B.B. King and Eric Clapton
Riding with the King

(Reprise)

First Appeared at The Music Box, February 2001, Volume 8, #2

Written by John Metzger

Riding with the King, Eric Clapton's latest straight-forward blues album, fares much better than his last — the over-hyped, standardized From the Cradle. This time around, he joins forces with the legendary B.B. King, one of his personal heroes, to put a fresh spin upon the blues.  Throughout the collection, Clapton gives his idol all the room he needs, preferring to complement rather than overshadow him. It's no surprise, then, that this collaboration works brilliantly. King's passionately gruff vocals spew pain and heartache on an incendiary Ten Long Years, an acoustic rendition of Key to the Highway sparkles and shines, and the duo steamily rips through an emotional Three O'Clock Blues. Although Riding with the King is hardly an essential album for either artist, it does showcase two of the best blues guitarists in relaxed collusion, setting aside their egos and just playing some damn fine music. ½

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43rd Annual Grammy Award Winner:
Traditional Blues Album of the Year

Ratings

1 Star:   Pitiful
2 Stars: Listenable
3 Stars: Respectable
4 Stars: Excellent
5 Stars: Can't Live Without It!!

Copyright © 2001 The Music Box