Makin' Love Is Good for You (CD - 2000)

Personnel: B.B. King (guitar); Leon Warren, John Porter (guitar); Joe Sublett (tenor saxophone); Walter R. King, Melvin Jackson (saxophone); James Bolden, Stanley Abernathy, Darrell Leonard (trumpet); James Toney, Tommy Eyre (keyboards); Michael Doster (bass); Calep Emphrey Jr. (drums); Tony Braunagel (percussion).

Recorded at Dockside Studio, Maurice, Louisiana.

Personnel: B.B. King (guitar); Leon Warren, John Porter (guitar); Walter King, Melvin Jackson (saxophone); Joe Sublett (tenor saxophone); Stanley Abernathy, Darrell Leonard, James Lee Golden, James Bolden (trumpet); James Toney, Tommy Eyre (keyboards); Calep Emphery, Jr. (drums); Tony Braunagel (percussion).

Audio Mixer: John Porter.

Recording information: Dockside Studios, Maurice, LA.

Photographers: Michael Wilson ; Kevin Westenberg.

Over the years, the music world has seen its share of over-70 singers who kept performing even though they didn't have much of a voice left: Peggy Lee and Frank Sinatra are among the names that come to mind. But when B.B. King entered his 70s, the veteran blues singer/guitarist could still belt it out with confidence, and he does exactly that on Makin' Love Is Good for You, which was recorded when King was 74. Although this blues/soul effort won't go down in history as one of his all-time classics, it's a respectable CD that finds his voice continuing to hold up well. King's charisma remains, and he has no problem getting his points across on 12-bar blues numbers like "Ain't Nobody Like My Baby," "I Got to Leave This Woman," and Willie Dixon's "Don't Go No Farther," as well as soul offerings such as the title song and an interpretation of Barbara George's 1961 hit "I Know." Because King has such a huge catalog, one could spend a fortune trying to acquire every title that he has out on CD. So unless you you're a serious collector and have a large budget, it's best to stick to his more essential recordings; and Makin' Love Is Good for You, although decent and respectable, isn't essential and isn't as interesting as 1999's Let the Good Times Roll: The Music of Louis Jordan. Nonetheless, it can be an enjoyable addition to your blues library if you're among King's diehard fans. ~ Alex Henderson

B.B. King was one of few remaining blues elder statesmen still touring and recording new material at the beginning of the new millennium. Between his 200-plus annual gigs, King found enough time to hit Louisiana and lay down 14 solid blues tracks. Picking up where he left off with his fine 1998 album BLUES ON THE BAYOU, the guitarist played it smart by returning to the studio accompanied only by his touring band of over a decade, eschewing the slew of superstar guests who had bogged down previous releases.

Overflowing with plenty of his trademark crackling licks and soulful vocals, King re-recorded new versions of some old nuggets, including "Peace Of Mind" and "You're On Top," in addition to writing new numbers like the up-tempo "Action Speaks Louder Than Words," and the simmering "She's My Baby." The blues legend also shows off his range via a wide array of covers by artists including Tony Joe White (Makin' Love Is Good For You), Lenny Welch ("Since I Fell For You"), Barbara George ("I Know"), and Willie Dixon ("Don't Go No Farther"). minimize