound a bit samey? Of course they do, it's a blues album! But there is a lot to say for a simple thing done well - sometimes a Victoria sponge is the treat you wanted. A great album - when the horns are allowed to fly free and the energy is high it's perfect, even if it does get a little samey at points. The high energy opener, Every Day I Have the Blues, and the Slinky, building closer, Help the Poor are highlights.

If this is the blues, then why is the album cover red, huh??

One where I think crowd noise really helps. Not that this album isn't fantastic, but the crowd is hyped up to see BB and it really makes the record that much more fun. BB was a phenomenal showman, and this album showcases it very well. Favorite tracks: "How Blue Can You Get?", "You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now"

I wonder if the people screaming in the crowd knew they were witnessing something special. I hope they had a sense of occasion and weren't so drunk they remember little. This is legendary, BB King cannot be faulted because he set the standard himself. His voice gives me chills. Nothing here is perfect and that in itself is just perfect. It's gritty, raw, honest, covered in smoke and whiskey, and just wonderful.

B.B. King is THE king for a reason. He's just a phenomenal performer. This live album is a great demonstration of his power, skill, and sheer magnetism. There are so many great, utterly classic blues tracks here that it's hard to find much to fault. The biggest issue is that there isn't MORE B.B. King on this list.

I'll give this 3 stars just because it's B.B. King, but I don't have the willpower to go through a full live blues album. Not at this stage of my life.

best live album of all time

Nobody since and to this day (besides Jimi Hendrix) has ever made their guitar cry in the way that the king of blues did all those years ago. A stellar live album, jam packed with hits and no misses, classic

Great voice, great backing band. Every song sounded exactly the same. I had to check to make sure it wasn’t accidentally playing the same song on repeat. Also would have rather just listened to a studio version without the crowd interrupting between every line and clapping over the songs. Kind of just annoyed me for the entirety. 4/10

I liked it but there wasnt a lot I would come back for.

There’s joy in this, which I don’t hear often, especially not in what’s called the blues. The songs are mostly rhythmic containers for King’s Heaven’s trumpet of a voice, the melodies he makes with it, and his guitar chatter, which is the exact opposite of the solemn, respectful, dusty stuff that his fans made after. A couple of times his guitars makes a big “PARP”, or clears its throat, moves onto the next bit of chat. I had fun with this today.

The best blues I’ve heard yet!

Great album love the crowd interaction. Sent me on a blues rabbit hole.

This is not 'guy-sitting-on-a-chair-playing-the-same-riff-on-guitar-that-everyone-associates-with-blues' blues. This is big band coming at you rattling the plates on the table while everyone around you cheers along. This is definitely worth the listen. Side note to say that I loved recognizing the original sample that Primitive Radio Gods used for 'Standing Outside a Broken Phone Booth with Money in my Hand' - it comes from 'How Blue Can You Get?'.

the immersion!! wow, you feel like you’re really there. love the fluidity, and the storytelling, my goodness. and of course the instrumentation is fabulous. that guitar sings!!

What's there to say? A true Blues legend, performing at the top of his game.

Powerful. You watch tv and there always seems to be that character that says "Listen to that guitar! listen to that pain and emotion!" and in the middle of a sitcom you kinda ignore that comment...but now that I've listened to this album I think I get it a bit more

I admit blues isn’t really my thing, but it was enjoyable regardless.

Such a great album! Wish I was alive back then to see this live because I loved every moment of this album.

5/5

Compusary listening for anybody into blues music. A cornerstone in the genre. Just fantastic

Being a kid is wishing B. B. King’s band would shut up and let him play. Being an adult is knowing that subtraction cak be musical addition, and those horns fuckin’ rip. King’s stage presence is outstanding, no wonder he crossed over in a way that many of his contemporaries did not. It goes without saying that his ability to wrangle strong emotion out of a few simple notes is second to none. Surprised to find some Latin jazz influence on “Help the Poor.” Take a drink every time King “tells a story.”

Classic!

This album is a fantastic example on why live albums may also be great, adding new layers to the discography of many artists. It's such a great experience to listen to it, and the songs are excellent.

What an album! Loved it! It was so enjoyable, I couldn't believe it was over. One million stars!

Fantastic live performance by The King of the Blues

The more I go through these albums the more I realize I like the blues and jazz less than I thought it did, Bb king is the exception. He is and always was the best at his craft

Classic

Now THAT'S realer than Real-Deal Holyfield, and now you bachelor degree holders know how I feel. Singer, guitarist, songwriter, bandleader extraordinaire.

Hit with an immediate smooth blues listening experience with Every Day I Have The Blues. Simply a nice vibey album to listen to in the background. Imagine a mix of Ray Charles and Parliament

Wow... I heared a couple of his songs beforehand and I knew he was good... I didn't know he was THAT good. So enterntaining and his guitar playing is like Hendrix before Hendrix and Page before Page. Why it had to be only 33 minutes long???

Hey Joe Bonamassa. This album has a message for you. Piss off, you silly white boy.

Yes, this is real. Not some wanker in the studio, self-satisfied bloke who thinks more of himself than he should. Plus, the crown noise is almost erotic with their love. Great album....

In terms of the music itself I was leaning closer to a 4 but given how much I have ragged on a lot of live albums on this list for their poor quality and feeling antithetical to the point of a live recording by cutting out certain parts. I have to applaud this album for doing basically everything I have asked for from other live albums. How the fuck did they get it so right back in the 60s but we still have dolts messing this stuff up from albums listed here from the 90s

The actual blues. You can keep your blues rock, Mr White.

I don't like the blues. But I like this. B.B. Kings blues are so good they transcend to the joys.

nice jazz

Yeah

The best part of this album is the atmosphere this live performance creates. King has his audience eating out of the palm of his hand. Every time he bellows a lyric and every time he rambles on his guitar, the crowd goes wild. On top of that, his charming storytelling between songs has them captivated. King is taking them on a ride through songs about every aspect of love. The highest of highs and the lowest of lows are represented within the tracklist. But in King's hands with support from his incredible backing band, these blues have a whole lot of life to them. The energy is electric and contagious and you know damn well, for some people in the audience, this was the best night of their life.

The blues numbers are solid. However, someone should make a supercut of B.B. King addressing the audience on Live At The Regal. That person is not me, so I will simply summarize here: Thank you. Thank you very much. Give it up for my band. They are wailing out there. Please make some noise if we happen to play a song you have heard before. Now, for this next number, we are going way back. But I want to tell a story. Ladies, if your man does not do right by you, do not cut him. And fellas, if your woman does not treat you right, do not go upside her head. Thank you. Thank you very much.

This is what a master sounds like.

Brilliant album and a fantastic atmosphere created by the audience too

Loved this. Blues is great but it’s made even better when it’s live. I could smell the cigarette smoke. BB’s banter was amazing.

Familiarity: 1/10 Notes: I was not familiar with BB King live prior to this recording. The energy and drive he had as a showman as well as a musicians combined, with a fantastic backing band, led to an enjoyable and fun 35min jazz journey. Would definitely like to find myself listening to more Favorite Tracks: - Sweet Little Angel - Worry, Worry - Woke Up This Morning True Rating: 7/10

I admit blues isn’t really my thing, but it was enjoyable regardless. 3.5⭐️

I'm sure this album is really good. Perhaps Mark will tell us more about why?

I don’t love listening to a whole album of essentially the same song. But it sounds like it was a lot of fun to be there.

Nr. 129/1001 Everyday I Have The Blues 4/5 Sweet Little Angel 3/5 It's My Own Fault 3/5 How Blue Can You Get? 4/5 Please Love Me 3/5 You Upset Me Baby 4/5 Worry, Worry 3/5 Woke Up This Mornin' 3/5 You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now 3/5 Help The Poor 4/5 Average: 3,4 Was a really enjoyable listen, but lacked some highlights to really bump it up.

it's a cloudy afternoon, mid-july. about this time you listen to your daily album of culture. (it is a prerequisite of death.) what's today's album? "live at the regal" by b.b. king. it's got a rating of 3.7 and it's a blues album. if anything can show you the full potential of the blues, surely this will be it... you start the album. they introduce the King of the blues himself. a song plays. it sounds like a typical blues song, but a bit upbeat. pleasant enough. it passes, and your majesty announces the next song, a "real oldie." it starts playing. it sounds familiar... it's like the last song but slow... a real oldie indeed. all the way from a couple minutes ago. another song plays. the Blue King proclaims, "it's my own fault, baby!" and the crowd absolutely ROARS at this. you listen. wait a second. something's strange... this sounds familiar... that's it! it's the same song you just listened to, but with different words! you can't fool me mr king. time for the next song. "while we're reminiscing here" mr King (of the blues) says. yes, reminiscing over the last three songs a.k.a. the last one song. "i'd like you to pay attention to the lyrics, not so much my singin or the band" im sure you would mr King (of the blues). but you cant pull the wool over my eyes. and so the song plays... again another (the same) song plays, an upbeat variation this time. it passes and the next song is introduced. "what do you say we bring him on, ladies and gentlemen? the great b.b. king!" little did they know they'd already brought him on. infact, he's already played five songs(one song)! the sixth variation passes. time for the next song introduction. "we wanna go way back. WAY back." they can't trick me, that's just like how track 2 was introduced! it plays. one could describe this variation of The Blues Song as "dynamic." it is the longest version of The Blues Song on the album. it ends. off-topic, but if there's anything you can say about mr King (of the blues) it isnt that he's impolite. he always says thank you to his screaming adoring fans. thank you too, mr King. the (next) song plays. it's pretty upbeat and the brass is excited. it is a fun variation, it makes itself stand out a bit. the High King of Bluesia thanks his subjects and the next variation begins. it sounds like the others. mr. The King tells his subjects to applaud his band and help the poor because he is a noble and just monarch. time for the next track. alright, the last track stands out from everything else. the last track is a gift. the last track is the King's luxurious gift to the commonfolk who support his kingdom. they thought it was impossible. they thought it couldnt be done. a second song on the album. while i was listening i decided to look up "best albums of 1965" and see what was going on those days, let's see... - The Who were born, good on them! that'll be a future roll from the generator - the Beatles release Rubber Soul, the 17th-highest rated album on the site as-of-reviewing. is it fair to compare? - dylan's gone electric, that rascal! how does it fee-eeellll.. - the Byrds release the album Turn! Turn! Turn! containing the song Turn! Turn! Turn! i like that one - The Temptations Sing Smokey! neato, the version of My Girl that most people know, among other things - the Beatles also release Help! man they were busy... - a Charlie Brown Christmas! nice, got an iconic piece of christmas history on that. not what i expected to see well looks like 1965 was an alright year! the details of my experience of this album come nearer to their close, and judgment approaches. "but the blues were foundational to all of rock music!" aint getting founded in 1965, that's for sure all in all i can't be a critic. i simply don't understand. i don't understand The Blues. it's like an episode of the Twilight Zone condensed into a music genre. this is Groundhog Music. help me. 1966 is just around the corner and it's coming in with a bang. you need to be more prepared than this. 2/5

Jazz isn’t really my vibe and I don’t like “live” albums where you can hear people screaming I’d rather just listen to the music.

Fantastic album which gets down to the pure blues that Mr. King is known for. It is a 5-star, must listen to at least a dozen times (more) for anyone who wants to hear pure musical talent.

Definitely one I want in my collection.

B.B. King was in his eighties when I saw him live. He played from a couch (and was wearing a muumuu). His fingers weren't quite as dexterous as they were in his prime, but his voice still had power and emotion, and he was very funny when he talked to the audience, so it was a good time. This album is an absolute delight. This was a concert for people to get out of their seat and dance, so every song is a stomper. Both B.B.'s singing and guitar playing are emotive and perfectly attuned to the subject matter of the song, and even his spoken word intros and interludes are engaging. The enthusiastic crowd adds to the whole experience.

Que álbum de blues! Dá pra sentir pelo menos uma pitada do que era ao vivo. SENSACIONAL! QoA Adonis New.

Why is it the live albums that should be 2 hours long are only 30 minutes, but live albums that should have been 30 minutes long are 2 hours? BB, the band, the crowd, this whole album, simply brilliant. If you like the Blues you will love this. Even if you don't like the Blues, but you do appreciate good live music, you will love this.

Legendary performance

# Album Name: Live at the regal # Artist: BB king # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: fucking great blues album. Transfers you to being in the bar and enjoying this shit live. I felt like i was there. The rum probably helped. # Top Tunes: # Would I listen to it again? yes

B.B. King is amazing and does so much with so few notes. I had a chance to see him years ago and I didn't take it, I've always regretted it.

Sometimes I can't figure out what people don't like about an album, so I ask ChatGPT, which summarizes that type of stuff nicely. It's too polished? It's a live performance! That's incredible that a live performance of the blues can sound "polished". Other comments on this site said it all sounds the same. Are we listening to the same album? This album is a masterpiece. I don't even know any of these songs, but I want to. I feel like I'm transported to a smoky club in Chicago. It captures this world perfectly.

No notes.

Holy shit, fabulous live recording - really captures the power of the blues channeled through B.B.

I mean it’s a live album by B.B. fucking King. Some shits just a lay up

Nice live album of the king

Good album, not a good listen when you are lonely

For me, B.B. King is actually the king of the blues and this record shows why. Lucille (that's his guitar's name) and his voice were so unique, they could fill just any venue and make the crowd cheer with joy. This is remarkable, as blues is said to "not make you feel better but make others feel worse". If you like the blues, you'll love "Live at the Regal". If you don't, you won't get it.

Charismatic

4.5/5

It's funny when, after BB says "I'd like to tell you a little story now...", one guy in the crowd flatly shouts "ok". 5 stars.

So fun.

The blues

Qué espectáculo de álbum 💿 ❤️‍🔥

I was unsure about this but damn I never should have doubted the king! What a show!!

There is a joy in this album that I love. It is a brilliant live performance. King shines but the band is tight and goes with him as he plays.

Dad- 9.5 Mom- 9.5 Mike- NA Lori- 8,5 Michael- 9 Miles- NA Cole- NA Avg-9.13

this album…. a gate into the wonderful world of bb king

It's clear why he's a legend

A true blues master at work. Incredible band, incredible guitarist, incredible voice. Nothing more to be said. 5/5, an album that shouldn't end so quickly

Groovy, jammy, bluesy and that voice is incredible. One of the best live albums of the 60s.

9/10 B.B. King has always been a bit of a blind spot for me. I did have a period when I listened to a lot of blues, but tended to focus on more of the early blues singers like Robert Johnson and Blind Lemon Jefferson and King just kind of passed me by. But this is a really fantastic live album. I often find that live albums can be a bit iffy, failing to capture the real feeling of interaction between the artist and the crowd, but here, the balance is pretty much perfect. You can get a real grasp of King’s charisma and he has the crowd eating out of his hand throughout, and that live energy is really successfully captured on the record. The playing across the board is so good, and they thread that line between being so in sync with one another while having that slightly loose swagger that lends a great deal of soul and coolness to the delivery. King’s vocal ranges from low and subtle to gritty and fierce, which adds another level of dynamic to the music, and when he lets loose on his guitar, he pours soul and vibe from his fingers. It’s rarely exceptionally complex, but it’s all about the emotion that he pulls out with the notes. Of course, it’s a blues record, so the compositions are all of a very similar style, though there is a reasonable blend of pace across the album, but there’s not likely to be much that jumps out as groundbreaking. But that’s not what you listen to a blues record for really. It’s all about feel, and this album has it in spades. Everyday I Have The Blues - The way the rhythm section pulls this forward is fantastic, seemingly playing just ahead of the beat early doors to get things shifting. His voice is just brilliant, as is his guitar playing. That’s to be expected, but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. Quality playing all round. Sweet Little Angel - And now things slow down. Such cool swagger about this., and he’s got the crowd eating out of his hand. The growl of his voice is just excellent. There’s nothing too complicated about the composition, but it’s all about the feel here, and there’s a great guitar solo. It’s My Own Fault - And we just smoothly slide into another track. More brilliant singing, more cool swagger, more charismatic crowd work. There’s some nice jazzy piano playing here in particular. So much vibe. How Blue Can You Get? - The band does some great work on this one. Despite B.B. telling me to, my focus is nearly always music first and some of the interplay between the piano and horns in particular is great. Quality drumming too, and some more of that fiery grit to his voice. Lovely stuff. Please Love Me - Let’s pick up the pace! There’s so much energy and groove to this, it’s impossible not to tap ones feet while listening. There’s quality guitar soloing as usual and the band play with such great expression. They’re the perfect balance of tight and loose to make it sound like so much fun. You Upset Me Baby - There’s a really weird bit at the beginning of this track, where they start playing something, it sharply cuts out and then something else starts playing. Weird. Anyway, again, they’ve got so much cool swagger about their playing here. King really allows plenty of time for the musicianship to take centre stage, which also gives his vocal great impact when it does come in. It’s all just so much fun. Worry, Worry - This is a masterclass in live blues delivery. Quality lead guitar work, a fiery and emotive vocal delivery, along with a bit of crowd banter, all backed by a band that knows when to strut along and when to flex. Woke Up This Mornin’ - This is pretty frenetic, but it’s a nice switch up in pace and the slower delivery of the vocal offsets it nicely. And then we drop into a great swinging groove. So much soul. You Done Lost Your Good Thing Now - Similarly to Worry, Worry, this gives us a slow build up with some fantastic lazy guitar solo work and then the vocal kicks in with some gorgeous piano lines just tinkling along behind it. Love the switch back and forth between vocal and guitar on this one. Help The Poor - There’s a bit more of a latin twist to the rhythm on this track. It dances around so well in more of a laid back, smooth way. There are some great little vocal flourishes here and there that jump out from the generally subtle delivery and really work to add some spice and fire. It’s not the most exciting of tracks, but it’s only short and closes the album nicely.

Very good

I guess there's a different approach to the blues that I didn't know about. Muddy Waters at Newport presented the blues in a more straightforward fashion that emphasized rhythm and the harmonica. BB King, on the other hand, injects a bit more soul into the medium. His guitar is more front and center, powering through each number with passion. His backing band add on to a sum of brilliance. Finally, add on how he talks to the audience to serve as a guide to the music and I'm convinced that King is one of the greatest showmen to ever do it. A stellar live recording; my kind of blues (8/10, 5/5 on this scale)

Awesome blues album - feel like I could throw this on anytime

Classic. I don't really listen to blues but BB King is a legend. Solid album

Weiß nicht, ob irgendjemand das nicht schön findet. Love for the blues 💙

Absolute insane album. This dude managed to story tell his songs in a order they sound like they were writen in a chronological order of events yet songs were writen in different years for diferent albums. Mindblowing and a killer album

Big band fun - very uplifting

Really great blues album.

There is something amazing about Blues performers, their performance as a unit while free flowing. It’s just amazing.

One of the greatest live albums ever made. One of the greatest blues albums ever made. An essential album for anyone even remotely interested in the blues.

mega mitriissend. mer het fasch s gfühl, selber im publikum luve debi z si!

I was already familiar with this album. It's a really great showcase for B.B. King's immense talent on guitar and showmanship. He's upbeat, funny, and a great storyteller in addition to killing it on the guitar. The 10 tracks on here are all solid. The only thing I could say is I wish it was longer! One of the best live albums of all time.

Banger, top notch musicians

A great album

Amazeballs

On today's album for 1001 albums before I die, I rolled this B.B. King live project from 1965. I have heard of B.B. King before but never checked out any of his music, and god damn does this album make me want to do that. It isn't often that the music sounds this good live that you wouldn't think there are studio versions because of how definitive this whole album sounds. I also have to say for this being a live project the audience really seemed so scripted with just how perfect they sounded all throughout the 35 minute runtime. Each song feels so perfect to show of B.B. King's vocals and killer guitar playing that both blend so well together on this very bluesy and soulful performance. It is live projects like Live at the Regal that really help sell my point that more people need to hear live albums, they can truly be the best thing an artist has yet to offer but since it is such a niche selection usually people just skip over it all without any question. If you want to hear one of the definitive live releases of the 60s, totally check this project out because it is nothing short of incredible.

I had no idea the blues could be so joyful. This is a lot of fun.

Not a fan of live albums, but this one is actually engaging. The music and the performance are both beautiful. 9/10

Usually not a big fan of live albums but this one is phenomenal

It does not get any better than the King of the Blues. Every note hits perfection on this captivating live album.

I would give 10 stars if I could. No one can compare to B.B. King and his guitar Lucille. I remember seeing him in concert when I was a teenager. Album brings back memories.