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Joe Bonamassa curates all-star tribute to B.B. King

Joe Bonamassa curates all-star tribute to B.B. King

100 years after his birth, B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 celebrates his enduring legacy with a 32-song set featuring Bonamassa, Slash, Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks, and more

Few musicians have left a more lasting impression on a genre of music than B.B. King did on the electric blues. 100 years after his birth, B.B. King’s influence still echoes through every note, every bend, every soul-stirring solo. Now, the King of the Blues gets the tribute he deserves in the shape of a 32-song all-star celebration curated and co-produced by modern-day blues standard bearer, Joe Bonamassa, and dropping on Friday, February 6th.

Joe Bonamassa presents B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 features an incredible array of musicians indebted to and inspired by King’s legacy, many of whom are icons in their own right, including Slash, Eric Clapton, Derek Trucks, Gary Clark Jr., Marcus King, Warren Haynes, Kirk Fletcher, and many more.

“Even at the tender age of 12, B.B. King was one of my musical idols,” says Joe Bonamassa in the album’s liner notes. “I was lucky to call Mr. King a friend and a mentor. This album is a testament to his reach, his personal relationships and of course his brilliant catalog of songs. I can’t thank everyone enough for participating in such a wonderful journey.”

Co-produced by Joe Bonamassa and Josh Smith, the full tracklisting and guest rundown is as follows:

Disc 1

1. Paying The Cost To Be The Boss feat. Christone “Kingfish” Ingram

2. Don't Answer The Door feat. Marcus King

3. To Know You Is To Love You feat. Michael McDonald, Susan Tedeschi & Derek Trucks 

4. Let The Good Times Roll feat. Kenny Wayne Shepherd & Noah Hunt  

5. Sweet Little Angel feat. Buddy Guy  

6. When It All Comes Down (I'll Still Be Around) feat. Larry McCray  

7. When Love Comes To Town feat. Slash, Shemekia Copeland & Myles Kennedy 

8. The Thrill Is Gone feat. Chaka Khan & Eric Clapton  

9. Watch Yourself feat. Jimmie Vaughan  

10. Why I Sing The Blues feat. Bobby Rush  

11. Sweet Sixteen feat. Jimmy Hall & Larry Carlton  

12. Don't You Want A Man Like Me feat. Larkin Poe  

13. I'll Survive feat. Keb' Mo'  

14. Heartbreaker feat. Trombone Shorty & Eric Gales  

15. There Must Be A Better World Somewhere feat. George Benson  

16. Chains And Things feat. Gary Clark Jr. 

Disc 2

1. How Blue Can You Get feat. Warren Haynes 

2. You Upset Me Baby feat. Chris Cain  

3. Ghetto Woman feat. Ivan Neville  

4. Night Life feat. Paul Rodgers  

5. Ain't Nobody Home feat. Jade MacRae & Robben Ford  

6. Bad Case Of Love feat. Joanne Shaw Taylor  

7. Never Make A Move Too Soon feat. Dion  

8. Three O'Clock Blues feat. Marc Broussard & Josh Smith  

9. Think It Over feat. Train & Chris Buck  

10. It's My Own Fault feat. Kim Wilson  

11. Every Day I Have The Blues feat. D.K. Harrell  

12. Please Accept My Love feat. John Nemeth  

13. So Excited feat. Aloe Blacc  

14. When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer feat. Dannielle De Andrea  

15. Playin' With My Friends 

16. Better Not Look Down feat. Kirk Fletcher  

Joe Bonamassa and B.B. King in 2002 Joe Bonamassa and B.B. King in 2002

As producer, Bonamassa paid special attention to preserving the quality and emotional authenticity of the work. Classic songs such as “The Thrill Is Gone” were given the full treatment with real strings, horns, and whatever additional elements were required to do them justice. “You only get one shot to do this correctly,” Joe affirms. “And I think we nailed it.”

Joe Bonamassa presents B.B. King’s Blues Summit 100 is released on Friday, February 6th. Pre-order your copy now.

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