Indianola Mississippi Seeds
Encyclopedia
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."
. 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.
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."
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."
for "Best Album Package - Incl. Album Cover, Graphic Arts, Photography" for Indianola Mississippi Seeds.
B. B. King
Riley B. King , known by the stage name B.B. King, is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter.Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No.3 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. According to Edward M...
mixed elements of blues and pop/rock. Producer Bill Szymczyk
Bill Szymczyk
Bill Szymczyk is an American music producer and technical engineer best known for working with rock and blues musicians, most notably the Eagles in the 1970s. He produced many top albums and singles of the 1970s, though he retired from the music business by 1990...
decided to follow up on the success of the hit "The Thrill Is Gone
The Thrill Is Gone
"The Thrill Is Gone" is a blues song written by Rick Darnell and Roy Hawkins in 1951 and popularized by B.B. King in 1970.-History:The song was first recorded by Roy Hawkins, its co-author, and became a minor hit for the musician. B.B. King recorded his version of the song in June 1969 for his...
" 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
Crossover (music)
Crossover is a term applied to musical works or performers appearing on two or more of the record charts which track differing musical tastes, or genres...
of all time.
The album appeared on several of Billboard's
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
album charts in 1970, reaching number 26 on the Pop album chart
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
, 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
Leon Russell
Claude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
'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
Live at the Regal
Live at the Regal is a 1965 live album by blues guitarist and singer B.B. King. It was recorded on November 21, 1964 at the Regal Theater in Chicago. The album is widely heralded as one of the greatest blues albums ever recorded and is #141 on Rolling Stone Magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All...
, but I think that Indianola Mississippi Seeds was the best album that I've done artistically."
Homage paid to a hometown
The album title is a tribute to King's upbringing near Indianola, MississippiIndianola, Mississippi
Indianola is a city in Sunflower County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 12,066 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Sunflower County.-History:...
. Although King was born on a plantation between two smaller towns, Itta Bena
Itta Bena, Mississippi
Itta Bena is a city in Leflore County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 2,208 at the 2000 census. The town's name is derived from the Choctaw phrase iti bina, meaning "forest camp"...
and Berclair
Berclair, Mississippi
Berclair is an unincorporated community located in Leflore County, Mississippi, United States. Berclair is approximately west of Itta Bena. It is part of the Greenwood, Mississippi micropolitan area....
, which are actually closer to Greenwood
Greenwood, Mississippi
Greenwood is a city in and the county seat of Leflore County, Mississippi, United States, located at the eastern edge of the Mississippi Delta approximately 96 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi, and 130 miles south of Memphis, Tennessee. The population was 15,205 at the 2010 census. It is the...
, King has always considered Indianola his hometown.
The album package — which was itself recognized with a Grammy
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
— includes what appears to be a copy of B. B. King's birth certificate
Birth certificate
A birth certificate is a vital record that documents the birth of a child. The term "birth certificate" can refer to either the original document certifying the circumstances of the birth or to a certified copy of or representation of the ensuing registration of that birth...
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."
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
Mississippi Delta
The Mississippi Delta is the distinctive northwest section of the U.S. state of Mississippi that lies between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers. The region has been called "The Most Southern Place on Earth" because of its unique racial, cultural, and economic history...
, and to promote pride, hope, and understanding through exhibitions and educated programs."
Critical acclaim
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). The album was named # 23 on a list of the best "Album Chartmakers by Year" for 1970.Track listing
- "Nobody Loves Me But My Mother" (B. B. KingB. B. KingRiley B. King , known by the stage name B.B. King, is an American blues guitarist and singer-songwriter.Rolling Stone magazine ranked him at No.3 on its list of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time. According to Edward M...
) — 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 KingCarole KingCarole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
— piano - Bryan Garofalo — bass
- Russ KunkelRuss KunkelRussell Kunkel , also known as Russ Kunkel, is an American drummer and producer who has worked as a session musician with a number of well-known artists.Kunkel was born in Pittsburgh, PA...
— drums
- "Ask Me No Questions" (B. B. King) — 3:08
- B. B. King — guitar & vocal
- Leon RussellLeon RussellClaude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
– piano - Joe WalshJoe WalshJoseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
– 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 AnymoreWorried Life Blues"Worried Life Blues" is a song that has become one of the most recorded blues songs of all time. Originally recorded by Major "Big Maceo" Merriweather in 1941, "Worried Life Blues" was an early blues hit and Maceo's most recognized song...
" (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 HarrisPaul Harris (musician)Paul Harris is a keyboards player and session musician.Harris appears on several albums of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s by leading artists such as Stephen Stills, B. B. King, Judy Collins, Al Kooper, ABBA, Eric Andersen, Rick Derringer, Nick Drake, John Sebastian, Joe Walsh, Seals & Crofts and Dan...
— piano - Hugh McCrackenHugh McCrackenHugh McCracken is a rhythm guitar player and session musician, arranger and producer based in New York.Especially in demand in the 60s, 70s and 80s, he appears on many recordings by Steely Dan, as well as albums by Donald Fagen, Jimmy Rushing, Billy Joel, Roland Kirk, Roberta Flack, B. B...
— rhythm guitar - Gerald Jemmott — bass
- Herb Lovelle — drums
- Joe Zagarino — Engineer
- The Hit Factory, New York CityNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
- "Hummingbird" (Leon RussellLeon RussellClaude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
) — 4:36- B. B. King — guitar & vocal
- Leon Russell — piano & conductor
- Joe Walsh — rhythm guitar
- Bryan Garofalo — bass
- Russ Kunkel — drums
- Sherlie MatthewsSherlie MatthewsSherlie Matthews is an American singer, songwriter and record producer, best known as a backing vocalist for Pop, R&B and Rock groups from the mid 1960s to the present time.-Early life:...
, Merry ClaytonMerry ClaytonMerry Clayton is an American soul and gospel singer , and an actress...
, Clydie KingClydie KingClydie Crittendon is an American singer, best known for her session work as a backing vocalist....
, Venetta FieldsVenetta FieldsVenetta Fields is an American singer best known as session musician for leading rock and pop acts of the 1970s including Pink Floyd, Barbra Streisand, Steely Dan and the Rolling Stones...
— "Angelic chorus"
Personnel
- B.B. King – Guitar, piano, vocals
- Joe WalshJoe WalshJoseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
– Guitar - Hugh McCrackenHugh McCrackenHugh McCracken is a rhythm guitar player and session musician, arranger and producer based in New York.Especially in demand in the 60s, 70s and 80s, he appears on many recordings by Steely Dan, as well as albums by Donald Fagen, Jimmy Rushing, Billy Joel, Roland Kirk, Roberta Flack, B. B...
– Guitar - Carole KingCarole KingCarole King is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. King and her former husband Gerry Goffin wrote more than two dozen chart hits for numerous artists during the 1960s, many of which have become standards. As a singer, King had an album, Tapestry, top the U.S...
– Piano, electric piano - Leon RussellLeon RussellClaude Russell Bridges , known professionally as Leon Russell, is an American musician and songwriter, who has recorded as a session musician, sideman, and maintained a solo career in music....
– Piano - Paul HarrisPaul Harris (musician)Paul Harris is a keyboards player and session musician.Harris appears on several albums of the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s by leading artists such as Stephen Stills, B. B. King, Judy Collins, Al Kooper, ABBA, Eric Andersen, Rick Derringer, Nick Drake, John Sebastian, Joe Walsh, Seals & Crofts and Dan...
– Piano - Bryan Garofalo– Bass
- Gerald Jemmott – Bass
- Russ KunkelRuss KunkelRussell Kunkel , also known as Russ Kunkel, is an American drummer and producer who has worked as a session musician with a number of well-known artists.Kunkel was born in Pittsburgh, PA...
– Drums - Herb Lovelle – Drums
- Bill SzymczykBill SzymczykBill Szymczyk is an American music producer and technical engineer best known for working with rock and blues musicians, most notably the Eagles in the 1970s. He produced many top albums and singles of the 1970s, though he retired from the music business by 1990...
– producerRecord producerA record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
Production
- Produced by Bill SzymczykBill SzymczykBill Szymczyk is an American music producer and technical engineer best known for working with rock and blues musicians, most notably the Eagles in the 1970s. He produced many top albums and singles of the 1970s, though he retired from the music business by 1990...
- Strings and Horns arranged by Jimmie Haskell
- Recorded at The Record Plant, Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, U.S.A.United StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
- Engineers — Bill Szymczyk & Gary KellgrenGary KellgrenGary Kellgren was an American audio engineer and co-founder of The Record Plant recording studios, along with businessman Chris Stone.-Engineering:...
- Assistiant Engineers — Llyllianne Douma (Lillian Davis Douma), Mike Stone, & John Henning
- Engineers — Bill Szymczyk & Gary Kellgren
- Mastering — Bob Macleod — Artisan Sound Recorders
Other
- Cover design — Lockart
- Photography — Ivan Nagy
- Management — Sidney A. Seidenberg
- Leon Russell appears with love from Shelter RecordsShelter RecordsShelter Records was a U.S. record label started by Leon Russell and Denny Cordell that operated from 1969 to 1981. The company established offices in both Los Angeles and Tulsa, Russell's home town, where the label sought to promote a "workshop atmosphere" with a recording studio in a converted...
- Carole King & Merry Clayton appear through the courtesy of Ode 70 Records
- Congratulations to Albert and Nora on your son Riley, September 16, 1925
Album charts
| year | chart | peak |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Billboard Black Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
8 |
| 1970 | Billboard Jazz Albums | 7 |
| 1970 | Billboard Pop Albums Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
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 GrammyGrammy Awards of 1971
The 13th Grammy Awards were held on 16 March 1971, and was the first time the ceremonies were broadcast on television by ABC. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the year 1970...
for "Best Album Package - Incl. Album Cover, Graphic Arts, Photography" for Indianola Mississippi Seeds.
Releases
| year | format | label | catalog # |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | LP Gramophone record A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove... |
ABC ABC Records ABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H.... |
713 |
| 1989 | CD Compact Disc The Compact Disc is an optical disc used to store digital data. It was originally developed to store and playback sound recordings exclusively, but later expanded to encompass data storage , write-once audio and data storage , rewritable media , Video Compact Discs , Super Video Compact Discs ,... |
MCA MCA Records MCA Records was an American-based record company owned by MCA Inc., which later gave way to the larger MCA Music Entertainment Group , of which MCA Records was still part. MCA Records was absorbed by Geffen Records in 2003... |
MCAD-31343 |
| 1989 | CS Compact Cassette The Compact Cassette, often referred to as audio cassette, cassette tape, cassette, or simply tape, is a magnetic tape sound recording format. It was designed originally for dictation, but improvements in fidelity led the Compact Cassette to supplant the Stereo 8-track cartridge and reel-to-reel... |
MCA | MCAC-31343 |
| 1995 | CD | Beat Goes On | 237 |
| 2002 | CD | Beat Goes On | 237 |
External links
- Indianola Mississippi Seeds discography page from the official B.B. King website