Anthology 1962 - 1998 [CD + DVD] [NTSC, Box set]

I've been waiting for someone to write a review of this box set. But I finally broke down and paid the eight dollars plus shipping for a used one. I've been listening to (and watching) the 3 disc for the last few days and can now pass on some impressions of the package.

CD 1: Nineteen tracks, 78 minutes. Recorded 1962-1970, mostly for the ABC label. Some great stuff, two tracks from "Live at the Regal" (Every Day I Have the Blues, Sweet Little Angel"), the two sided "Sweet Sixteen" 45 rpm spliced together, the breakthrough "The Thrill is Gone". A very solid disc of BB's best 60's material.

CD 2: Fifteen tracks, 76 minutes. Recorded 1971-1993, mostly for ABC and MCA labels. More good stuff. "Friends" start appearing on the second half of the disc: Bono on "When Love Comes to Town", Albert Collins on "Call it Stormy Monday", Robert Cray on "Playing wit My Friends". Again, some great 70's recordings from BB.

DVD: "Blues Summit Concert". Eleven music tracks plus interviews, 55 minutes, recorded 1995 in Dolby Digital 2 channel. BB gets his friends together for a live concert at his blues club in Memphis. Joe Louis Walker, Ruth Brown, Buddy Guy, Albert Collins, Irma Thomas, Robert Cray. BB is in great form, his singing and playing is strong. And the guest fit right in with BB providing them plenty of space. Too many great tracks to mention, but I especially liked Ruth Brown doing "Ain't Nobody's Business", Irma Thomas on "You Can Have my Husband". And on "Thrill is Gone", there is as much emotion on BB's face as in his guitar and singing. Everybody was having a good time that day! The audio and video are both of fine quality.

All and all, this is an excellent box set. My favorite BB King period is from the 50's and early 60's when he was cranking out those powerful, raw singles. But, if you want a big sampling of his 70's to 90's music, this is hard to beat. The DVD alone is worth the used price. The discs come in a fold out cardboard case with a 20 page booklet. (It is annoying that the 2 cd trays overlap, so one disc has to be removed to get to the second. No such problem with the dvd.) So if you don't already have this music, this is the place to get it.