The first time B.B. King and Eric Clapton 'traded licks' was in 1967 at New York's Café A Go Go. Joined by a top-notch muso backing band that includes Steve Gadd, Andy Fairweather-Low and Nathan East, they're back together for this roof-raising R&B; party, delivering a mix of classic and contemporary tunes. Though they share most of the vocal and guitar duties, relative newcomer Clapton leaves acres of space for head honcho King on tracks such as Ten Long Years and the foot-stomping Days Of Old. Understandably, non-blues fans will loathe it, but there's plenty on offer here for anyone with even a passing interest in the genre.

Track List:
1. Riding With The King
2. Ten Long Years
3. Key To The Highway
4. I Wanna Marry You
5. Three O'Clock Blues
6. I Wanna Be
7. Help The Poor
8. Worried Life Blues
9. Days Of Old
10. Heart Beats Like A Hammer
11. Hold On I'm Coming
12. Come Rain Or Come Shine

August 2000

Danny Scott