One thing that
Rick Derringer could never be accused of is failing to be eclectic. Having recorded everything from MOR adult contemporary to bubblegum pop/rock to ballsy blues-rock over the years, the singer/guitarist has demonstrated that eclectic is his middle name. And
Derringer's blues-rock/hard rock output is the focus of
The Three Kings of the Blues, a best-of collection that Blues Bureau International assembled in 2010. Why Three Kings? Because
Derringer is heard performing material associated with
B.B. King,
Albert King, or
Freddie King. This 51-minute CD draws on three Blues Bureau releases:
Derringer's
Blues Deluxe from 1998, his
Jackhammer Blues from 2000, and the L.A. Blues Authority's Fit for a King from 1993 (the L.A. Blues Authority is an all-star project that has included
Derringer). Blues Bureau's picks are good ones, and those who enjoy hearing
Derringer's edgier, gutsier side can't go wrong with performances of
Freddie King's "You've Got to Love Her with a Feeling,"
B.B. King's "Crying Won't Help You," and the
Albert King-associated "Born Under a Bad Sign."
Derringer also shines on Charlie Segar and
Big Bill Broonzy's "Key to the Highway"; Segar and
Broonzy both came out of the blues' acoustic pre-World War II era, but
Derringer has no problem making "Key to the Highway" relevant to amplified blues-rock.
The Three Kings of the Blues is not the last word on
Derringer's Blues Bureau recordings, but it isn't a bad place to start if one is interested in exploring his blues-rock/hard rock output for that label. ~ Alex Henderson