The album of the show itself, Live in Cook County Jail, does indeed constitute the story of two men: one who fought hard to become “the jail’s only barn boss,” and the other — after being hampered by a tough life with arduous financial struggles, managerial woes, and 25 years on the “chitlin' circuit” — one who eventually achieved career success as the “chairman of the board of blues singers.”
Still, that doesn’t mean the proceedings at the Cook County Jail concert can’t end as simply and unassumingly as they began (or as they're reflected in King’s bow to a standing ovation: “If you liked me today, can I come back tomorrow?”). The following liner notation may say it all: “B.B. King — Cook County Jail, is a manifestation of human generosity and beauty on B.B.’s part and the raw appreciation of 2,117 of his most ardent fans.” Jail, for this particular hour or two, was not particularly "one helleva place to be.”
Article comments
1 - El Bicho
is this the album where they mention the warden in the introduction and he is booed by the inmates? I always get a chuckle out of that.
2 - Mike P.
I bought this out of a bargain bin many years ago, and loved it. Thanks for reminding me about what a great recording it is - I'll have to buy a copy now, to replace that long lost cassette!
3 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
El Bicho: No, that honor is reserved for for "our beloved Sheriff [So-and-So]" and a "dear friend to all of you out there -- the Chief Justice of the Criminal Courts [Such-and-Such]." Boooo....
4 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Thanks, Mike P., for the comment. Great versions of "The Thrill is Gone" and a snarky "How Blue Can You Get."
5 - Mark Saleski
oh yeah! this is a great album. first B.B. King record I bought. come to think of it, it's got to be among the first handful of blues records i bought.
6 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Thanks Mark-"Live at the Regal" is supposed to be even better, so I have my sight sets on that.
7 - Mark Saleski
"Live at the Regal" probably is a better record, it just doesn't have that "historical feel", or whatever the heck you want to call it.
8 - Josh Hathaway
I love Live at the Regal!