B.B. King – B.B. King Sings Spirituals – Ace Records CDCHM  1093

With the dizzying number of B.B. King blues releases available, only once (as far as this reviewer can tell) did The King Of The Blues ever place his obviously deeply ingrained religious inspirations and energies into producing an all-gospel collection.  This 1959 Crown label re-release is a thankful portrait of a side of King’s framework that fully shines a light on his profound sacred roots, in what ultimately glows as a magnificent document within his momentous career.  Any blues fan knows those glistening single-string guitar runs, but behind those bellowing and swelling blues vocals lie motivations from King’s devout center. 

This astounding CD presents King in in his fully faceted religious dimension, and one feels that conviction in his vocals.  This is stirring and moving emotionalism, plain and simple, and it is key to completely understanding King’s numerous career musical components.

Swirling organ, piano, bass, and drums surround King as he wails his spiritual bents.  Vigorous handclapping and harmonic backing spur King’s religious ambitions along; there is no guitar to be found here.  The Charioteers and The Southern California Community Choir pair divinely with King’s efforts on certain numbers.

Below are the running tracks of this essential CD.  This needs to be in any serious blues collection, as not understanding this side of King would be a discredit to a man who means so much to the blues!

Song Titles

• Precious Lord
• Save A Seat For Me
• Ole Time Religion
• Swing Low, Sweet Chariot
• Servant’s Prayer
• Jesus Gave Me Water
• I Never Heard A Man
• Army Of The Lord
• I Am Willing To Run All The Way
• I’m Working On The Building
• A Lonely Lover’s Plea
• I Am
• The Key To My Kingdom
• Story From My Heart And Soul
• In The Middle Of An Island
• Sixteen Tons
• Precious Lord (with overdubs)
• Swing Low, Sweet Chariot (with overdubs)