The cover says it all: A laughing Eric Clapton as a chauffeur and BB King at the luxurious Fond fleezend. Let's go to a relaxed, yet dynamic trip through the varied landscapes of the Blues. John Hiatt's theme song "Riding With The King" is the right match for this journey. Easily on past Big Bill Broonzys "Key To The Highway", to then be treated with a lot of drive Doyle Bramhall's "I Wanna Marry You". Then already follows the highlight of the trip, the King classic "Three O'Clock Blues", which leaves the two protagonists enough space to deliver in elongated solo guitar work at its best. Further stations are the "Worried Life Blues" (Big Maceo Merriweather) in acoustic version and classic BB King as "When My Heart Beats Like A Hammer" or "Ten Long Years". The trip down to "Help the Poor" (King), that was about to hear clearly with lässigerem rhythm, or to something krachigen "I Wanna Be" (Doyle Bramhall) do not quite reach the level of the previous tracks, what the meanwhile good mood does not diminish because of "Come Rain Or Come Shine", a beautiful (perhaps too sentimental) Ballad of Johnny Mercer and Harold Arlen, the two Blueser bring us back again reconciled and safely. The album unfolds whenever its strengths when increase both exceptional guitarist with the finest Blue slicks and soulful voices each other in spheres that can be heard the game and the class of the performers. Thrilling, rousing "call and response" between two men who together 130 years lived Blues on the scales bring (King born 1925, Clapton born 1945). By limited use of technology in the production - it primarily works with stereo effects that emphasize the guitars and the vocals - ensteht a club atmosphere that you otherwise often found only in live recordings. After arriving really remains is the minor question of whether this disc is on the shelf under "C" or "K". Because that "Riding With The King" belongs in every good collection Blue, is beyond doubt.
