The Birth Of A King (2004)

"Simply put, this is a killer 22-track compilation of early -- as in from the beginning -- sides by B.B. King, first as he developed as a quintessential blues shouter, and second and more famously as a guitarist. These tracks are compiled from masters dating between 1949 and 1953, when the great one was a youngster and beginning to cut singles for Regal. His strong vocal style -- derived from Big Joe Turner but more melodic and bright -- captured jukeboxes first across the American South and later across the nation. But by 1950 and 1951, King's guitar was singing as loudly as his voice and became his true and much more recognizable forum for expression. These sides offer a well-rounded portrait by turns: the vocalist is showcased on the first half and the guitar player on the second. That said, no single cut is more enjoyable than another and virtually all are winners, including a sampling of both A- and B-sides from this early period. The sound quality is good to great." (Thom Jurek, Allmusic)