In April 1989, when it was announced that Irish rock band U2 was recording a new song with legendary blues artist B.B. King, many people, myself included, were surprised.
Although both U2 and B.B. King were already highly accomplished in the rock and blues fields, respectively, the pairing of the two acts at first seemed somewhat incongruous to lots of music fans.
Powerful, moving, melodic and joyous are just some of the words I can use to describe "When Love Comes to Town." With a pounding backbeat, driving bass line and top-rate vocals, this song is definitely my favorite U2 song.
Through the years, B.B. King has collaborated many of the rock music world's most well-known artists. In 1971, the B.B. King in London album was released. On that album, he worked with Ringo Starr, Steve Marriott, Alexis Korner and lots of other prominent musicians.
In 2005, the B.B. King & Friends: 80 album was released. The album features collaborations with a large number of popular musicians from a host of genres.
Take a listen to the phenomenal rendition of "Rock This House" that B.B. King recorded with Elton John and his band in Las Vegas. B.B.'s energetic vocals and precision guitar-playing are well-matched by Elton John's high-energy, rocked-out piano-playing.
When B.B. King and Joe Cocker teamed-up on a song named "Dangerous Mood," the result is a rowdy and energetic, yet sophisticatedly-written blues song. Mr. King and Eric Clapton perform a blazing rendition of "The Thrill is Gone" on the "80" album, and the version of "There Must be a Better World Somewhere" that B.B. and Gloria Estefan perform is soulful, sultry and outstanding.
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