Riding with the King (B. B. King and Eric Clapton album)
Riding with the King | ||||
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B.B. King chronology | ||||
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Eric Clapton chronology | ||||
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Riding with the King is a collaborative album by
The album was generally well received by reviewers, although some felt that it could have been better, and that the sound on the CD was too polished for a blues album.
Background
Riding with the King was the first collaborative album by
Clapton initiated the recording sessions for Riding with the King and included some of his regular session musicians on the album. He also chose the songs and co-produced the album with Simon Climie, who had previously worked on several of Clapton's albums.[1] While this would appear to be a Clapton album recorded with King, Clapton gave center-stage to King, who took the lead on many of the songs with his singing and his solos.[5]
Content
The album contains five "vintage" King songs from the 1950s and 1960s: "Ten Long Years", "
The tracks are a mixture of acoustic ("Worried Life Blues") and electric songs ("Three O'Clock Blues"), and vary from slow numbers ("Ten Long Years") to "mid-tempo stomps" ("Help the Poor").[6]
The cover shows Clapton driving King around in a vintage Cadillac convertible: it was on sale at the time and Clapton noticed it. The shot was taken by Robert Sebree from a camera truck with a two seat jib while Clapton drove around the Warner Brothers Pictures backlot.[7]
Reception
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
Entertainment Weekly | A[6] |
The Spokesman-Review | Mixed[2] |
The Penguin Guide to Blues Recordings | [8] |
William Ruhlmann at AllMusic noted that Riding with the King is more about King than Clapton, and that Clapton's role on the album is more of a "supportive" one. He also noted that aside from King and Clapton's guitar, there are often two or three additional guitarists on each track. Ruhlmann said that the result is "effective", but "never really stunning".[1] Dan Moos at PopMatters described the album as a "strong blues cocktail [...] with one part Mr. Clapton slickness mixed with three parts of Mr. King’s blues stature."[5] Steve Futterman at Entertainment Weekly called the "father" and "son" collaboration "triumphant".[6] Louis Gerber wrote in Cosmopolis that Riding with the King "goes directly to the heart and soul" and is a "refreshing and sensational album, the best in the popular music genre since the release of Santana's Supernatural".[4]
Dave Ferman wrote in the
Nicole Bode wrote in the
Riding with the King peaked at number one on the
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | " B.B. King | 4:40 | |
3. | "Key to the Highway" | Big Bill Broonzy, Charlie Segar | 3:39 |
4. | "Marry You" | Doyle Bramhall II, Susannah Melvoin, Craig Ross | 4:59 |
5. | "Three O'Clock Blues" | Lowell Fulson | 8:36 |
6. | "Help the Poor" | Charles Singleton | 5:06 |
7. | "I Wanna Be" | Doyle Bramhall II, Charlie Sexton | 4:45 |
8. | "Worried Life Blues" | Sam Hopkins, Big Maceo Merriweather | 4:25 |
9. | "Days of Old" | Jules Taub, B.B. King | 3:00 |
10. | "When My Heart Beats Like a Hammer" | B.B. King, Jules Taub | 7:09 |
11. | "Hold On, I'm Comin'" | Isaac Hayes, David Porter | 6:20 |
12. | "Come Rain or Come Shine" | Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer | 4:11 |
A 20th Anniversary reissue of the album was released on June 26, 2020.[14] The reissue featured two previously unreleased tracks, "Rollin' and Tumblin'", the video of which was released on Clapton's YouTube channel on May 21, 2020, and a cover of “Let Me Love You Baby” written by Willie Dixon.[15]
Personnel
Main personnel
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Source:
Production and artwork
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Source:
Accolades
Grammy Awards
Year | Nominee / work | Award | Result |
---|---|---|---|
2001 |
Riding with the King | Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album[17] | Won |
Chart performance
Weekly charts
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Year-end charts
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Certifications
‹See Tfd›‹See Tfd›Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Argentina (CAPIF)[64] | Gold | 30,000^ |
Australia (ARIA)[65] | Platinum | 70,000^ |
Austria (IFPI Austria)[66] | Gold | 25,000* |
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[67] | Gold | 100,000* |
Canada (Music Canada)[68] | Platinum | 100,000^ |
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[69] | Platinum | 50,000^ |
France ( SNEP)[70]
|
Gold | 100,000* |
Germany (BVMI)[71] | Gold | 150,000^ |
Greece (IFPI Greece)[72] | Platinum | 30,000^ |
Italy (FIMI)[73] | Platinum | 100,000* |
Japan (RIAJ)[75] | Platinum | 204,000[74] |
Netherlands (NVPI)[76] | Gold | 40,000^ |
New Zealand (RMNZ)[77] | Platinum | 15,000^ |
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[78] | Gold | 50,000^ |
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)[79] | Gold | 25,000^ |
United Kingdom (BPI)[80] | Gold | 100,000^ |
United States (RIAA)[81] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000^ |
Summaries | ||
Europe (IFPI)[82] | 2× Platinum | 2,000,000* |
* Sales figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ a b c d e Ruhlmann, William. "Riding with the King". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
- ^ Mobile Register. Vol. D. p. 4.
- ^ a b c d "Clapton recruits B.B. King for a vintage blues session". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 1 June 2000. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
- ^ a b Gerber, Louis (July 2000). "B.B. King & Eric Clapton". Cosmopolis. Archived from the original on 1 January 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
- ^ a b Moos, Dan. "B.B. King and Eric Clapton: Riding with the King". PopMatters. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
- ^ a b c Futterman, Steve (16 June 2000). "Riding with the King". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 20 October 2012. Retrieved 26 October 2010.
- ^ Robert Sebree. "ERIC CLAPTON WITH B.B. KING (Happy 89th Birthday B.B.!!!". Robert Sebree. Retrieved 16 March 2023.
- ISBN 978-0-140-51384-4.
- ^ a b c d Bode, Nicole (5 July 2000). "Blues and Cream, King Returns". Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved 27 October 2010.
- ^ "Riding with the King Billboard Albums". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
- RIAAGold & Platinum Certifications. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
- Grammy.com. Retrieved 15 April 2016.
- ^ "Riding with the King Grammy Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 October 2010.
- ^ "B.B. King & Eric Clapton - Riding With The King (2LP) - 180g Blue Vinyl - 20th Anniversary Expanded Edition". Funky Duck Vinyl. Retrieved 11 March 2023.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (22 May 2020). "Eric Clapton, B.B. King's 'Riding with the King' to Be Reissued With Two Unreleased Tracks". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ a b "B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding With The King". Discogs. Retrieved 19 October 2015.
- ^ "Past Winners Search". National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Retrieved 3 October 2011.
- ^ "Australiancharts.com – B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding With The King". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ "ARIA Report" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Australia: Australian Web Archive. 1 January 2001. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 February 2002. Retrieved 25 December 2015.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding With The King" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
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- ^ "Ultratop.be – B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding With The King" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
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- ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ISSN 0315-5994. Archived from the original(PHP) on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding With The King" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ "Lescharts.com – B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding With The King". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 15, 2019.
- ^ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2020. 28. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
- ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography B.B. King". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 11, 2021.
- ^ "Italiancharts.com – B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding With The King". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "Charts.nz – B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding With The King". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding With The King". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- Circle ChartRetrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding With The King". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding With The King". Hung Medien. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ "Eric Clapton | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ "B.B. King Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ "B.B. King Chart History (Top Blues Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ "Eric Clapton Chart History (Top Catalog Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 14, 2015.
- ^ "Riding with the King – Eric Clapton & B.B. King | Awards | AllMusic". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Top 100 Albums 2000". aria.com.au. Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ "Austriancharts.at – Jahreshitparade 2000". Hung Medien (in German). Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ "200 Top!". BEA. 133 (2). 30 December 2000.
- ^ "Rapports annuels 2000". Ultratop (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ "Top 100 CDs". RPM. 31 December 2000.
- ^ "Canada's Top 200 Albums of 2000". Jam!. Archived from the original on 12 August 2004. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 2000" (in German). Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- OCLC 29800226. Retrieved 19 January 2019 – via American Radio History.
- ^ "Alben 2000 Finnland" (in German). Chartsurfer.de. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ "Les Albums (CD) de 2000 par InfoDisc" (in French). infodisc.fr. Archived from the original (PHP) on 11 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
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- ^ "Oricon Year-end Albums Chart of 2000" (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 24 November 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ "Annual Top 50 Albums Chart 2000". The Official NZ Music Chart. Recording Industry Association of New Zealand. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2015.
- ^ "Alben 2000 Norwegen" (in German). Chartsurfer.de. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ "Alben 2000 Schweiz" (in German). Chartsurfer.de. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ "Alben 2000 UK" (in German). Chartsurfer.de. Archived from the original on 23 June 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ "Billboard.BIZ". billboard.biz. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – End of Year Charts – Jazz & Blues 2001". Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 23 July 2015.
- ^ "Argentinian album certifications – B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding with the King". Argentine Chamber of Phonograms and Videograms Producers. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2001 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "Austrian album certifications – B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding with the King" (in German). IFPI Austria. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "Brazilian album certifications – Clapton – Riding with the King" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding with the King". Music Canada. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
- ^ "Danish album certifications". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved 25 November 2021. Scroll through the page-list below until year 2001 to obtain certification.
- ^ "French album certifications" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (B.B. King & Eric Clapton; 'Riding with the King')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie.
- International Federation of the Phonographic Industry Greece. Archived from the originalon 14 November 2015. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "B.B. KING ITALIAN PLATINUM AWARD for Riding with the King". Archived from the original on 4 November 2019. Retrieved 26 December 2019.
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- ^ "Japanese album certifications – B.B.キング&エリック・クラプトン – ライディング・ウィズ・ザ・キング" (in Japanese). Recording Industry Association of Japan. Select 2000年6月 on the drop-down menu
- ^ "Dutch album certifications – B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding with the King" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 14 November 2015. Enter Riding with the King in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2000 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
- ^ "New Zealand album certifications – B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding with the King". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ISBN 84-8048-639-2. Retrieved 23 August 2019.
- ^ "The Official Swiss Charts and Music Community: Awards ('Riding with the King')". IFPI Switzerland. Hung Medien. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "British album certifications – B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding with the King". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 14 November 2015. Select albums in the Format field. Select Gold in the Certification field. Type Riding with the King in the "Search BPI Awards" field and then press Enter.
- ^ "American album certifications – B.B. King & Eric Clapton – Riding with the King". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 14 November 2015.
- ^ "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. 23 September 2000. Retrieved 25 January 2020.