Although this often considered the record that crossed B.B. King over into the pop market, Joel Whitburn’s Top Pop Singles 1955-1990 reveals that it actually marked the 19th B.B. entry on pop charts dating back to 1957. But no B.B. record before or since has reached the pop chart peak of ‘The Thrill is Gone,’ and its success boosted King to another level of the entertainment industry, as he soon became a familiar face on television and in concert halls around the world. Produced and co-engineered with a contemporary edge by Bill Szymczyk (who later helped shape the sound of the Eagles), the session placed B.B. with a sympathetic crew of young New York studio musicians. The addition of tasteful strings enhanced rather than sugar-coated the song’s mood of sadness and loss. Although this will forever be regarded as a B.B. King song, its roots date back to 1951 when California bluesman Roy Hawkins recorded the original version of ‘The Thrill is Gone.’ Writers’ credits on the first B.B. releases went to Arthur H. Benson and Dale Pettite, but are now filed under Hawkins and Rick Darnell. ABC BluesWay edited the 5-1/2-minute version on King’s Completely Well LP down to a 45 that clocked in at 3:55. Both the LP and the 45 entered the Billboard charts on Dec. 27, 1969. The single reached No. 3 on the R&B charts and No. 15 on the Hot 100 in 1970.
B.B. KING
B.B. King, vocal and guitar, with Paul Harris, electric piano; Hugh McCracken, guitar; Gerry Jemmott, bass; Herbie Lovelle, drums; strings arranged by Bert DeCoteaux. Recorded Oct. 8, 1969, New York. Released as ABC BluesWay 61032 (45 rpm single) and as an album track on ABC BluesWay BLS 6037, Completely Well, in December 1969.
Discographical details from The Blues Discography 1943-1970 and credits on the Completely Well album.