Roy Hawkins vs. B.B. King | Head 2 Head 🗣️

In the 43^rd edition of Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️ (2023), Roy Hawkins and B.B. King contend for the best rendition of “The Thrill Is Gone.”

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️, we pit at least two musicians singing the same song together, comparing their performances.  Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  In the 43^rd  edition of head 🗣️2 head 🗣️ (2023), 🎙 Roy Hawkins and 🎙 B.B. King contend for the best rendition of 🎵 “The Thrill Is Gone”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Roy Hawkins, “The Thrill Is Gone”

🎵 “The Thrill Is Gone” • 📅 1951 

“The thrill is gone / Gone, gone away / Yes, the thrill is gone / Gone, gone to stay.” My, my, my, 🎙 B.B. King! Actually, hold up – just one minute! While B.B. King is renowned for the classic, 🎵 “The Thrill Is Gone”, it was written by 🎼 ✍  Rick Darnell and Roy Hawkins back in 1951. Furthermore, Hawkins, a singer and pianist, originally recorded it, 18 years before B.B. Notably, the original sounds vastly different from the beloved cover (🤯) by King.  

How does 🎵 “The Thrill Is Gone” sound different? Well, in Hawkins’ hands, it is jazzier – an early, vintage rhythm and blues vibe.  The instrumentation clearly hearkens to the jazz of the era, with a prominent saxophone part, bluesy piano, upright bass, and of course, drums. Hawkins serves up expressive, playful vocals, sufficiently conveying the exit of the thrill. At one point, Hawkins, asserts, “Yeah, that old thrill we knew / Nothin’ but misery.” Brutal! Other noteworthy notes from “The Thrill Is Gone” includes a dramatic, soulful saxophone 🎷 solo.  The accompaniment by Hawkins on the keys 🎹 is mean!  Furthermore, the drummer 🥁 digs in more during the saxophone 🎷 solo.  All told, the original 🎵 “The Thrill Is Gone” is thrilling. Of course, a King would have his say in 1969…

2. B.B. King, “The Thrill Is Gone”

💿 Completely Well • 🏷 Geffen • 🗓 1969 

When you think, 🎵 “The Thrill Is Gone”, the first name that comes to mind associated with the song is the iconic, blues musician, 🎙 B.B. King.  His 1969 recording, which appears on his album, 💿 Completely Well, marks the biggest hit of career, peaking at no. 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1970. Furthermore, it would earn King the first of 15 Grammy 🏆 wins. Specifically, King won the Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male. While B.B. has earned definitive honors, to reiterate, “The Thrill Is Gone” was written by 🎼 ✍  Rick Darnell and Roy Hawkins back in 1951, 18 years before King would release it 🤯. Hawkins originally recorded it.    

What makes the B.B. King version the one to beat? Let’s start with the marvelous guitar 🎸 soloing by King. In the hands of King, that guitar oozes with soul. Besides killin’ it on Lucille 🎸, King also kills it with his vocals, bringing the heat. “The thrill is gone / The thrill is gone away,” he sings soulfully in the first verse, later adding, “You know you done me wrong, baby / And you’ll be sorry someday.” Woo! Notably, some of the lyrics are different compared to Hawkins’ original. Besides amazing vocals and epic soloing, the arrangement and production (🎛 Bill Szymczyk) are utterly sublime. The core instrumentation includes electric piano 🎹, bass, drums 🥁, and of course King on guitar 🎸. The expanded instrumentation adds even more goodness – strings 🎻 – which amplify the blues. Additional drama on a blues song? Yes please! While it is a shame that the thrill is gone, musically, 🎵 “The Thrill Is Gone” is easily one of the greatest songs of all time, thanks to 🎙 B.B. King 💪.   

Appears in 🔻:

• B.B. King, The Thrill Is Gone: Covers No. 42 (2023)

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

🎙 Roy Hawkins or 🎙 B.B. King? Give Roy Hawkins immense credit for composing and originally performing a classic like 🎵 “The Thrill Is Gone.” That said, when B.B. King covered it, it became his song, PERIOD.  This was the biggest hit of King’s career – his ace-in-the-hole – and earned him his first 🏆 Grammy. Still to this day, when we discuss the late, great musician, the first song that comes to mind is, 🎵 “The Thrill Is Gone”. He is the clear-cut winner of this Head 🗣️ 2 Head 🗣️!

Roy Hawkins vs. B.B. King: Head 2 Head 🗣️ No. 43 (2023) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Geffen; Hernán Toro, Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels]