{"product_id":"b-b-king-eric-clapton-riding-with-the-king-mobile-fidelity-numbered-edition","title":"B.B. King, \u0026 Eric Clapton - Riding With The King (Mobile Fidelity Numbered Edition)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEric Clapton was on a heckuva roll when he teamed with B.B. King on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRiding with the King\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. The British icon boomeranged back into the mainstream in a serious way during the '90s courtesy of a standard-setting “MTV Unplugged” performance, exceptional blues covers set, and a platter of all-original material that became one of his most commercially successful releases. Clapton continued the streak on his first collaborative album, an inspired and inspiring tribute to King that finds both guitarists at the top of their respective games.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSourced from the original masters, pressed at Fidelity Record Pressing in California, mastered by engineer \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKrieg Wunderlich\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, housed in a Stoughton gatefold jacket, and featuring two bonus tracks unavailable on the original versions, Mobile Fidelity’s numbered-edition \u003cstrong\u003e180g 33RPM 2LP\u003c\/strong\u003e set presents the 2000 album in exceptional audiophile quality. Transparent, clean, and crisp, it showcases the dynamic interplay between the two six-string pioneers with riveting presence and near-visceral physicality. This reissue’s quiet surfaces and black backgrounds reveal deep-seated colors, accents, and textures that go hand-in-hand with the vibrant arrangements.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eHybrid SACD edition\u003c\/strong\u003e is housed in mini-LP-style gatefold packaging and features two bonus tracks unavailable on the original versions. Mobile Fidelity’s numbered-edition hybrid SACD presents the 2000 album in audiophile stereo quality that exceeds that of the long-out-of-print DVD-A and Audio Fidelity SACD.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSeparation is such that you can both distinguish and pinpoint the melodic sounds of Clapton's Fender Stratocaster and King's Gibson ES-355. Everything from in-the-studio directness to the wiry carry of the duo’s oft-amplified strings emerge with dimensional body and pleasing realism. King’s sweet lyricism, smooth bends, hallmark vibrato, warm tones, and economical thrift. Clapton’s creamy phrasing, thick timbre, expressive pull-ons, and pentatonic scale-based lines. All rendered with extraordinary detail and clarity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHigh degrees of imaging, balance, and definition also help put into perspective the contributions and chemistry of the supporting cast, which includes A-listers such as bassist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNathan East\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, drummer \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSteve Gadd\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, keyboardist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJoe Sample\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, and organist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTim Carmon\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e. They, along with guitarist \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDoyle Bramhall II\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAndy Fairweather Low\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, were personally selected by Clapton. Many had already played with Slowhand in the studio and or on the stage.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eClapton also hand-picked the material, landing on five classics closely linked with King as well as four blues standards. Two Bramhall II co-writes and a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eJohn Hiatt\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e-penned title track (ostensibly about a dream about \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eElvis Presley\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e albeit apt for this occasion) completed the track list for the standard version. On this collectible 2LP, the collective's interpretations of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMuddy Waters\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e' \"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRollin' and Tumblin'\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\" and King's \"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLet Me Love You Baby\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\" serve as bonuses.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIn listening to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRiding with the King\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, you’ll likely come away with the sense these musicians (joined by backing vocalists \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSusannah\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWendy Melvoin\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e on a majority of songs) could pick up anything by ear and play for days. Part of that sensation stems from the fact Clapton and King discussed the idea for years. Clapton states in the credits that the project represented the culmination of “a dream come true”; relatedly, King says it is the fulfillment of “a lifelong dream.”\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBoth first connected in 1967 at a club in New York City. The Mississippi-born King, a direct link to the Delta Blues that helped transform popular music, loomed as a massive influence on the English-reared Clapton. Their sense of admiration and respect for one another comes through in every passage on \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRiding with the King\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which followed the pair’s only prior studio collaboration (a rendition of “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRock Me Baby\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e”) by three years. As does their camaraderie and virtuosity. According to King, the pair took a loose, improvisational approach to the sessions, going by gut feel rather than following a script.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWinner of the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRiding with the King\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e teems with one standout performance after another. And while Clapton definitely earns his co-headliner status, he ensures the effort functions as a major platform for King’s inimitable talents. The elder statesman stamps every track with character, emotion, and an authenticity that traces an unbroken line to the roots of the blues. To state the obvious and use a phrase commonly cited in the genre, he’s the real deal.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKing delivers a semi-autobiographical monologue on the title track, stretches his legs with Clapton on an epic read of “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThree O’Clock Blues\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e,” swings and sways during “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDays of Old\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e,” and gets intimate on a stripped-down take of “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWorried Life Blues\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.” The then-74-year-old is in incredible voice throughout. He growls, the rise and fall of the raw electricity in his singing coming across with hurt and conviction, “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTen Long Years\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.” He lays into every syllable of “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen My Heart Beats Like a Hammer\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e” as if life depends on it, the throaty cries complemented by sharp, pinched guitar fills and tasteful piano accents. And he turns tender on “\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCome Rain or Come Shine\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e,” the lone track augmented by strings.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA true partnership built on mutual admiration, symbiotic interests, and spontaneous call-and-response musicianship, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003eRiding with the King\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e represents a high-water mark for a pair of giants who made their long-awaited opportunity count. And then some. Enjoy the ride.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mobile Fidelity Sound Lab","offers":[{"title":"Numbered 180g 2LP 33RPM [Release Date TBA]","offer_id":60122136609113,"sku":"SDZ-55433","price":78.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true},{"title":"Numbered Hybrid SACD [Release Date TBA]","offer_id":60122274857305,"sku":"SDZ-55434","price":44.99,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0588\/3455\/0945\/files\/kingclaptonmofi__31997.1788304567_5784bde7-8d96-41e9-a66d-0e75af4a0806.jpg?v=1792773140","url":"https:\/\/spindizzyrecords.com\/products\/b-b-king-eric-clapton-riding-with-the-king-mobile-fidelity-numbered-edition","provider":"Spindizzy Dublin","version":"1.0","type":"link"}