Golden Age of Music, Class & Style

behindthegrooves:

On this day in music history: December 1, 1969 - “The Thrill Is Gone” by B.B. King is released. Written by Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell, it is the eightieth single release for the blues music icon from Indianola, MS. Well established on the R&B chart since the early 50’s, B.B. King sees his fan base waning during the mid 60’s, as younger African American music fans move away from the blues. King’s then new manager Sid Seidenberg understands that the key to his client’s long term survival, is to diversify his audience. His manager books him into rock venues like the Fillmore East and West, and the Boston Tea Party. The musician finds himself opening for many of the British and American blues rock artists that he has influenced. The young predominantly white audiences quickly become fans of B.B. King’s rousing live performances, leading him to work with even bigger acts. The Rolling Stones invite King to be the opening act on their US tour in late 1969. Looking to capitalize on his newly found audience, King’s label ABC Records also looks to take him to career plateau. Though a consistent R&B hit maker, B.B. has only scored two top 40 pop hits, with “Rock Me Baby” (#34 Pop, #12 R&B) in 1964, and “Paying The Cost To Be The Boss” (#39 Pop, #10 R&B) in 1968. The veteran musician is paired with a young producer and engineer named Bill Szymczyk (Joe Walsh, The Eagles). Recording at The Hit Factory in New York City, King works with top sessions musicians including Hugh McCracken (guitar), Herbie Lovell (drums), Jerry Jemmott (bass) and Paul Harris (keyboards). King and Szymczyk look to craft an album that bridges the gap between his blues roots, but is also contemporary. Titled “Completely Well”, the album features a a song titled “The Thrill Is Gone”. Written by Roy Hawkins and Rick Darnell in 1951, it’s originally recorded by Hawkins. Recorded during sessions on June 24 and 25, 1969, the song is given a new arrangement. Anchored by King’s impassioned vocals, and tempered by his trademark bluesy guitar licks, the track is given a haunting string arrangement by Bert “Super Charts” DeCoteaux. Edited and issued as a single in December of 1969, “The Thrill Is Gone” quickly becomes a smash. The song peaks at #3 on the Billboard R&B singles chart on February 7, 1970, and #15 on the Hot 100 on February 21, 1970. Its huge success earns B.B. King a whole new generation of fans, winning him a Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 1971. “The Thrill Is Gone” becomes the one he is most closely associated with, for the rest of his career. King re-records the song numerous times over the years, including duet versions with Eric Clapton, and Tracy Chapman. The 1969 recording of “The Thrill Is Gone” is inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame in 1998. In November of 2015, Universal Music Group reissues the original mono 45 mix of “Thrill”, as part of a limited edition 10" single EP, for Black Friday Record Store Day.

(via seeselfblack)