Although the duo of Bobby Blue Bland and B.B. King was one of the most popular touring acts of the '70s and '80s, their first duet album -- appropriately titled Together for the First Time ... Live -- doesn't quite live up to expectations. Both musicians are in fine form, but rarely do any sparks fly. Occasionally, King turns out a good solo and Bland sings with passion, but usually the vibe of the record is too relaxed to be truly engaging. It's a pleasant record, just not the essential listening that it should have been. ~ Thom Owens

That's "together for the first time" on disc, of course. Bland and King have shared stages since the '50s, when they were both members of the Beale Streeters, the legendary Memphis blues commune. In any case, this 1974 concert catches both artists at the peak of their game, recorded (with a nice sense of inside-the-band intimacy) in front of an extremely appreciative audience. Highpoints include a terrific call-and-response duet between the two stars on Bland's signature "That's the Way Love Is," and a riveting, can-you-top-this version of "3 O'Clock Blues," which features stinging guitar work by King and some of Bland's most impassioned singing ever.