- Indianola Mississippi Seeds
-
Indianola Mississippi Seeds 
Studio album by B. B. King Released 1970 Recorded The Record Plant, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A., May-June 1970 (except track 8 recorded at the Hit Factory, New York City, January 1969) Genre Blues, R&B Length 39:20 Label MCA Producer Bill Szymczyk B. B. King chronology Completely Well
(1969)Indianola Mississippi Seeds
(1970)Live in Cook County Jail
(1971)Indianola Mississippi Seeds is a 1970 album in which B. B. King mixed elements of blues and pop/rock. Producer Bill Szymczyk decided to follow up on the success of the hit "The Thrill Is Gone" by matching King with a musical all-star cast. The result was one of King's most critically acclaimed albums and one of the most highly regarded blues crossover albums of all time.
The album appeared on several of Billboard's album charts in 1970, reaching number 26 on the Pop album chart, number seven on the Jazz album chart and eight on Billboard's listing for "Black Albums." The album also generated several hit singles, "Chains and Things", King's own "Ask Me No Questions" and Leon Russell's "Hummingbird".
King himself, also, views the album as one of his greatest achievements. When asked about his best work, King has said, "I know the critics always mention Live & Well or Live at the Regal, but I think that Indianola Mississippi Seeds was the best album that I've done artistically."[1]
Contents
Homage paid to a hometown
The album title is a tribute to King's upbringing near Indianola, Mississippi. Although King was born on a plantation between two smaller towns, Itta Bena and Berclair, which are actually closer to Greenwood, King has always considered Indianola his hometown.[2]
The album package — which was itself recognized with a Grammy — includes what appears to be a copy of B. B. King's birth certificate with official registration in Indianola. The liner notes also contain a note that reads, "Congratulations Albert and Nora on your son Riley, September 16, 1925."[3]
Over time, King's hometown has paid respects back to him. In 2008, the B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center will open in Indianola, with the mission to "preserve and share the legacy and values of B. B. King, to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Mississippi Delta, and to promote pride, hope, and understanding through exhibitions and educated programs."[4]
Critical acclaim
Professional ratings Review scores Source Rating Allmusic 
[5]Robert Christgau (B)[6] Great Rock Discography (7/10)[7] Music Hound [8]Rolling Stone (favorable)[9][10] Virgin [11]Indianola Mississippi Seeds is one of three of B. B. Kings recordings listed in The Rough Guide to Blues 100 Essential CDs (along with Live at the Regal and Singin' the Blues).[12] The album was named # 23 on a list of the best "Album Chartmakers by Year" for 1970.[13]
Track listing
- "Nobody Loves Me But My Mother" (B. B. King) — 1:26
- B. B. King — piano & vocal
- "You're Still My Woman" (B. B. King/Dave Clark) — 6:04
- B. B. King — guitar & vocal
- Carole King — piano
- Bryan Garofalo — bass
- Russ Kunkel — drums
- "Ask Me No Questions" (B. B. King) — 3:08
- B. B. King — guitar & vocal
- Leon Russell – piano
- Joe Walsh – rhythm guitar
- Bryan Garofalo — bass
- Russ Kunkel — drums
- "Until I'm Dead and Cold" (B. B. King) — 4:45
- B. B. King — guitar & vocal
- Carole King — piano
- Bryan Garofalo — bass
- Russ Kunkel — drums
- "King's Special" (B. B. King) — 5:13
- B. B. King — lead guitar
- Leon Russell – piano
- Joe Walsh – rhythm guitar
- Bryan Garofalo — bass
- Russ Kunkel — drums
- "Ain't Gonna Worry My Life Anymore" (B. B. King) — 5:18
- B. B. King — guitar & vocal
- Carole King — piano & electric piano
- Bryan Garofalo — bass
- Russ Kunkel — drums
- "Chains and Things" (B. B. King & Dave Clark) — 4:53
- B.B. King — guitar & vocal
- Carole King — electric piano
- Bryan Garofalo — bass
- Russ Kunkel — drums
- "Go Underground" (B. B. King & Dave Clark) — 4:00
- B. B. King — lead guitar & vocal
- Paul Harris — piano
- Hugh McCracken — rhythm guitar
- Gerald Jemmott — bass
- Herb Lovelle — drums
- Joe Zagarino — Engineer
- The Hit Factory, New York City
- "Hummingbird" (Leon Russell) — 4:36
- B. B. King — guitar & vocal
- Leon Russell — piano & conductor
- Joe Walsh — rhythm guitar
- Bryan Garofalo — bass
- Russ Kunkel — drums
- Sherlie Matthews, Merry Clayton, Clydie King, Venetta Fields — "Angelic chorus"
Personnel
- B.B. King – Guitar, piano, vocals
- Joe Walsh – Guitar
- Hugh McCracken – Guitar
- Carole King – Piano, electric piano
- Leon Russell – Piano
- Paul Harris – Piano
- Bryan Garofalo– Bass
- Gerald Jemmott – Bass
- Russ Kunkel – Drums
- Herb Lovelle – Drums
- Bill Szymczyk – producer
Credits
Production
- Produced by Bill Szymczyk
- Strings and Horns arranged by Jimmie Haskell
- Recorded at The Record Plant, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.
- Engineers — Bill Szymczyk & Gary Kellgren
- Assistiant Engineers — Llyllianne Douma (Lillian Davis Douma), Mike Stone, & John Henning
- Mastering — Bob Macleod — Artisan Sound Recorders
Other
- Cover design — Lockart
- Photography — Ivan Nagy
- Management — Sidney A. Seidenberg
- Leon Russell appears with love from Shelter Records
- Carole King & Merry Clayton appear through the courtesy of Ode 70 Records
- Congratulations to Albert and Nora on your son Riley, September 16, 1925
Charts
Album charts
year chart peak 1970 Billboard Black Albums 8 1970 Billboard Jazz Albums 7 1970 Billboard Pop Albums 26 Singles
year Singles chart peak 1970 "Chains And Things" Billboard Black Singles 6 1970 "Chains And Things" Billboard Pop Singles 45 1970 "Hummingbird" Billboard Black Singles 25 1970 "Hummingbird" Billboard Pop Singles 48 1971 "Ask Me No Questions" Billboard Black Singles 18 1971 "Ask Me No Questions" Billboard Pop Singles 40 Awards
Photographer, Ivan Nagy and cover designer, Robert Lockart won the 1971 Grammy for "Best Album Package - Incl. Album Cover, Graphic Arts, Photography" for Indianola Mississippi Seeds.
Releases
year format label catalog # 1970 LP ABC 713 1989 CD MCA MCAD-31343 1989 CS MCA MCAC-31343 1995 CD Beat Goes On 237 2002 CD Beat Goes On 237 See also
Notes and sources
- ^ Jas Obrecht, Rollin' and Tumblin': The Postwar Blues Guitarists, Backbeat Books, 2000, p.328 (ISBN 0879306130)
- ^ Sebastian Danchin, Blues Boy: The Life and Music of B. B. King, University Press of Mississippi, 1998, p. 1 (ISBN 1578060176)
- ^ Liner notes referenced are from the 1989 remastered CD, Indianola Mississippi Seeds, (MCA Records, MCAD-31343)
- ^ B. B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center, web site, accessed April 2, 2007
- ^ Ron Wynn, "Review: Indianola Mississippi Seeds", Allmusic (link)
- ^ Robert Christgau, "Review: Indianola Mississippi Seeds", Consumer Guide/Village Voice (link)
- ^ Martin C. Strong The Great Rock Discography, 7th edition, UK (according to acclaimedmusic.net)
- ^ Music Hound, USA, 1998-99 (according to acclaimedmusic.net)
- ^ Rolling Stone Album Guide, USA, 1992 (according to acclaimedmusic.net)
- ^ Gary Von Tersch, [Review], Rolling Stone, 73, December 24, 1970 (link)
- ^ Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music, UK, 2002 (according to acclaimedmusic.net)
- ^ Greg Ward, The Rough Guide to Blues 100 Essential CDs, Rough Guides, November 23, 2000, p.97-98 (ISBN 1858285607 )
- ^ Dave Marsh & Kevin Stein, "Top of the Pops: The Best of the Album Chartmakers by Year", Book of Rock Lists", Dell Books, 1981 (reissue November 1982 ISBN 044057580X) (link to list for 1970)
External links
- Indianola Mississippi Seeds discography page from the official B.B. King website
B.B. King Studio albums 1957: Singin' the Blues • 1958: The Blues • 1960: My Kind of Blues • 1968: Lucille • 1969: Completely Well • 1970: Indianola Mississippi Seeds • 1971: B.B. King in London • 1972: Guess Who • L.A. Midnight • 1977: King Size • 1978: Midnight Believer • 1979: Take It Home • 1981: There Must Be a Better World Somewhere • 1985: Six Silver Strings • 1995: Lucille & Friends • 1997: Deuces Wild • 1998: Blues on the Bayou • 1999: Let the Good Times Roll • 2000: Riding with the King • Makin' Love Is Good for You • 2003: Reflections • 2005: B. B. King & Friends: 80 • 2008: One Kind FavorLive albums 1965: Live at the Regal • 1969: Live & Well • 1971: Live in Cook County Jail • 1974: Together for the First Time... Live • 1976: Bobby Bland and B. B. King Together Again...Live • 1980: Now Appearing at Ole Miss • 1991: Live at the Apollo • Live at San Quentin • 1999: Live in JapanCompilations 1975: Lucille Talks Back • 1983: Why I Sing the Blues • 1992: King of the Blues • 1999: His Definitive Greatest Hits • 2005: The Ultimate Collection • 2007: The Best of the Early YearsSingles 1951: "3 O'Clock Blues" • 1952: "Shake It Up and Go" • 1955: "Every Day I Have the Blues" • 1956: "Sweet Little Angel" • 1959: "Sugar Mama" • 1961: "Someday Baby" • 1962: "Going Down Slow" • 1963: "Trouble in Mind" • 1964: "How Blue Can You Get" • "Rock Me Baby" • "Please Send Me Someone to Love" • 1965: "Blue Shadows" • 1966: "Eyesight to the Blind" • "Just Like a Woman" • "Five Long Years" • "Ain't Nobody's Business" • 1970: "The Thrill Is Gone" • "Worried Life" • 1976: "Let the Good Times Roll" • 1985: "Big Boss Man" • 1988: "When Love Comes to Town" • 1992: "Since I Met You Baby"Other songs 1961: "Driving Wheel • 1974: "Black Night" • 1977: "Don't You Lie to Me" • 1985: "In the Midnight Hour" • 1990: "Into the Night" • 1995: "You Shook Me" • 1998: "Mean Ole' World" • 1999: "Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens" • "Is You Is or Is You Ain't My Baby" • "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" • "Buzz Me" • "Jack, You're Dead" • "Saturday Night Fish Fry" • "Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out" • "Early in the Mornin'" • 2000: "Hold On, I'm A Comin'" • "Come Rain or Come Shine" • "Since I Fell for You" • 2005: "Need Your Love So Bad" • "Early in the Morning" • 2008: "See That My Grave Is Kept Clean" • "Sitting on Top of the World"Related articles Discography • Memphis blues • Beale Street • WDIA • Chitlin' circuit • Bihari brothers • Maxwell Davis • Lucille (guitar)Categories:- 1970 albums
- B.B. King albums
- Albums produced by Bill Szymczyk
- MCA Records albums
- ABC Records albums
- English-language albums
- Albums conducted by Leon Russell
- "Nobody Loves Me But My Mother" (B. B. King) — 1:26
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
